A Lincoln elementary principal and Scottsbluff High School graduate is the newest member of the Nebraska State College System Board of Trustees.

Michelle Suarez succeeds Willa Kosman of Scottsbluff, who was first appointed to the board in 1999. Trustees serve 6 year terms.

There are still 2 Panhandle residents on the State College Board of Trustees: Larry Teahon and Gary Bieganski. Both are from Chadron, although Bieganski lived in McCook when appointed last year.

Suarez earned both bachelors and masters degrees from UNL, and has been principal at Calvert Elementary since 1997.

Before that she was an administrator and teacher at another Lincoln grade school and a first grade teacher at Wilber-Clatonia.

Suarez also worked at the Nebraska Summer Migrant Schools in Scottsbluff and Gering for 6 years, teaching children ages 3-to-8.

She is a board member of the Nebraska Education Leadership Council, the Lincoln Public Schools Foundation, and the Friendship Home Program.

Suarez and her husband John have 2 daughters...a UNL freshman and Lincoln Southeast junior.

The 7-member State College System Board of Trustees is responsible for the policy oversight of the 3 state colleges: Chadron State, Wayne State, and Peru State.