LA PLATA, Md. (July 30, 2008)—Gov. Martin J. O’Malley has appointed Austin Joseph Slater, Jr., of California, to the College of Southern Maryland Board of Trustees, effective July 1, 2008. Slater is the president and chief executive officer of Southern Maryland Electric Co-op (SMECO).
"I am deeply indebted to the college, it facilitated a life-improving change-in-course for me. I hope to repay in some small way for this initial step to my college education,” Slater said, adding, “CSM is similar to SMECO in that we serve the same region and both offer critical services to a growing and vibrant community. I am humbled to join the board of trustees.”
Slater also serves on the boards of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce and Community Bank of Tri-County.
Slater holds an MBA in finance from George Washington University, a bachelor degree from Shepherd College in accounting, and an associate degree from the College of Southern Maryland.
CSM’s Board of Trustees is the governing body providing leadership and oversight of the college’s mission and policies. Members are appointed by the governor for five-year terms; the board consists of nine members, with Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties equally represented. With Slater’s appointment, the CSM Board’s membership is now equally distributed among the three counties it serves.
Other CSM trustees are Chair James K. Raley Jr. of St. Mary’s County; Vice Chair MacArthur Jones, Charles R. Bailey Jr. and Mary Maddox Krug of Calvert County; Michael Middleton, Joseph F. Shannon Jr. and Dorothea Holt Smith of Charles County; and Janice T. Walthour of St. Mary’s County. Serving as secretary/treasurer to the board is CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried.
The Board of Trustees each receive a stipend of $599 annually, paid quarterly.