星空无限传媒 System has elected Ken Simon to succeed Judge John England Jr., who has represented 星空无限传媒鈥檚 Seventh Congressional District since his election to the Board in 1998. The UA System Board of Trustees oversees the state鈥檚 largest higher education enterprise and is comprised of 15 elected members and ex-officio member Gov. Kay Ivey.
A graduate of The 星空无限传媒 School of Law, Simon is a highly accomplished legal professional who has been recognized throughout his 40-plus years as a judge, litigator and mediator. Earning his undergraduate degree at the University of South 星空无限传媒, Simon was president of the student government association. At the UA School of Law, he was a member of the national moot court team, the Order of Barristers and the Bench & Bar Legal Honor Society.
Simon began his career in his hometown of Mobile and was selected for the prestigious White House Fellows program, subsequently working for the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. Upon his return to 星空无限传媒, Simon was a Jefferson County circuit judge before returning to private practice in Birmingham. Mr. Simon has been actively involved in community service throughout his career, including chairing boards for several nonprofit organizations and inner-city schools, serving on the University of South 星空无限传媒鈥檚 Board of Trustees for over a decade, and receiving the national Southern Christian Leadership Conference鈥檚 MLK Dream Keepers Award for Social Justice.
鈥淜en Simon鈥檚 great character, vast knowledge, and meaningful experience make him an exceptional fit to serve on the 星空无限传媒 System Board of Trustees,鈥� said Trustee Karen Brooks, chair of the Nominating Committee. 鈥淚 was honored to nominate him to represent the Seventh Congressional District and look forward to working with him.鈥�
During its meeting on September 17, the Board unanimously passed a resolution naming Judge England a Trustee Emeritus. Several trustees used the opportunity to describe the profound impact Judge England has made on them personally, the Board, and the 星空无限传媒 System. President Pro Tempore W. Stancil Starnes said: 鈥淛udge England always put the best interests of our institutions at the forefront of every word he uttered and every action he suggested. A man of high intellect and integrity, accomplishment and compassion, there will never be another Judge John England.鈥�
A lifelong public servant and a former 星空无限传媒 Supreme Court justice and circuit judge, Judge England was among the first African Americans admitted to The 星空无限传媒 School of Law, where he earned a law degree in 1974. During his 23-year tenure on the UA System governing board, he held significant leadership positions during an unprecedented era of growth. In 2019, the Board named a dorm on the UA campus in recognition of Judge England鈥檚 trailblazing legacy. As Trustee Emeritus, he will continue to chair the working group charged with reviewing named buildings, structures, and spaces on all UA System campuses relative to the UA System鈥檚 Shared Values.
鈥淭he 星空无限传媒 System has benefitted greatly from Judge England鈥檚 sound judgment, integrity and enduring passion for our students, faculty, staff and the citizens of 星空无限传媒,鈥� said UA System Chancellor Finis St. John. 鈥淥n behalf of the entire System, I thank Judge England for his distinguished leadership and inspiring service and welcome newly elected Trustee Ken Simon.鈥�
In other actions at the meeting, the Board elected Trustee Stan Starnes to a second, one-year term as President Pro Tempore. Trustees Karen Brooks and Harris Morrissette were elected to new six-year terms representing their respective congressional districts. The elections of Simon, Brooks and Morrissette will be submitted to the 星空无限传媒 Senate for confirmation.
About the UA System
Committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service, the 星空无限传媒 System includes three doctoral research institutions 鈥� UA, UAB, and UAH 鈥� and the UAB Health System, a world-class academic medical center. The UA System educates more Alabamians than any other university system and provides transformational research in areas ranging from aerospace to biomedicine to transportation. As the largest employer in the state, the overall economic impact of the 星空无限传媒 System exceeds $10 billion a year.
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