Friday, March 9, 2018

Governor makes college board picks

Governor Phil Bryant issued the following statement.


Governor Phil Bryant Announces Appointments to the College Board

Jackson, Miss. – Gov. Phil Bryant announced today he has made four appointments to the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning.

Dr. Steven Cunningham, Jeanne Luckey, Bruce Martin and Powell “Gee” Ogletree, Jr., will begin their 9-year terms on May 8. Rotating off the Board are trustees Alan W. Perry, Christy Pickering, Dr. Doug W. Rouse and Board President C.D. Smith.

“As the governing authority for our public institutions of higher learning, the College Board serves a critical role in Mississippi,” Governor Bryant said. “I am grateful these four highly qualified individuals have agreed to take on that responsibility by accepting these appointments.”

Cunningham, who will represent the Second Supreme Court District, practices radiology in Hattiesburg, where he serves as president of Comprehensive Radiology Services. He is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Forrest General Hospital and Merit Health Wesley. Cunningham received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Jackson State University and his medical degree from University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He did his internship and residency in diagnostic radiology at Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn, Mich.

Cunningham is a deacon at West Point Baptist Church and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He serves on the board for the Forrest General Hospital Foundation and on The First Bank’s Community Advisory Board.

“It’s an honor to be appointed to this position by Governor Bryant,” Cunningham said. “Higher education is a priority in my family and an expectation my wife Lakeisha and I have of our daughters. I realize how important our universities are to their alumni, their surrounding communities and the future of our state. I look forward to working with my fellow trustees to make sure that all of our institutions continue to flourish.”

Luckey, who will also represent the Second Supreme Court District, resides in Ocean Springs, where she is the owner of JCL LLC, a real estate holding company, and Magnolia State Development Group. Active in her community, Luckey has served on the Board of Directors of the Gulf Coast Debutante Society for 12 years, is a member of the Advisory Board of the Gulf Coast Salvation Army and the Coastal America Insurance Company Board of Directors. She has held leadership positions in the Junior Auxiliary, Children’s House School Board, Walter Anderson Museum Board and the Gulf Coast YMCA.

She is married to her high school sweetheart, Alwyn, and is the proud mother of two daughters, Laurel and Taylor. Luckey graduated from the University of Mississippi with a degree in special education and received her masters in special education from the University of Southern Mississippi.

“I am honored Governor Bryant has chosen to nominate me to the Board of Trustees of the IHL,” Luckey said. “Education has long been considered to be one of the most important factors in the success and quality of life for a state and its citizens. I am looking forward to serving on the IHL Board with the other distinguished members and staff to ensure our Mississippi universities continue to make improvements to meet the needs of our diverse population.”

Martin, who will represent the First Supreme Court District, was appointed to the Mississippi Community College Board by former Gov. Haley Barbour in 2006. He received his bachelor’s degree in finance and insurance from Mississippi State University. Martin serves as the president of insurance firm Meyer & Rosenbaum, Inc., in Meridian. He is also on the Mississippi Manufacturing Association's W. C. Advisory Board and is a board member of the MSU Insurance Department.

“I am honored and appreciative of Governor Bryant’s faith in my service to the IHL Board,” Martin said. “I look forward to this chance to serve the citizens of this great state as we work to provide more opportunity for the generations of the future.”

Ogletree joined the lawfirm of Adams and Reese in 1997. From the Jackson office, he coordinates the firm’s real estate work throughout Mississippi. He practices primarily in the areas of real estate, title insurance, economic development, forestry, natural resources, zoning, environmental and business matters. Ogletree is the founding partner and leader of the firm-wide Forestry Team.

He received a bachelor’s of science degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and a juris doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in Mississippi and Alabama.

“I am honored to be asked by Governor Bryant to serve on the Board of Trustees for the Institutions of Higher Learning in the State of Mississippi,” Ogletree said. “Our state’s eight distinct, mission-driven universities create a strong public university system designed to meet the higher education needs of Mississippians and enhance their quality of life. I look forward to working collaboratively with the board members and IHL staff in pursing excellence in quality instruction, research and service as we continue to improve affordable higher education in Mississippi.”

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have known Gee Ogletree for many years and had the pleasure of interacting with him on a personal and professional level. Excellent choice.

Anonymous said...

12:40 ---- sounds dirty when you say it like that...

Anonymous said...

Bruce Martin is stellar! Great job, Governor Bryant. Couldn't have made a finer pick.

Anonymous said...

Stop the charade and let each school have its own board of regents like every other state around us. It's past time for each school to make its own decisions, instead of the pettiness of rivalries being the main driver involved in most decisions.

Anonymous said...

Gee is a good man, good husband, good Dad, and a great lawyer.

Anonymous said...

Dr. Cunningham is an EXCELLENT choice !

Anonymous said...

Gee is the best! Worked with him and know he will do a great job.

Anonymous said...

How are any of these people qualified to lead higher ed in this state? Here's hoping the next IHL head will be something more than a seat warmer trying to get his/her high 4 years in. We need new blood if we're going to ever get off the bottom.

Anonymous said...

What 3:03 said.

This nonsense is worse than the five commissioners who make decisions for the MS Dept of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and have zero experience or knowledge of anything remotely related to the subject matter.

Just more crap-crumbs for the governor to toss to the proletariat.

Anonymous said...

Didn't Bruce Martin support Phil's opponent when he first ran for Gov? Martin is part of the group that has brought ruin to Meridian along with Ricky Berry. They fleeced the city with their crooked dealings. Good job Gov.

Anonymous said...

For the uninitiated, Ogletree is a lawyer with Adams & Reese who represents the MS Dept. of Education legal interests, and also went to Old Piss. Don't think that appointment is for his expertise in higher education. It's a political appointment, pure and simple, regardless of being a good dad, etc. Mississippi's dept of education is in deep trouble.

Anonymous said...

Powell’s dad served the alumni association at Southern Miss for many years. One of best men I have known. A class act . I am sure son is the same.

Anonymous said...

Jeanne Luckey is an excellent choice. If you want something done, ask her.

Anonymous said...

9:09 am- Ogletree went to law school at UM but undergrad at USM and is an Golden Eagle through and through. He regularly attends USM athletic home and away games for the various sports, is involved in their alumni association and has taught various courses for them and other colleges and community colleges. He has a very good working knowledge of lower and higher education. This is far from a “political appointment” and it’s completely irresponsible for you to put forth such an uninformed post.

Anonymous said...

9:09 am Sounds like you don't like Ogletree being exposed.....facts are facts. He's a lawyer from Adams & Reese, who serves the DOE. Getting nervous about something? Why so touchy? Usually, it's the guilty pig that squeals the loudest. You know nothing about the DOE and how corrupt it's been for a decade.

Anonymous said...

So, Ogletree (and I've never heard of him), has a degree from OM and another from USM, is a good dad and attends lots of away games and stuff. He probably has a nice collection of gold and white golf shirts and some button-downs and sits in the glass box area at home games with the Duff family. It's still and always will be nothing but a political-hack appointment. I don't know where the man lives but assume the MHP troopers will swing buy and pick him up for games as soon as they leave the mansion.

Anonymous said...

Yellow knit shirts, black knit britches, go to hell you sons of bitches! Hotty Toddy’!

Anonymous said...

The mandate of the IHL Board is to keep the status quo. No change in the pecking order or the good ole boy way things have been done for 100+ years. These guys can do that.

Anonymous said...

Adams and Reese doesn’t represent the Mississippi Department of Education. The Attorney Generals Office does. A and R represents individual school districts.

Kingfish said...

If I'm not mistaken, doesn't Jim Keith work for A&R and if so, is actually the defense counsel for school districts when they face any type of disciplinary action from MDE?

Anonymous said...

Kingfish is correct.

Anonymous said...

AT 7:57am You ARE joking yes? Mississippi's Attorney General represents nothing except HIMSELF running for a future office yet to be determined. Besides, Adams & Reese would make mincemeat of him, and that's why the districts pay extra for them. Sheesh....which they shouldn't even have to. Millions wasted on legal fees. Good God where does it end?

Anonymous said...

at 8:37am Kingfish, I think you're right....and THAT would pose a conflict of interest in appointing Ogletree, wouldn't it? Nah, Mississippi business as usual. Corrupt to the bone.

Anonymous said...

3:48; I wouldn't vote for Hood if he were running for constable in Iuka; however, you need to know that the AG's office represents state agencies, not school districts.

Anonymous said...

Whatever....NOBODY is representing the TAXPAYERS of Mississippi except POS friends of other PsOS.



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