Legislature Elects Dr. Lester Young, Dr. Betty Rosa And Re-Elects
Dr. Geraldine Chapey to Board of Regents

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Education Committee Chair Catherine Nolan and Higher Education Committee Chair Deborah Glick today announced the election of Dr. Lester W. Young Jr. and Dr. Betty A. Rosa as the newest members of the 16-member panel of the New York State Regents. The Assembly and Senate, in a joint session of the Legislature, also announced the return of Dr. Geraldine D. Chapey to the board.

"The Assembly Majority is committed to ensuring that our children receive the proper education and skills to become the outstanding achievers of the future." said Silver. "The addition of these distinguished and accomplished individuals to the Board of Regents will continue the mission of academic performance and excellence in education throughout our state."

"The addition of Betty Rosa and Lester Young as well as the return of Geraldine Chapey will bring knowledge, expertise and talent to the Board of Regents. They will help guide our continued effort to ensure a quality education for every child in our state," said Nolan.

"The broad range of backgrounds and experiences by these members will enhance the efforts of our Regents Board and continue our goal to ensure an educated, informed, and talented populace in New York," said Glick.

Dr. Young currently holds the position of associate professor at Long Island University, Graduate School of Education. Previously, he has held positions of teacher, guidance counselor, supervisor of Special Education Services, principal, community superintendent and senior executive for Youth Development and School Community Services in the New York City school system. Young was appointed associate commissioner with the New York State Education Department and served in this position for five years. For his community, Young established Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, a citywide academic high school with a highly structured four-year program leading to college entrance. A product of the New York City public schools, Dr. Young holds a B.S. in Behavioral Science, and an M.S. in Guidance and School Counseling. He received a Ed.D. from Fordham University.

Dr. Rosa has a diverse background in education including five years as Community School District 8 superintendent, I.S 218 Community Schools District 6 principal and more than 13 years as an experienced administrator. Rosa was named Educator of the Year in 2002 at the Bronx Puerto Rican Parade and Superintendent of the Year by Mercy College in 1999. She was also honored as an "Outstanding Educator" by the New York State Assembly. Rosa holds a Ed.D. from Harvard University.

Dr. Chapey earned a doctorate from Fordham University and holds an American Speech and Hearing Association Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology. She is a professor at the City University of New York and is licensed by the New York City Board of Education as a high school principal, elementary school principal and is certified by the New York State Education Department in school district administration and in several teaching areas. Her distinguished career includes serving as a New York City Board of Education administrator, directing and supervising city-wide programs on both the senior and elementary school levels in regular and special education. Chapey has authored several books and co-authored almost 100 published articles, research papers and pamphlets.

The Board of Regents was established in 1784 and is the oldest, continuous state education entity in the United States. Regents are responsible for the general supervision of all educational activities within the state, presiding over the State University of New York and the New York State Education Department.

Board members are elected to five-year terms by a joint session of the state Legislature. There is one regent for each of the state's 12 judicial districts and four at-large members. Rosa and Chapey will serve until March 31, 2013. Lester is serving the last two of a five-year term previously held by Adelaide L. Sanford. Regents do not receive a salary for serving on the board.

Chapey, who the Legislature first appointed to the Board of Regents in 1998, will continue to serve a third term as a member of the Regents from the 11th Judicial District (Queens County). Rosa will be serving her first term and will fill the Regents position from the 12th Judicial District (Bronx County).Young will serve as Regent-At-Large.