The Nominee Committee on April 4 recommended approval of appointments to the Southern Research board of directors, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of Jeff Peebles effective Nov. 30, 2024.

The committee presented Clay Ryan, senior vice president of external affairs at Alabama Power, as the nominee to serve a three‑year term ending in November 2027. The committee also recommended reappointments for Dr. Christopher Brown, Jamie McMahon, Ruffner Page and Chancellor Sid Trant to three‑year terms ending November 2027. The committee moved the resolution with no recorded opposition.

Why it matters: Southern Research is an independent nonprofit research organization; board appointments shape governance and external partnerships that can affect research collaborations between the organization and university campuses.

The committee recorded a motion and a second and advanced the resolution for final board approval.