Michael F. Easley
Governor
State of North Carolina
Office of the Governor
Governor's Press Office
State Capitol, Raleigh, NC 27603-8001
(919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005
FAX (919) 733-5166
For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Sarah Williamson
Date: September 22, 2006 Phone: 919/733-5612
GOV. EASLEY REAPPOINTS FOUR TO MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCES
RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley has reappointed Mary Bennett of Rougemont, Russ Lea of Raleigh, Jim Morton of Linville and Judith A. Rizzo of Chapel Hill to the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences Advisory Commission.
Bennett is executive vice president of operations and communications at Inspire Pharmaceuticals. She is on the membership committee for the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association. Bennett received her Bachelor’s degree in applied behavioral science from National Louis University in Chicago, Ill and her Master’s in business administration from Duke University.
Lea is vice president for research at UNC General Admission. He received his Bachelor’s degree in forestry from the University of Washington and post graduate degrees in forestry from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Syracuse University.
Morton is a photographer. He is the founder of the Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk. Morton was named Man of the Year by the Banner Elk Area Chamber of Commerce in 1996. He received his Bachelor’s degree in political science and U.S. history from UNC at Chapel Hill.
Rizzo is executive director and CEO of the James B. Hunt, Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Italian languages and literature from Emmanuel College in Boston, Mass., her Master’s degree in Italian literature from Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vt. and her Doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.
The commission formulates policies for the advancement of the State Museum of Natural Sciences and assists in promoting and developing wider and more effective use of the museum as an educational, scientific and historical exhibit. The board has 40 members, each serving a two-year term. The governor appoints 33 members. The director to the Institute of Marine Sciences of UNC, the director of the Wildlife Resource Commission, the State Geologist, the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, the secretary of the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources, the director of the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences and the superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction also serve on the commission.
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