Columbians appointed to two university boards

Two Columbians have been named to the governing boards of two Missouri universities.

Cheryl Cozette, who will retire in June as assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for the Columbia Public Schools, has been appointed to the Truman State University Board of Governors.

Cozette and Matthew Potter, of St. Louis, were appointed to succeed G. Ruth Mach of St. Louis and Michael Schwend of Kirksville. Cozette’s term on the board will end Jan. 1, 2012.

Cozette, who has spent nine years with the Columbia district, did a year of graduate work at Truman State. “I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to serve the state of Missouri and Truman State,” she said.

Truman State, in Kirksville, has about 5,850 students.

Meanwhile, Edward L. Baker, of Columbia, has been named to the University of Central Missouri Board of Governors. Baker is the executive vice president of Executive Hotel Management, which owns the Holiday Inn Select Executive Center in Columbia.

Baker, whose term will end Jan. 1, 2013, hopes to bring his business experience to the board. Formerly known as Central Missouri State University, the school in Warrensburg has about 11,000 students. “There are a lot of opportunities (for students) at that size of a college,” Baker said.

Baker graduated from MU, but his mother-in-law and sister-in-law graduated from Central Missouri, and his niece is a student there now.

Gov. Matt Blunt appointed Cozette and Baker to their respective boards.