Gov. Perry Appoints Five to the Select Commission on Higher Education and Global Competitiveness

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry appointed five to the Select Commission on Higher Education and Global Competitiveness, pursuant to H.C.R. 159 of the 80th Legislature, for terms to expire Nov. 1, 2008.

Kern Wildenthal of Dallas is president of the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center. He is a member of the University of Cambridge International Advisory Board, and served as a visiting professor and consultant at more than 60 medical schools, universities and research institutes worldwide. Wildenthal is also a board trustee of several Dallas-area foundations, as well as the New York-based Lasker Foundation. He is past president of the American Section of the International Society of Heart Research and a member of the Association of American Physicians, American College of Cardiology, and Institute of Medicine. Wildenthal received a bachelor’s degree from Sul Ross State University, a medical degree from the UT Southwestern Medical School, and a doctorate degree from the University of Cambridge. Bernie Francis of Carrollton is owner and CEO of Business Control Systems, LP, a professional services firm. Francis is chair of the Texas State University System Board of Regents and past chair of the Texas State Technical College System. He is past chair and current board member of the North Central Texas Workforce Development Board. Francis is currently a member of the Governor’s Business Council and serves on the Executive Committee. Francis was elected to three terms on the Carrolton City Council. Francis served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam era and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Woody L. Hunt of El Paso is chairman and chief executive officer of Hunt Building Corporation and affiliated companies, a privately owned investment, development, construction and property/asset management company. Hunt was previously vice chairman of the University of Texas System Board of Regents and chairman of the University of Texas Investment Management Company. Serving as a member of the Governor’s Business Council, Hunt is a member of the Executive Committee and chairs the Higher Education Task Force. He recently served on the Commission for College Ready Texas. He is president of the Medical Centers of Americas Foundation in El Paso, the Board of Visitors of the U.T.M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the Development Board at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, and chairman of the Hunt Family Foundation. Hunt received a bachelor’s degree and master of business administration degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree in management from the Claremont Graduate School in Pomona, California. AW Riter of Tyler is president of Riter Management Company L.C. and the A.W. Riter Jr. Family Foundation. He is an executive committee member of the University of Texas (UT) at Tyler Development Board and the UT at Tyler Health Center Development Board.

Riter is a board member of the Tyler Health Facilities Development Corporation Board, UT Tyler Foundation, and College for all Texans Foundation. He is also an advisory council member of the UT System Institute for Public School Initiatives and a member of the Mercy Ships International Executive Committee. Riter received a bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University and a master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Bob Shepard of the Rio Grande Valley is chairman of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. He was appointed by then-Governor George W. Bush to the 18 member board in 1997, and reappointed by Governor Rick Perry in 2004. He is past-chairman of the Development Board of the University of Texas at Brownsville, a past member of the University of Texas Pan American Business Council, and served on the Board of Directors of the Valley Partnership. He has served as a former member and Chairman of the Board of Regents Pan American University in Edinburg. Shepard also served on the Harlingen Economic Development Board from 1998 until 2004, and was president from 2000 to 2004. He is a member of the Independent Agents and Brokers of America, and former member of the Harlingen Industrial Foundation and Past Chairman of the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin.