The University Board of Visitors announced Friday that James W. Head, a first-year Law student, will serve as the non-voting student member of the 2004 Board.
Described by Charles Glazer, chair of the audit and compliance committee, as "the best for the job," Head was selected from six final candidates interviewed by the Board's executive committee Friday morning.
Head graduated from the University in 2003 with a distinguished major in political and social thought. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and the IMP Society, and was involved in the Honor Committee, working as an investigations coordinator and as the senior council for investigations.
"I love this school very much, and it's done a lot for me," Head said, adding that his new position will give him "a chance to do something for it."
His undergraduate career also included student representation in a board setting. He served as one of two students on a board of international professors and administrators to help coordinate the 2002 Center for Academic Integrity conference hosted by the University.
Head said he views his position as the Board student member as an opportunity to serve.
"I see the role, not as a policy maker, but as one who can collect and express the opinions of students," he said. "Having been here for several years, I have friends in many areas of the University. There is no substitute for personal knowledge."
Head also said he plans on making himself accessible to all students from all areas of the University. Rector Gordon Rainey offered a similar vision.
"The student member is our eyes and ears on the student body, and we rely heavily on him to keep us informed," Rainey said.
For the next year, Head will be a full member of the Board, according to Thomas Farrell, vice rector and chair of the student affairs and athletics committee.
The student member "sits in on all executive sessions and participates in all respects, giving us insight into what's going on with the students," Farrell said.
The Board's decision was the product of a selection process that sent applicants' resumes through a student nomination committee, the Board's executive committee and a final vote by the entire board. Executive committee members emphasized the excellence of this year's candidates.
"Every one of them was great," Board member William Goodwin said.
Since a 1983 Virginia state statute mandated that university boards include a non-voting student member, one has sat on the University's Board.
Rainey praised the work of outgoing student member John R.M. Rodney and expressed confidence in Head's future work for the Board as well.
Rodney "has been an outstanding member of our Board," he said. "I know that Jamie will be the same."
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