“We’re excited to add two very talented individuals to the board,” said Board of Trustees Chairman Richard Husseini, BS ’88. “They will help us advance UD’s profile, prestige and recognition nationally as the leading provider of an authentically Catholic liberal arts education.”

“Both Joe and Louis bring a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience that will be valuable to the Board of Trustees as we launch a new strategic plan in the coming year,” said President Thomas S. Hibbs, Ph.D., BA ’82 MA ’83. “Joe’s success in business and previous university board experience along with Louis’ deep knowledge in the national public policy arena leading a mission-oriented Catholic organization will benefit us greatly.”

Armes serves as chairman of the board, president and CEO of CSW Industrials Inc. He also currently serves as an independent trustee of the American Beacon family of mutual funds and as a member of the board of directors for Switchback Energy Acquisition Corporation, a special purpose acquisition company, where he is audit committee chairman.

Armes previously served on the Baylor University Board of Regents, acting at various times as chairman of the audit, finance, compensation and presidential search committees. He earned a BBA (finance) in 1983 and an MBA in 1984, both from Baylor. He also earned a J.D. from Southern Methodist University's Dedman School of Law in 1991, where he was an editor of the Southwestern Law Journal.

“I have been persuaded that the University of Dallas is successfully preparing its students to think Christianly, to think critically, and to think imaginatively,” said Armes. “I believe that the University of Dallas may be the best- kept secret in Texas, and I am honored to serve UD, and the Church, alongside President Tom Hibbs and my fellow trustees.”

Brown received an undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and a J.D. from Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C. He worked as a private practice attorney and later served as associate director of social concerns for a state Catholic conference, advocating for the vulnerable at the state legislature on issues such as health care, immigration, housing nondiscrimination and the social safety net.

He has worked as a congressional staffer on Capitol Hill for a Catholic pro-life congressman, serving as legislative counsel to the congressman as well as his liaison to the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary. He advised the congressman on issues including health care generally, the Affordable Care Act and Medicare.

He is admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan, the U.S. District Courts of Michigan, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Brown helped establish the Catholic health care sharing option, CMF CURO, in 2014, and served as the director of CMF CURO until 2017. In 2017, he received a political appointment and joined the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., where he served until 2019, when he returned to the Christ Medicus Foundation. 

“It is a blessing to be appointed as a trustee of the University of Dallas. UD is a Christ-centered university with a mission to form and educate young people in the Truth. UD’s mission has perhaps never been more important in the life of our country. I am convinced that UD is one of the best universities in the country to prepare young people for lifelong mission,” said Brown.