FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 8, 2016

New York State Legislature Elects Three New
Members to the Board of Regents


Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie, Education Committee Chair Catherine T. Nolan and Higher Education Committee Chair Deborah J. Glick today announced the Legislature's election of Luis O. Reyes, Nan Eileen Mead and Elizabeth Smith Hakanson to the New York State Board of Regents.

"The experience and insights of these highly-regarded individuals will be a significant asset to the Board of Regents. With their guidance, the Board of Regents will be able to continue its mission of ensuring excellence among the educational institutions operating in this state so students can achieve success both in and outside of the classroom," said Heastie.

"Today, my colleagues in the Assembly and Senate have elected three outstanding and dedicated professionals to the Board of Regents. Their commitment to education will strengthen the Board of Regents in ways that will benefit children, college students and the educational institutions of our state for many years to come," said Nolan.

"These three individuals, who are well respected in their various fields of education, will help the Board of Regents ensure there are educational opportunities for all New Yorkers, and that the young people in our state receive a quality education so they can become the outstanding achievers of the future," said Glick.

In a joint session of the Legislature, Reyes and Hakanson were elected to serve full terms on the board, and Mead was elected to serve for one year to fill a vacancy on the board's 1st Judicial District.

Reyes, Regent at Large, has spent several decades teaching Spanish and education courses at the following CUNY institutions: Lehman, Brooklyn, Baruch and Hunter, where he is a research associate at the Center for Puerto Rican Studies. He also served on the faculty of Long Island University, the Brooklyn Campus; earned a Ph.D from Stanford University; and has authored multiple articles for many publications, including the Harvard Educational Review, Journal of Latinos and Education, and The Bilingual Research Journal. From 1990 to 1998, Reyes also was as a member of the New York City Board of Education.

Mead has extensive experience as a public education advocate with demonstrated success in increasing parent engagement, relationship building, and community advocacy and development. She holds leadership positions in several New York City public education advocacy organizations that include the Chancellor's Parent Advisory Council, Community Education Council District 3 and Community School District 3 Presidents' Council. Among her higher education credentials is a B.A. in Politics from New York University. Mead also has a career in the financial industry.

Hakanson, a 5th Judicial District Regent, has more than 32 years of education experience, which includes teaching at the high school and middle school levels in the Syracuse City School District. Throughout her career in public education, she has been committed to designing, implementing and enhancing education in ways that inspire individuals to outperform expectations and realize their full potential. From Syracuse University, Hakanson earned a M.S. in Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education and an A.B. in Arts and Sciences and Education Social Studies.

The Board of Regents was established in 1784 and is the oldest, continuous state education entity in the United States. The Regents are responsible for the general oversight of all educational activities within the state, presiding over the State University of New York and the State Education Department.

Board members are elected to five-year terms by a joint session of the state Legislature. There is one regent for each of the state's 13 judicial districts and four at-large members. Regents do not receive a salary for serving on the board.