Board of Governors names two new members to UF Board of Trustees

June 23, 2011

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Board of Governors today announced the appointment of two new members of the University of Florida Board of Trustees.

Charles B. Edwards, currently a member of the Board of Governors, is a member of the law firm of Geraghty, Dougherty & Edwards, P.A., in Fort Myers. In 1987, then-Gov. Bob Martinez appointed Edwards to the Board of Regents of the State University System. He served as vice chairman in 1988, and as chairman from 1989 to 1991. He founded and was president of the Florida Gulf Coast University Foundation and was president of the E Club, a support organization for Edison College. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1965 and his law degree in 1968, from UF. In 1995, UF honored Edwards with its Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Susan Cameron, formerly Susan Ivey, earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing from the Warrington College of Business Administration in 1980 and has more than 20 years of American and international experience in business. She began her career as a sales representative and rose to the position of president and chief executive officer of Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. She went on to serve as president and CEO of Reynolds American, Inc., as well as chairman of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. She retired in February. Her organizational involvement includes the Women’s Leadership Initiative for the United Way of America and the Board of Advisers for the Center for Women in Business and Economics at Salem College.

“Charles and Susan have deep roots at the University of Florida,” UF President Bernie Machen said. “As devoted alumni, they have a solid understanding of what’s important to this institution and what makes it unique. I look forward to working with them.”

Cameron succeeds Cynthia O’Connell, whose term ended in February, when she was named Secretary of the Florida Lottery. Edwards succeeds Mac McGriff, who, like O’Connell, was named to the board when it was created in 2001. Both terms run until Jan. 6, 2016.