SU alums appointed to Gov.-elect executive cabinet, staff

Governor-elect John Bel Edwards, December 16, 2015, announced several key appointments for his administration.

Edwards was elected in November and will take office January 11, 2016, as the 56th governor of the State of Louisiana.

Joining the incoming governor's executive cabinet is SU alumnus Shawn Wilson (pictured above left) as secretary, Department of Transportation and Development.

Appointed to Governor-elect Edwards' staff are SU alumnus Johnny G. Anderson (pictured above middle), deputy chief of staff, programming and planning; and SU Law Center alumna Erin Monroe Wesley (pictured above right), special counsel.

Wilson is a native of New Orleans. He earned a B.A. in urban and regional planning from the University of Louisiana, where he served as student government president and member of the University of Louisiana System Board. He holds a master of Public administration degree and recently earned a Ph.D. in Public Policy from the Nelson Mandela School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs at Southern University Baton Rouge. Wilson is the former executive director of the Louisiana Serve Commission and deputy legislative director in Gov. Kathleen Blanco’s administration with transportation policy responsibilities. He currently serves as the chief of staff for the Department of Transportation and Development and has served in this capacity under the three previous secretaries and two governors over the past 10 years.

Anderson previously served as special assistant to Louisiana Attorney General Richard Ieyoub, assistant chief of staff to Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, and as a member of the Southern University Board of Supervisors. Anderson also serves as executive administrator (CAO) at the Greater King David Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. Anderson is a graduate of Eunice High School and earned a bachelor of science in business management and marketing from Southern University Baton Rouge.

Wesley, a Shreveport native, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in internal auditing from LSU and a juris doctorate from the Southern University Law Center. She currently serves as the executive vice president and chief operating officer for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC), where she oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization. Prior to this role, Monroe served as BRAC’s senior vice president of governmental affairs. Prior to joining BRAC, she served as the executive counsel for the Office of Lieutenant Governor Mitchell J. Landrieu, associate executive counsel for Governor Kathleen Blanco, and as a staff attorney for the Louisiana State Senate.

Click here for full list of appointments (www.onwardlouisiana.com).