FRANKFORT, KY - Gov. Andy Beshear has made the following appointments to Kentucky boards and commissions:

Gov. Beshear has appointed Col Owens to the State Board of Elections.

• Col Owens of Ft. Mitchell is a retired legal aid attorney. He replaces Ben Chandler, who has resigned, and will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term expiring Sept. 15, 2026.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Kimberly Plummer to the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.

• Kim Plummer of Ft. Mitchell is a sales associate at Nordstrom. She replaces Andrew Belcher, who has resigned, and will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term expiring Jan. 1, 2026.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Ashton McKenzie, Lauren Muir, and Tara Hyde to the Kentucky State Corrections Commission to serve for terms expiring Jan. 2, 2029.

• Ashton McKenzie of Mt. Sterling is the 21st Judicial Circuit commonwealth’s attorney. She represents commonwealth’s attorneys as a member of the Commission and replaces Thomas Wine, who is deceased.

• Lauren Muir of Louisville is a mental health therapist at Martin and Muir Consulting. She represents mental health service providers and replaces Melissa Leath, whose term has expired.
• Tara Hyde of Shelbyville is the CEO of People Advocating Recovery. She represents substance abuse treatment service providers and replaces Pamela Priddy, who is deceased.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Felicia Smith, Deirdre Cummings, Joseph Berry, Brittany Howell and Anita Dowd to the Early Childhood Advisory Council. Additionally, he has appointed Andrea Day to the Council.

• Felicia Smith of Frankfort is the president of the National Center for Families Learning. She represents citizens-at-large as a member of the Council and will serve for a term expiring June 30, 2028. Additionally, she will continue to serve as chair of the Council.
• Deirdre Cummings of Louisville is a self-employed consultant. She represents citizens-at-large and will serve for a term expiring June 30, 2028.
• Joseph Berry of Owensboro is a real estate developer with the Malcolm Bryant Corporation. He represents citizens-at-large and will serve for a term expiring June 30, 2028.
• Brittany Howell of Georgetown is the director of student services at Frankfort Independent Schools. She represents early childhood development advocates and will serve for a term expiring June 30, 2028.
• Anita Dowd of Lawrenceburg is the executive staff advisor for the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She represents local education agencies and will serve for a term expiring June 30, 2027.
• Andrea Day of Stamping Ground is a division director at the Education and Labor Cabinet. She represents state childcare agencies and replaces Sarah Vanover, whose term has expired. Mrs. Day will serve for a term expiring June 30, 2028.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Julia Richerson, Patricia Bautista-Cervera and Elaine Wilson to the Health Disparity and Equity Technical Advisory Committee. Additionally, he has appointed Brenda Burney to the Committee.

• Dr. Julia Richerson of Louisville is a pediatrician at Family Health Centers. She represents healthcare providers as a member of the Committee and will serve for a term expiring July 19, 2026.
• Patricia Bautista-Cervera of Louisville is the health empowerment coordinator at La Casita Center. She represents community-based organizations and will serve for a term expiring July 19, 2026.
• Elaine Wilson of Somerset is the director of diversity, equity and inclusion at the Somerset Community and Technical College. She represents educational institutions and will serve for a term expiring July 19, 2026.
• Brenda Burney of Louisville is the palliative care director at the University of Louisville Jewish Hospital. She represents lived experience and replaces Kiesha Curry, whose term has expired. Ms. Burney will serve for a term expiring Jan. 14, 2027.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Abigail Wheaton and Kim Walters-Parker to the State Advisory Council for Gifted and Talented Education to serve for terms expiring Jan. 14, 2028.

• Abigail Wheaton of Henderson is a teacher at Union County Public Schools. She represents gifted and talented teachers as a member of the Council and replaces Shaudeidra Bradford, whose term has expired.
• Kim Walters-Parker of Lexington is a faculty member in the education department at Georgetown College. She represents postsecondary institutions and fills a vacancy on the Council.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Nancy Henly and Billy Rowe to the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Advisory Committee to serve for terms expiring Jan. 14, 2028.

• Dr. Nancy Henly of Morehead is a physician with St. Claire Health. She represents pediatricians as a member of the Committee and replaces Horacio Zaglul, whose term has expired.
• Dr. Billy Rowe of Pikeville is the owner and pharmacist at Total Pharmacy Care. He represents pharmacists and replaces Charles Oliver, whose term has expired.