N.C. Board of Education Swears in New Members

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Board of Education Swears in New Members

Special Report - September 6, 2007
Two individuals appointed by Governor Mike Easley to the North Carolina State Board of Education were recently sworn in. The first, Eulada Watt of Charlotte, fills the District 6 seat formerly held by Vice Chair Jane Norwood. According to a press release from Governor Mike Easley’s office, Watt is executive director of the Minbanc Foundation, Inc., and a special assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She is also the wife of U.S. Congressman Mel Watt, who represents the 12th Congressional District of North Carolina. The second new member, Kevin Howell of Raleigh, replaces Edgar Murphy III in the District 3 seat. Howell is assistant to the chancellor for external affairs for North Carolina State University and formerly served as legislative liaison for Governor Easley. As members of the State Board, Watt serves as co-chair of the 21st Century Professionals Committee and Howell as chair of the Business/Finance and Advocacy Committee.

The current members of the N.C. State Board of Education are: Kathy A. Taft (District 1), Kevin Howell (District 3), Shirley E. Harris (District 4), Howard N. Lee (District 5), Eulada Watt (District 6), Robert Thomas Speed (District 7), Wayne McDevitt (District 8), Melissa E. Bartlett (member-at-large), Patricia N. Willoughby (member-at-large), and John A. Tate, III (member-at-large). The District 2 seat, previously held by Michelle Howard-Vital, is currently vacant. Howard-Vital recently resigned after being named the President of Cheyney State University in Pennsylvania.