Creighton University President the Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD, has announced the addition of John Graham, chairman and CEO of Sunbelt Holdings, a Phoenix-based real estate firm, as the newest member of the University’s Board of Trustees.
With an academic presence in Phoenix since 2012, Creighton University opened the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Health Sciences Building in 2021, which serves as an educational, interdisciplinary facility where future healthcare leaders can be trained, educated and prepared to serve the community of Phoenix. The Creighton University Health Sciences Campus – Phoenix is also part of the Phoenix Medical Quarter at Park Central.
“As we continue our growth in the Phoenix metro area, those on our Board of Trustees must also have the insight, relationships and vision for addressing the unique needs of the community,” Fr. Hendrickson says. “I am excited for the perspectives John will bring to the Board as we prepare to celebrate 20 years of serving Phoenix next year.”
Graham joined Sunbelt Holdings in 1982, was named president in 1990 and became chairman and CEO in 2019. He was named 2017 Man of the Year by Valley Leadership for his community service, including support of the arts, social services and education.
“A life dedicated to beneficence, John Graham has served Arizona for decades; it is a true pleasure to work alongside John as he joins Creighton University as its newest trustee,” says Sharon Harper, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Plaza Companies and member of the Creighton Board of Trustees. “We will benefit from John’s extraordinary business acumen, and his deep ties to Arizona will help guide the mission of Creighton in Phoenix. With John, Creighton will continue advancing its ability to deliver meaningful outcomes for our state and our region.”
In addition to Creighton’s Board of Trustees, Graham has a career serving on boards and foundations, including the Arizona State University Foundation, Greater Phoenix Leadership, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Partnership for Economic Innovation, Phoenix Art Museum, Southern Arizona Leadership Council, Teach for America Phoenix, Rio Salado Foundation, Westmarc, Urban Land Institute and Valley of the Sun United Way. Graham and Sunbelt Holdings are staunch advocates of the Fighter Country Foundation supporting Luke Air Force Base.
Creighton’s Board of Trustees is chaired by Diane Duren, a former executive vice president and chief administrative officer at Union Pacific. It will hold its next quarterly meeting in November.
