Gov. Joe Manchin has appointed Braxton County School Superintendent Carolyn Long to the West Virginia University Board of Governors.

Long replaces Mark Manchin who recently left his position as McDowell County school superintendent to become executive director of the state School Building Authority.

We want to welcome Superintendent Long to the governing board,said Stephen Goodwin, BOG chair.Having talked with Carolyn, I believe shell be a great addition and provide a very important perspective to the panelthat of public education in West Virginia.

He added,Mark has done an excellent job, and on behalf of the Board, I want to thank him for his service to WVU and wish him well in his new position.

Long has been the school superintendent in Braxton County for the past six years. She is the 2006 West Virginia Superintendent of the Year as selected by the West Virginia Association of School Administrators.

She began her teaching career in Kanawha County and later served 10 years as principal of Little Birch Elementary School.

She earned a bachelors degree in education from Fairmont State University and a masters in educational administration from WVU .

Superintendent Long brings excellent credentials and a strong work ethic to our board,said WVU President David C. Hardesty, Jr.I am sure that her insights will help us to forge stronger connections with the public education system, as did those of her predecessor, Mark Anthony Manchin.

Longs term on the 17-member BOG runs through June 2010.

The next meeting of the panel is set for Feb. 9 in Morgantown.