LIVINGSTON – At the recent University of West Alabama board of trustees quarterly meeting, four new officers were elected to serve three-year terms.

John E. Northcutt of Demopolis will lead the board after serving as vice president under outgoing president Margaret Lovett.

Appointed to the board in 2004 by Gov. Bob Riley to represent Alabama’s 7th Congressional District, the 1972 UWA history graduate will preside over all board meetings, appoint members to board committees, and work with university administration to implement policies and develop long-term objectives for the 175-year-old institution.

“It is a distinct honor to serve my alma mater in this role, and I look forward to working with the other new officers, who bring a wealth of knowledge to our board,” said Northcutt, chairman emeritus of Robertson Banking Company.

Northcutt says the goals for his term include improving on-campus housing and increasing new enrollment.

“Like all universities, UWA faces a unique set of challenges, but I’m excited to help move the institution forward in the coming years,” he continued.

Thomas E. Ballow Jr. of Montgomery, a 1961 business graduate, was elected vice president following his term as board secretary. Ballow, the retired president and chief executive officer of MAX Federal Credit Union, was appointed in 2004 as an at-large representative.

Auburn businesswoman Rebecca S. Lewis, appointed in 2008 to represent the 3rd Congressional District, will serve as board secretary.

Wilsonville attorney Randall I. Hillman, a 1986 history and political science graduate, is the new treasurer. The executive director of the Alabama District Attorneys Association and the Alabama Office of Prosecution Services represents the 6th Congressional District.

“We are very pleased to have this distinguished group, which includes three of our graduates, take on their new roles,” said UWA President Richard D. Holland. “They have the University’s best interests in mind, and together we will serve this institution and work for its continued growth and success.”

The new officers will preside at the Sept. 13, 2010, quarterly meeting, with their terms ending in 2013.