Laguna Blanca School Added Three Trustees
The Santa Barbara school appointed three local professionals to its Board of Trustees to provide strategic oversight.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in People
Laguna Blanca School has appointed Tyler Duncan, Carter Thicke, and Henning Thorsen to its Board of Trustees. These new members were selected to leverage their professional experience and community involvement for the school's governance.
Why it matters
The board appointments aim to provide the school with ongoing strategic guidance and oversight. These new trustees bring a mix of local business leadership and alumni perspective to support the institution's long-term goals.
The school added 3 new trustees to its board, drawn from a professional pool including executive leadership and investment management.
The players
Laguna Blanca School
This is an independent college preparatory school located in Santa Barbara and Montecito.
Tyler Duncan
He is the President and CEO of the Santa Barbara-based restaurant chain Rusty's Pizza Parlors, Inc.
Carter Thicke
He is a Vice President and Client Advisor at the wealth management firm Whittier Trust.
Henning Thorsen
He serves as the Head of Commercial Operations for the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company ArriVent BioPharma.
The details
The newly appointed members include Tyler Duncan, who serves as the President and CEO of Rusty's Pizza Parlors, Inc. Carter Thicke, a 2015 graduate of the school, joins from Whittier Trust, while Henning Thorsen serves as the Head of Commercial Operations at ArriVent BioPharma.
Timeline
October 2, 2026: Announcement of the three new board members.
2015: Carter Thicke graduated from Laguna Blanca School.
2000: Tyler Duncan returned to Santa Barbara.
1991: Henning Thorsen graduated from UC Santa Barbara.
Market Landscape
The appointments reflect a broader trend among private educational institutions seeking to integrate local business leadership into their governance structures. This consolidation of professional oversight helps position the school to better navigate competitive private education markets.
Parents and school stakeholders can expect the new board members to influence long-term strategic planning and institutional direction. These changes do not immediately affect current tuition or day-to-day operations for families.
The takeaway
Board appointments serve as a critical bridge between private institutions and the local business community. Engaging alumni and regional executives often enhances a school's ability to maintain high operational standards and sustainable growth.
Further reading
Learn more about local leadership updates in the People section.
More information
For more information on the board's structure, visit the Laguna Blanca School official website.
