ORANGE : Lawyer, Hotel Chief Join Chapman Board

Chapman University has added an attorney and a hotel executive to its board of trustees.

New member Joann Leatherby, 39, a Newport Beach attorney, also is a member of the committee studying the feasibility of opening a law school at Chapman. Her father, Ralph Leatherby, is a life trustee at the school, and her brother, Russell, is a volunteer and fund-raiser for Chapman.

Leatherby holds a law degree from UCLA and was an instructor at the University of Redlands.

Joseph McCarthy, 62, of Dallas is chairman of the board of Motel 6 General Partner, and previously was president and chief executive officer of Quality Inns, a separate hotel chain.

McCarthy said he became interested in Chapman when his daughter Jennifer began her freshman year there this fall.

Board Chairman George Argyros said the 3,000-student university recruited outside of California to try to increase its national stature.

“Joseph McCarthy and Joann Leatherby bring their rich experience and fresh, new ideas to our board,” Argyros said. “But each also brings something special. Joseph brings a national perspective and Joann brings age and gender diversity.”