Belton re-elected as Southern University Board chair

Ruston attorney John F.K. Belton has been re-elected as Chairman of the Southern University Board of Supervisors for 2002.
“I appreciate the vote of confidence among my colleagues because it shows their trust in my leadership skills,” said Belton.
Belton, who will serve a one-year term, is an assistant district attorney for Lincoln Parish and a partner of the Bleich, Belton, Riley, Houch, & Burnett law firm in Ruston. He has been a member of the Southern University Board of Supervisors since March 1999.
“Our main goal is to improve the system by carrying out our mission,” said Belton, “to prepare our students to compete globally.”
As chairman of the board, Belton as well as his colleagues have pushed for chancellors to encourage student leadership to submit their ideas and concerns to the board.
“We want students to know that without them the Board of Supervisors would not exist,” said Belton.
A Basile native, Belton received a law degree from the Southern University Law Center in 1990 and a Bachelors of Arts degree from McNeese State University in 1986. He is a member of several bar associations, boards, and national organizations and has received many awards and honors.
“I love to give so much of myself to Southern University because it is a spirit based institution from top to bottom,” added Belton.
Lea Polk of New Orleans has also been re-elected as vice chair.
Polk, financial consultant for Salomon Smith Barney, Inc. in New Orleans, president of Platinum Management and CEO of Black Diamond Records, has been a member of the board since April 1999. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Southern University-New Orleans in 1991.
The Southern University Board of Supervisors is the governing board for the Southern University System–Southern University–Baton Rouge, Southern University–Shreveport, Southern University Law Center, Southern University–New Orleans, and Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center.