Four Appointed to Board

Lawrence Davenport and Burley Mitchell have been reappointed to four-year terms on the NC State Board of Trustees by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. Benjamin Jenkins and Dr. James Owens have been appointed to their first terms on the board. All four appointments are effective July 1.

Davenport, of Pactolus, earned his bachelor’s degree in agronomy from NC State in 1965. He is president of J.P. Davenport and Son Inc., a family-owned agribusiness.

Mitchell, of Raleigh, received his bachelor of arts degree in political science from NC State and his law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is former chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court and is currently a partner at Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice. Mitchell was appointed to a seat on the University of North Carolina Board of Governors on Wednesday; one of eight people selected to serve on the system-wide board by the North Carolina Senate.

Jenkins, of Charlotte, is managing director and vice chairman of retail banking at Morgan Stanley & Co.’s New York firm. Jenkins was formerly vice chairman and president of the General Bank for Wachovia Corporation, which includes retail and wholesale activities such as branch delivery, commercial, business and community banking and Wachovia Dealer Services. He received his bachelor’s degree in textile chemistry from NC State and his MBA from the University of Alabama. In September 2007, NC State announced the naming of the Jenkins Graduate School of Management in the College of Management in honor of Jenkins.

Owens, of Peoria Heights, Ill., is chairman and CEO of Caterpillar Inc. After joining Caterpillar in 1972 as a corporate economist, he has held numerous management positions. He is a native of Elizabeth City and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in textile technology and his Ph.D. in economics from NC State.

NC State’s board of trustees is composed of 13 members: eight elected by the UNC Board of Governors, four appointed by the governor and the president of the student body.