JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon today announced his nominations to seven boards and commissions. In addition, the Governor has nominated Richard T. Sullivan Jr., of Frontenac, to serve as the chief executive officer of the Special Administrative Board which governs the Transitional School District of St. Louis City. The nominees are subject to confirmation by the Missouri Senate. The nominees along with their boards and hometowns, are:
Administrative Hearing Commission (Renee T. Slusher – Columbia)
Lincoln University Board of Curators (Marvin O. Teer – St. Louis)
Missouri State University Board of Governors (Tyree Davis IV – Springfield)
Missouri Veterans’ Commission (William A. Wallace – St. Louis)
Missouri Western State University Board of Governors (Joseph Kellogg – St. Joseph)
State Board of Education (Dr. John A. Martin – Kansas City)
University of Central Missouri Board of Governors (Mary Dandurand – Warrensburg; Marvin Wright – Columbia)
Administrative Hearing Commission
The Governor has nominated Renee T. Slusher, of Columbia, to the Administrative Hearing Commission. The AHC is a neutral, independent administrative tribunal that decides disputes involving state agencies and another party, usually a private person or corporation. The Commission typically decides the cases after a trial-type hearing.
Slusher is currently the deputy commissioner and general counsel for the State of Missouri’s Office of Administration. She has been with the office since 2009, and previously was an assistant attorney general for the Office of the Missouri Attorney General. Slusher served with the Missouri Department of Labor, including as director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation. While in private practice, she focused on employment law. The Governor has appointed Slusher for a term ending April 11, 2022.
Lincoln University Board of Curators
The Governor has nominated Marvin O. Teer (D), of St. Louis, to the Lincoln University Board of Curators. The Board of Curators assures good management of the university; establishes policy; sets fees; grants degrees; selects and supports a president; and monitors presidential, institutional and board performance.
Teer, who is a Lincoln University graduate and currently serves on the Board of Curators as its incoming president, is director and general counsel for the Office of Community Engagement. An attorney, he served two terms as a municipal judge in the City of St. Louis from 2005 to 2013. Teer also has been an administrative hearing commissioner, assistant city counselor for St. Louis City, a Missouri assistant attorney general, and an assistant St. Louis City circuit attorney. Teer has held numerous leadership positions with the Mound City Bar Association. The Governor has nominated him for another term ending Jan. 1, 2018.
Missouri State University Board of Governors
The Governor has appointed Tyree Davis IV, of Springfield, as the student representative of the Missouri State University Board of Governors. The Missouri State University Board of Governors possesses full power and authority to adopt all needful rules and regulations for the guidance and supervision of the University.
Davis is majoring in administrative management and interpersonal communication. He is a senator in the Student Government Association, as well as a peer leader and a University Ambassador. The Governor has nominated him for a term ending Dec. 31, 2017.
Missouri Veterans Commission
The Governor has nominated William A. Wallace, of St. Louis, to the Missouri Veterans Commission. The commission provides a safe, comfortable environment for residents of veterans’ homes that is conducive to personal dignity and that rehabilitates to maximum attainable levels; through effective federal and state partnerships, provides timely and compassionate benefit services to veterans and dependents; and provides honorable resting places for deceased veterans through a system of state veterans’ cemeteries.
Wallace is a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in Bosnia as a NATO Peacekeeper. He currently is site director for U.S. VETS – St. Louis, a national non-profit organization specializing in providing housing, employment and other critical services to veterans. Wallace, who holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology, previously was clinical director for U.S. VETS – Long Beach, and he has experience in working with veteran service organizations as well as the VA medical and mental health systems on PTSD and readjustment disorders. The Governor has nominated him for a term ending Nov. 2, 2017.
Missouri Western State University Board of Governors
The Governor has nominated Joseph Kellogg, of St. Joseph, as the student representative for the Missouri Western State University Board of Governors. The Board of Governors establishes policies, by-laws, rules and regulations for its own governance and for control and governance of the University.
Kellogg is an economics and political science major at Missouri Western. He is on the Dean’s list and also is a Golden Griffon Scholar as well as a Bright Flight Scholar. The Governor has nominated him for a term ending Dec. 31, 2017.
State Board of Education
Gov. Jay Nixon has appointed Dr. John A. Martin (D), of Kansas City, to the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education sets accreditation standards for local school districts, including minimum high school graduation standards and basic requirements for curriculum, staffing and student testing; establishes academic performance standards for public schools; sets education and certification requirements for all professional personnel in public schools (teachers, administrators, librarians, counselors); approves professional education programs in the state’s community colleges and four-year colleges and universities, both public and private; and establishes regulations and administrative requirements for the distribution of state and federal funds to school districts.
Dr. Martin, who currently is on the State Board of Education, served for nine years as superintendent of the Grandview Schools from 1997 to 2006. He then was deputy superintendent of the St. Louis Public Schools from 2006 to 2007 and most recently served as the interim superintendent of the Kansas City, Missouri Public Schools in 2008. Prior to the Grandview position, Dr. Martin was an administrator in the Montgomery County (Va.) Schools, and a teacher and administrator in the School District of University City. The Governor has nominated him for another term ending July 1, 2022.
University of Central Missouri Board of Governors
The Governor has nominated Mary Dandurand (D), of Warrensburg; and Marvin E. (Bunky) Wright (D), of Columbia, to the University of Central Missouri Board of Governors. The board is the highest policy-making body of the university.
Dandurand, who is a graduate of the University of Central Missouri and currently serves on the Board of Governors as its secretary, has worked as a rental property manager in Warrensburg for RECF Properties – The Tiehen Group since 2004. She previously served the university community as coordinator of Student Volunteer Programs and as assistant director of the Self-Instruction Center/Computer Lab. The Governor has nominated her for another term ending Dec. 31, 2021.
Wright, who currently serves on the UCM Board of Governors, was general counsel to the University of Missouri System from 1998 to 2008. He also has served as legal counsel to the University of Missouri System, Stephens College, Columbia College, Westminster College and the Columbia Public School System. Wright also currently serves on the board of the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MoHELA). The Governor has nominated him for another term ending Dec. 31, 2021.
Special Administrative Board of the Transitional School District of St. Louis City
The Governor has nominated Richard T. Sullivan Jr., of Frontenac, to again serve as chief executive officer of the three-member Special Administrative Board which governs the Transitional School District of St. Louis City. One member of the board is appointed by the Governor, one by the Mayor of St. Louis and one by the President of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen. The chief executive officer of the board is appointed by the Governor, upon the recommendation of the State Board of Education.
Sullivan currently serves as the CEO of the Special Administrative Board and was first appointed to the position in 2007. He also is the founder of Strategic Advisors LLC, a manager of real estate investment funds, with investments focused in underdeveloped single-family residential neighborhoods and apartment communities. In 2008, Sullivan retired as chairman of the board from McBride & Son Companies after 35 years with the company, the top homebuilder in Missouri. The Governor has nominated him for another term ending April 12, 2019, or until the transitional district is dissolved or terminated.
