Governor Youngkin Appoints Five New Board of Visitors – The Cavalier Daily

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced appointing five new representatives to the University Board of Visitors on Friday. The new members are Dan Brody, a Class of 1973 graduate and president of the medical software company Health Data Services; Marvin Gilliam Jr., a University graduate and former coal mining executive; David Okonkwo, a University graduate and director of the Neurotrauma Clinical Trials Center at the University of Pittsburgh; David Webb, a Class of 1982 graduate and executive in real estate; and Porter Wilkinson, a Class of 2007 graduate and chief of staff to the Smithsonian regents. Their terms will run through June 30, 2028.

The Board meets four times a year and is responsible for: supervision long-term planning for the University, voting on such issues as the University budget, major construction projects, and tuition. The 17 voting members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Virginia General Assembly, and each term lasts four years. The Council also includes student and faculty representatives who serve as nonvoting members and are appointed by the Council annually.

Election of new board members marks Youngkin’s third round of board appointments — governor appointed four new representatives last year and four new representatives in 2022 respectively. Newly elected representatives replaced outgoing members Mark Bowles, Elizabeth Cranwell, Babur Lateef, Thomas DePasquale and James Murray, whose terms ended on Sunday.

Of the five nominees, three — Brody, Gilliam and Webb — have donated at least $80,000 to campaigns linked to Youngkin, such as his 2021 gubernatorial campaign or his political action committee Spirit of Virginia, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, a nonprofit group. dedicated to provide the public with access to documents reflecting the financial aspects of politics. Youngkin’s PAC, a type of tax-exempt organization that is raising funds for or against political candidates of your choice — lifted a record $5.75 million in the second quarter of last year ahead of the 2023 Virginia midterm elections.

Beards He graduated in economics from the university in 1973 and is president of Health Data Services LLC, a Charlottesville-based medical software company. business.He too it serves in the Board of Directors of the Brody University Jewish Center, whose goal is enable Jewish students on the premises, according to his website. According to VPAP, Brody donated $25,000 to Youngkin’s 2021 gubernatorial campaign, as well as $25,000 to his 2022 inaugural committee and $30,000 to Spirit of Virginia.

Gilliam, who previously served on the Board of Visitors from 2010 to 2014, and also graduated from the University with a bachelor’s degree in economics. has MAM Development LLC, a Bristol-based developer, is currently it serves on the University of Virginia and U.Va. Wise Athletics Board of Trustees University CouncilGilliam also served as vice president and co-owner of Cumberland Resources Corporation, an energy company that owned underground coal mines in southwestern Virginia and Kentucky, and helped facilitate its purchase by coal company Massey Energy in 2010.

Gilliam donated a total of $320,000 to Youngkin-related campaigns and committees — $120,000 to Youngkin’s 2021 gubernatorial campaign, $150,000 to Spirit of Virginia and $50,000 to Youngkin’s 2022 inaugural committee — according to VPAP.

Webb is the third person nominated to hold a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University, having He graduated in 1982. He serves as deputy chairman for commercial real estate services and investment firm CBRE. According to VPAP, Webb has donated A total of $109,400 to Youngkin — $84,000 to his 2021 gubernatorial campaign, $25,000 to Spirit of Virginia and $400 to his 2022 inaugural campaign.

Okonkwo is also a university graduate with He graduated from the University with a bachelor’s degree in biology. He serves as a professor of neurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh and director of the University’s Neurotrauma Clinical Research Center. He attended He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and then returned to school to complete his residency in neurosurgery.

Wilkinson He graduated from the University Law School in 2007 and currently He’s working as an advisor and chief of staff to the Smithsonian Institute’s Board of Regents. She previously served as a law clerk to current U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh from 2007 to 2008, when he was on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. After former President Donald Trump nominated Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court in 2018, Wilkinson he spoke in support of his endorsement at an event organized by a conservative think tank Heritage FoundationAfter completing her internship with Kavanaugh, she served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts from 2008 to 2009.

Then the board convene The third quarterly meeting will be held on September 12th.