Board of Trustees Adds Three New Members

Tim Knight
New Brenau Trustee Tim Knight.

The Brenau University Board of Trustees recently appointed three well-known faces in Georgia’s fields of real estate, law and interior design as its newest members.

The three new trustees for the 140-year-old historical women’s college and university are Tim Knight, president of Knight Commercial Real Estate; Brenau alumna Jill Mansfield, president of Ramsey Properties, 58 Interiors at Atlanta Decorative Arts Center, and Jill Mansfield Interiors; and Lydia Sartain, experienced trial lawyer and partner at Stewart, Melvin & Frost. Their three-year terms began in time for the 2017 fall board meeting in November.

“Brenau has been blessed with a Board of Trustees who, individually and collectively, carry a commitment, pride and passion for the university and all it represents to the communities we serve and, most importantly, our students,” said Pete Miller, board chair. “Carrying on that tradition of excellence, the board is honored to welcome our newest trustees Jill, Tim and Lydia and look forward to their presence making a difference.”

Jill Mansfield
New Brenau Trustee Jill Mansfield

Knight has more than 20 years experience in the commercial real estate industry. Over that time he has worked for multifamily and retail developers, and he is now a principal in his own firm specializing in land planning, development, consulting and landlord representation for various commercial real estate transactions.

Knight Commercial Real Estate LLC is a full-service, commercial real estate firm based in Atlanta. The firm has decades of experience in the sale and leasing of land, retail sites, office buildings and small industrial buildings.

Mansfield, meanwhile, is a detail-oriented interior designer skilled in the use of color and texture. She started Jill Mansfield Interiors LLC in 2014, after more than 30 years with real estate rental and development company Ramsey Properties, of which she is still president. She is also president of 58 Interiors, a showroom located at Atlanta Decorative Arts Center. 58 Interiors represents more than 15 modern furniture, lighting and art lines.

Lydia Sartain
New Brenau Trustee Lydia Sartain
Mansfield earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Interior Design from Brenau in 2015. The degree was a career retooling after first earning a bachelor’s degree in consumer economics in 1980 from the University of Georgia.

Sartain has extensive experience in criminal law and served for nine years as district attorney of the Georgia Northeastern Judicial Circuit, before moving to private practice to work as an advocate for children and families. Prior to her initial appointment as district attorney, Sartain was director of Georgia’s Children and Youth Coordinating Council. She also was appointed to serve on the State Board of Public Safety by Governor Roy Barnes in 1999, and she has served in the elected position of solicitor for the State Court of Hall County.

Throughout her career, Sartain has been active in civic organizations and community efforts, particularly those in support of children.