David Braswell, a retired attorney and longtime advisor to philanthropist Fred Kummer, will join the Kummer Missouri S&T Foundation Board in April.

Braswell is originally from Carbondale, Illinois, and has lived in St. Louis for most of his adult life. He graduated from Stanford Law School in 1995. He retired from Armstrong Teasdale in 2023 where he spent 28 years as a corporate and transactional lawyer. He also served as managing partner and chair of the firm. 

Although Braswell did not attend Missouri S&T, his connection to the university is through his work on legal matters with Fred Kummer and his role as a trustee for the Kummer family. 

“It’s important to have someone on the board who knew Fred Kummer well and who understands the motivations behind Fred’s gift to the school,” Braswell says. “I can also serve as a conduit to communicate back to the Kummer family members the wonderful things that Fred and June’s gift is doing to help transform the university, including the positive impact on S&T students and the surrounding community. I look forward to bridging the Kummer family with the institution.” 

Braswell says his goal as a board member is to ensure that Fred and June Kummer’s aspirations are well-represented.

“I certainly believe the existing board understands well the purpose behind Fred and June’s gift, but hopefully I can serve as an effective sounding board at times of indecision or uncertainty,” he says. “I can articulate what I think Fred might have added to the conversation, having spent so much time with him discussing his motivations when he was contemplating this gift. I think those insights will help me add unique value to the board.”

The Kummer Missouri S&T Foundation Board comprises a group of prominent engineers, scientists, business leaders and university leaders who assure the Kummer Institute and Missouri S&T are well-connected to and informed by leading technical and business minds from both the private and academic sectors. It is led by S&T Chancellor Mo Dehghani. The late Fred Kummer served as the founding chair of the board in 2020 until his death on April 30, 2021, at age 92. Kathryn E. Walker is currently chair of the board. Missouri S&T Chancellor Mo Dehghani is president and chief executive officer of the board. 

Looking ahead, Braswell hopes the foundation will continue to support S&T’s growth, help attract high-achieving students and advance the university’s mission to serve a broader population.

Braswell said he is eager to learn from fellow board members in furthering the interests of the university and the foundation.

“I’m excited to learn more about the many initiatives that are underway,” he says. “I know Fred and June would be proud of the tremendous impact their gift has already had on S&T.”