TOPEKA, Kansas - Governor Mark Parkinson has reappointed Christine Downey-Schmidt, Dan Lykins and Juana “Janie” Perkins to the Kansas Board of Regents.

“Our higher institutions provide Kansans an opportunity to better themselves and our state through further education,” said Parkinson. “The work of the Board of Regents is critical to ensuring the success of these institutions, and I thank the members for their service.”

Downey-Schmidt of Inman and Perkins of Garden City will serve their second, four-year terms as At-Large members. Lykins, Topeka, will serve his second, four-year term as a Second District Appointee.

The Kansas Board of Regents is a nine-member body which governs six state universities, and supervises and coordinates 19 community colleges, five technical colleges, six technical schools and one municipal university. Members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Kansas Senate. In the interim between legislative sessions, members’ reappointments are subject to authorization by the Senate Confirmation Oversight Committee until the full Senate can consider their nominations. Along with serving on the Board, each member works on various councils and committees, primarily in the education field, throughout the year. Results of studies from these councils and committees are then used to allocate funds, distribute support materials and make administrative decisions.

Governor Parkinson also appointed and reappointed multiple Kansans to the Kansas Film Commission and the Kansas Sentencing Commission.

Kansas Film Commission

Governor Parkinson has appointed Richard Averill and Suresh Ramamurthi to the Kansas Film Commission. Averill, Lawrence, is currently the Drama and Film Program Director for the Lawrence Arts Center. He holds a Master of Arts in Children’s Theatre from KU and has experience in directing, teaching and playwriting. Ramamurthi, Topeka, holds a MBA in Finance and Entrepreneurship from the University of Chicago. Parkinson also reappointed Jackie Johnson, Mission Hills, as a public member and Scott Richardson, Lawrence, as the Second Congressional District Representative to the Commission.

The Kansas Film Commission serves as a liaison with local, state and federal agencies, as well as private individuals, for filming projects in the state. The Commission staff provides full-service location scouting and pre-production information and assistance. It also offers problem-solving during production and is available as on-set liaison for difficult or sensitive locations.

Kansas Sentencing Commission

Governor Parkinson has appointed Jennifer Roth of Lawrence to the Kansas Sentencing Commission. Roth currently works as an Assistant Public Defender for the Third Judicial District Public Defender’s Office. The Governor also reappointed Pastor Junius Dotson of Wichita, Thomas Drees of Hays, Dale Finger of Topeka, Annie Grevas of Salina and Daniel Monnat of Wichita.

The Kansas Sentencing Commission develops post-implementation monitoring procedures and reporting methods to evaluate guideline sentences. The Commission advises and consults with the Secretary of Corrections on various issues, as well as the legislature as to implementation management, monitoring, maintenance and operations of the sentencing guidelines system.