BATON ROUGE, La. –Governor John Bel Edwards announced new members of the Louisiana Board of Regents today and re-appointed Regent Robert W. Levy of Vienna (5thCongressional District) and Regent Sonia Perez of Baton Rouge (Member-at-Large).
The Louisiana Board of Regents is the policy and advocacy board for higher education in Louisiana. Their responsibilities include creating a statewide vision for educational attainment and talent development and adopting a funding formula to incentive improved student outcomes.
Members of the Board of Regents are gubernatorial appointees, chosen to serve six-year terms after receiving Senate confirmation. The sixteen-member volunteer board includes two individuals from each Congressional District, as well as three members-at-large and a student member elected annually from the Council of Student Body Presidents.
Governor Edwards’ appointees include:
Felix Weill of Baton Rouge (6thCongressional District)– Weill is an attorney with 45 years of experience and expertise in the areas of estate planning, business law, and non-profit organizations. He graduated from Louisiana State University in Accounting. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve. After his service, Weill completed law school at LSU. A lifelong member of Congregation B’nai Israel of Baton Rouge, Weill and his wife, Lynn Schmulen, have two sons, David and Bradley and two grandchildren, Amelia and Cora.
Gary Solomon, Jr. of New Orleans (2ndCongressional District)– Solomon is President and Co-Founder of the Solomon Group which provides entertainment production and exhibit services. His best known projects include Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans, the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience and George Washington’s Mount Vernon to name a few. Earning a degree from New York University’s Tisch School of Arts where he studied Theater Design, Solomon was also recently named to Inc. Magazine’s “30 Under 30: World’s Coolest Young Entrepreneurs” list.
Robert W. Levy of Vienna (5thCongressional District) – Levy was first named to the Board of Regents in 2001 and served as the board’s Chairman in 2017 as they conducted a national search for the Commissioner of Higher Education. Levy is a retired Lincoln Parish District Attorney and a graduate of Nicholls State University and LSU Law School.
Sonia A. Perez of Baton Rouge (Member-at-Large) – Perez is the first female President of AT&T Louisiana and is responsible for developing the overall strategic direction of AT&T’s corporate activities in our state. She was first appointed to Regents in 2017 to fill an unexpired term. Sonia is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, and is a recipient of the university’s 2017 Distinguished Alumnus Award.
(Note: One additional Regent appointment is anticipated from Governor Edwards. The term of Regent Darren Mire – 2nd Congressional District expires 12/31/18. He will serve in the position until an appointee is named)
“I look forward to introducing our new members to the important work of the Board of Regents and welcoming back Regents Levy and Perez,” said Chairman-Elect Marty J. Chabert. “This board is knowledgeable, diverse and energized to do great things for the students of Louisiana. We welcome each new appointee and look forward to the unique perspectives they will bring to the table.”
“I am grateful to the new members who have agreed to serve as well as our re-appointed board members who will continue to share their leadership in our critical work. Louisiana needs more citizens with the education and training necessary to strengthen our economy and communities,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed. “We look forward to engaging our Regent members to advocate for strong talent development across our state.”
New members to the Louisiana Board of Regents will be sworn in at the January 14, 2019 meeting which will also include swearing in of new officers and an orientation program for new and returning members.
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