While she attended Western in the early 1980s, LaDonna Rogers was a Spirit Master, a position of student leadership.

Seventeen years after she graduated, Rogers has taken on a new leadership role – appointed by Gov. Paul Patton in June to replace former regent Peggy Loafman, whose term expired June 30.

Rogers applied for the opening in May and was chosen as one of three nominees for the Board of Regents by a state selection committee.

Patton selected Rogers in June as Western’s newest regent. She will serve a six-year term.

“He felt she would bring a lot to the Board of Regents,” said Rusty Cheuvront, a spokesman for Patton.

Rogers graduated from Western in 1985 with a degree in mass communications. After graduation, she worked in Frankfort as an assistant to the Secretary of the Cabinet, L. Roger Wells, Jr.

Rogers called her time at Western the most exciting four years of her life. She’s now the director of Human Resources at T.J. Samson Community Hospital in Glasgow and a member of the Glasgow Independent Board of Education.

Rogers said being a member of the Board of Regents will give her the opportunity to give back to a university she felt served her well.

“I’m giving them a return on their investment on me,” she said. “. As corny as it sounds, I am who I am because I went to Western. Western made me what I am.”

Rogers said her goal as a regent is to simply help maintain the quality of education at Western.

“(I want) to make Western the best university in Kentucky,” she said. “With the work Ransdell has done, that is an achievable goal, and I look forward to being a part of that.”

Although Rogers has only served as a regent since July, President Gary Ransdell said he thinks she will be a good addition to the university’s governing body.

“Since I’ve come to know her, I’ve been impressed with the manner in which she thinks things through and asks relevant and meaningful questions,” Ransdell said.

Ransdell said Rogers’ participation as a Spirit Master will allow her to bring a unique perspective to the board at each of its meetings.

“It hasn’t been that long ago since she was a leader on this campus. I think that perspective will serve the board well,” he said. “My hunch is that she will be a champion for our students.”

Reach Mai Hoang at [email protected].