Higher ed positions filled

Gov. Bobby Jindal announced later Friday a number of appointments to two of the state’s higher education boards, including former Southern University President Leon Tarver to that system’s board.

Jindal appointed five men to seats on each of two boards: the Louisiana Board of Regents and the Southern University Board of Supervisors.

Tarver also is the former executive administrator of the Center for Cultural Heritage and International Programs at Southern University. He is the brother of state Sen. Greg Tarver, D-Shreveport.

Two of those announced Friday to the 16-member Southern Board are reappointments: Tony Clayton, a Port Allen lawyer; and the Rev. Joe Rascoe Gant Jr., of Shreveport.

The others named to the Southern board were Michael Small, of Slidell, senior network engineer at Computech Solutions Inc.; and Raymond Fondel Jr., of Lake Charles, who owns an insurance agency.

On the 15-member Louisiana Board of Regents, Jindal reappointed Robert Levy, of Vienna, and Mark Abraham, of Lake Charles.

Levy is district attorney for the 3rd Judicial District. Abraham is managing partner of Gulf Island Shrimp and Seafood and Big Easy Foods.

New members Jindal named to the board are Richard Lipsey, of Baton Rouge, chairman of Lipsey’s LLC Distributor; Joel Dupre, of New Orleans, president of Southern Recycling; and Edward Markle of New Orleans, president of Markle & Associates.

New Regents board members and the newly elected slate of officers will be sworn in Thursday. All the appointments are subject to state Senate confirmation.

Comments

1) Comment by Traveler - 05/01/2013

Twinkie1cat: If genuine experts (the professors/instructors) were appointed to boards, then they would have a voice----and that can't be allowed to happen. The trick to controlling any organization is to appoint those who are ignorant of the problems and solutions----in that manner, the appointees just go along with whatever their handler(s) tell them. Non-experts in positions of leadership become part of the problem rather than part of the solution.

2) Comment by twinkie1cat - 05/01/2013

Insurance company owner, lawyers, President of a recycling company, partner in a shrimp company? What special expertise do businessmen have making policies for education? Where are the professors and teachers? Why are these AMATEURS placed over education in Louisiana? Oh, they are appointees of Bobby Jindal. That explains it. Why have professionals running public education when you are trying to destroy public education? And why are they all men when most educators are women? Could it be that these appointees are contributors to Jindal's campaigns? Could they possibly be more Yes Men for him to manipulate? It is time and past time to dispose of Bobby Jindal's political career. I am sure he could get a job at one of these companies. Maybe he is even bright enough to boil crawfish or weigh aluminum cans.

3) Comment by mikeford - 05/01/2013

Everybody knew Jindal would keep his flunky, uncle tommy clayton, on the board, but to put tarver on there also is a gut punch to Southern faithfull everywhere..I would not recommend anyone send their kid up to Southern because these moves should contribute to the continued decline of the university.Tarver has never had a job outside of state government and southern , i wonder why? and I wonder why Jindal did not put his flunky clayton, who stood shoulder to shoulder with him at the news conference to announce plans to close SUNO, on the board of regents or the LSU board. Sad day 4 southern.