Gary Geswein, Chair

Gary Geswein is a graduate of Purdue University and holds a Masters Degree in Agricultural Education. He taught agriculture education for 38 years at North Harrison High School, Lanesville High School and for the State Department of Education before retiring. He is an active member of the community, serving on the Board of Directors for Lifelong Learning, Harrison County Purdue Extension, Farm Bureau Inc. and Harrison County Community Foundation. Between serving community organizations, he farms in partnership with two brothers on 500 acres in Palmyra where he lives with his wife Jean. Gary has grown 2 children.

J.R. Eckart, Vice Chair

J.R. Eckart served two terms as District 2 representative on the Harrison County Commissioners. He previously served as the Harrison County Surveyor for four years. He graduated from Corydon Central High School and holds an Associates degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Purdue University. J.R. has extensive experience in mechanical engineering and has served on the Harrison County Planning and Zoning Commission for 11 years. J.R. joined the Harrison County Lifelong Learning Board of Directors in 2008.

Juan José Rodriguez, Treasurer

Juan José Rodríguez has extensive teaching experience at the high school and university levels and has completed degrees and course work from Murray State University, Southern Illinois University, University of Louisville and Indiana University Southeast. After teaching at Corydon Central High School for more than three decades, he retired in 2004 to pursue additional interests. Juan José is an active community leader, serving on the Harrison County Lifelong Learning Board of Directors since 2003, and, under gubernatorial appointment, serving as a member of the Advisory Indiana Adult Literacy Coalition, among other activities of philanthropic interest. He resides in Lanesville with his wife Rudee Ann when he's not raising longhorn cattle at his farm in western Kentucky.

Steve Morris, Secretary

Steve is the Superintendent for Lanesville School Corporation and the Principal at Lanesville High School. Steve joined the Harrison County Lifelong Learning Board of Directors in 2010.

Ralph Sherman, Director

Ralph Sherman is the District 4 representative on the Harrison County Council. First elected to the position 12 years ago, he helped create Lifelong Learning in 2001 using riverboat revenue and is actively involved in 4-H. He is a lifelong farmer who graduated from Laconia High School in 1957. He lives in Laconia with Barbara, his wife of 50 years. He has four grown children and eight grandchildren.

Leslie Robertson, Director

Leslie Robertson is a lifelong resident of Harrison County and a graduate of Corydon Central High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Indiana University Southeast. Leslie has been an active community member for many years, most recently serving a term on the Harrison County Council as the representative for District I. She was a school board member and board president for the North Harrison Community School Corporation and a member of the Harrison County Metro United Way Advisory Board. Leslie is a founding board member of the Harrison County YMCA and has served in several capacities with the Southern Indiana Community Foundation and the Harrison County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition. Leslie and her husband, Larry, have two daughters.

Phil Smith, Director

Phil is the District 1 representative for the Harrison County Council. He joined the Harrison County Lifelong Learning Board of Directors in 2011.