With a new school year, there’s another new face showing up on the Board of Regents’ roll call.

Forrest Roberts, of Owensboro, was appointed to Western’s board by Gov. Paul Patton on May 20. She replaces Beverly Wathen, who served for two-and-a half years.

Roberts, an attorney, began a six-year term on July 1. She said she became a regent because of her interest in higher education. In Owensboro, she was involved with the Committee for Higher Education, a local citizen’s group that examines higher education issues.

“I think we need to have good public institutions of higher education so as many people as possible can get an education beyond high school,” she said.

Roberts, 55, sent her children to Western’s gifted programs – her only exposure to the university.

But she said she has learned and noticed a lot about Western as a regent.

“It seems there’s a pretty good relationship between the university and the community,” she said.

President Gary Ransdell said Roberts’ experience in community service work will add a lot to the board.

“Student service and community engagement is going to be an emerging theme across our campus,” Ransdell said. “She will lend valuable insight to that disussion.”

Reach Mai Hoang at [email protected]