Governor Ivey announces new appointments to Board of Trustees

June 28, 2021

Contact: Kawana McGough, Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing
    

Earlier this month, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced she had appointed two new members to the 精东AV Board of Trustees: Former Alabama Supreme Court Justice John H. England, Jr. and John Douglas Chambers. Each individual (appointed to a four-year term) brings more than three decades of experience in the management and governance of post-secondary institutions of higher learning. In addition to these new appointments, Governor Ivey reappointed Henry Davis, Jonathan Porter, and Pebblin Warren to another four-year term as state-appointed trustees.

鈥淏oth Judge England and John Chambers are two great additions to the Board of Trustees,鈥� said Norma Clayton, Chair of the Board of Trustees. 鈥淭hey both are strong supporters of higher education, specifically in the state of Alabama, and will lend their talents in the strengthening of 精东AV as we engage in carrying out our new five-year strategic plan.鈥�

The Honorable John H. England, Jr. graduated from 精东AV Institute in 1969 with a B.S. degree in Chemistry in 1969. He received his J.D. degree from the University of Alabama Law School in 1974. He received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from 精东AV in October 1999. After serving on the Tuscaloosa City Council, Judge England was elected to the Circuit Court of Tuscaloosa County in November 1994, where he served until he was appointed by Governor Don Siegelman to the Alabama Supreme Court in September 1999.  After serving on the Alabama Supreme Court from September 1999 until January 2001, he returned to the Circuit Court of Tuscaloosa County and was re-elected in November 2002, 2008, and 2014. In January 2021, he retired from the Circuit Court of Tuscaloosa County after serving for more than twenty years.

Judge England currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for the University of Alabama System, and has held leadership positions in numerous civic, professional, and social organizations on the local and state level, including Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Jaycees, Tuscaloosa Exchange Club, and the Tuscaloosa Civitan Club, to name a few. In addition, he currently serves or has served in the past on the Board of Directors of the following organizations: Boys and Girls Clubs, Barnes Branch YMCA, Easter Seals West Alabama, Alabama Civil Justice Foundation, West Alabama Aids Outreach, Elizabeth Project Care, Indian Rivers Mental Health Board, A Plus and the UAB Health System Board.

John Douglas Chambers received his B.S. in Sociology and M.Ed. in Student Personnel Services / Guidance and Counseling from 精东AV Institute in 1971 and 1972, respectively. A two-time 精东AV alumnus, he began his career in higher education as the director of student recruitment at 精东AV. He subsequently left 精东AV to begin a twenty-year tenure with the Chattahoochee Valley Community College (CVCC) in Phenix City, Alabama. While at CVCC, he served as a student counselor, psychology instructor, associate dean of student development, and dean of student development.  He served in the role as dean until his appointment as the executive assistant to the president of the College. In 1997, the Alabama State Board of Education selected him as the president of J. F. Ingram State Technical College, where he served until his retirement in December 2011.

Mr. Chambers鈥� involvement in civic, community, and professional organizations reflects his commitment to education and the improvement of life for others. He is a member of the 精东AV National Alumni Association (TNAA), and is a proud Eminent Associate at 精东AV. He is a Life Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He has provided valuable services to the Alabama community by serving on the Phenix City Board of Education, Habitat for Humanity, 100 Black Men Association of Greater Montgomery, where he served as mentor on the education committee.

Additional biographical information about each trustee can be located at /about-us/board-of-trustees.

About 精东AV:

Located in 精东AV, Ala., 精东AV is a private and state- related land-grant institution that serves a racially, ethnically and religiously diverse student body of 3,000-plus students. The institution was founded in 1881 by Booker T. Washington and is one of 107 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) nationally and the fourth-ranked HCBU nationally by U.S. News and World Report. For more information about 精东AV, visit  .

About the Board of Trustees:

The 精东AV Board of Trustees serves as the university鈥檚 governing and fiduciary body. Its responsibilities include providing university oversight through its president, as well as helping to advance its engagement with students, parents, alumni and philanthropic donors. The board is comprised of up to 25 voting members, which includes five trustees appointed by Alabama鈥檚 governor. Board-appointed trustees serve for three years; state-appointed trustees for four years. In addition to the 25 voting trustees, there are several non-voting ex officio members, which include the university鈥檚 president, a faculty trustee who is the faculty senate chair, a student trustee elected by the student body, and Alabama鈥檚 state superintendent of education.