By KHI NEWS SERVICE

WICHITA — The Kansas Health Foundation today announced two new members of its board of directors: the Rev. Claudia Bakely of Manhattan and Junetta Everett of Wichita.

They replace the Rev. Gary Brooks and Ronald Holt, both of Wichita.

Bakely is Flint Hills district superintendent for the Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church. She practiced nursing for 25 years and then began working as the youth ministries director at Tonganoxie United Methodist Church (UMC) in 1998. After graduating from St. Paul’s School of Theology with a Master’s of Divinity, she was appointed as associate pastor at Emporia First UMC, where she spent five years and was ordained in 2006. She then spent five years at Basehor UMC before being appointed to her current position in Manhattan in July 2013.

Everett is vice president of professional relations for Delta Dental of Kansas, where she has worked since November 1987. A registered dental hygienist for 35 years, Everett since 1995 has overseen the relationships, recruitment and maintenance, contracting and compliance, communication, education and support for Delta Dental of Kansas’ dental networks. She has received numerous honors and awards and serves on multiple boards of directors, including the Wichita Chamber of Commerce, Exploration Place, the American Association of Dental Consultants, the WSU College of Health Profession Dean’s Advisory Board, and the EC Tyree Health and Dental Clinic Advisory Board.

“This is an important day for the foundation. We say goodbye to two men who have brought vision, discipline, creativity and also great joy to the foundation. Their support and leadership drove many opportunities to help improve the health of all Kansans,” said Steve Coen, the health foundation’s president and chief executive.

“Also today we welcome two new members, Rev. Bakely and Ms. Everett. Both bring unique skills as practitioners, passionate Kansans and as leaders who care deeply about Kansas and its communities,” Coen said.

Brooks, who had been on the health foundation’s board since April 2009, is senior pastor of Aldersgate United Methodist Church.

Holt, who had served on the health foundation’s board since October 2004, is assistant county manager for Sedgwick County.

The health foundation is the primary funder of the Kansas Health Institute, which is the parent organization of KHI News Service.