Student trustee nominee Gracie Suggs forwarded to full board

At a meeting of the Austin Peay State University student affairs committee, members voted to forward the nomination of Gracie Suggs to the full Board of Trustees for approval to serve as the next student trustee. The committee heard a presentation on the selection process and a statement from Suggs before the committee moved the nomination.

The committee heard from Dr. Leonard Clemons, vice president for student affairs, who described the selection process used by the university and introduced Suggs as the committee’s recommendation to President Mike Licari. “With that, we have Gracie Suggs that we would like to present to the board,” Clemons said. Suggs then introduced herself and summarized her academic and leadership background, including that she began at Austin Peay as a sophomore, is pursuing a concentration in medical, cellular and molecular biology, and has served in honors and leadership programs.

Suggs said she was “incredibly honored to have been selected as the student trustee of Austin Peay State University” and added, “I am committed to amplifying the student voices and supporting initiatives that foster success.” Committee members praised her record during discussion.

Trustee Jenkins moved to forward Suggs’ name to the full board; Trustee May seconded the motion. The committee approved the motion by voice vote. The committee’s recorded minutes note only a voice vote and do not list individual roll-call tallies. The committee chair said, “The motion carries. Congratulations, Gracie.”

The nomination now proceeds to the full Board of Trustees for final confirmation. The student affairs committee treated the nomination as a recommendation; no final appointment was made at the committee meeting.