Butcher, Merchant named MSU Regents
Gov. Steve Beshear has appointed attorney Julie A. Butcher of Lexington and reappointed 
attorney John C. Merchant of Cincinnati to six-year terms on the Morehead State University Board of Regents.
Butcher succeeds Jean Dorton of Paintsville who had served since 2003. Merchant, also appointed in 2003, will be serving his second term.
“We are pleased to welcome Julie Butcher to our governing board and look forward to working with her in the years ahead,” said MSU President Wayne D. Andrews. "And we are gratified by the reappointment of John Merchant, one of several alumni serving in that important role."
A graduate of the University of Kentucky and the UK College of Law, Butcher has been an attorney in private practice in Lexington since 1990. She was with Landrum and Shouse from 1990 to 1994 and the Gary C. Johnson Law Office from 1994 to 2002. She opened her own practice in 2003.
“As the first person in my family to graduate from college, I truly appreciate the value of public higher education. I am honored to begin service on the MSU Board of Regents and will work hard so that others can realize their dreams and potential,” said Butcher.
MSU's new regent is a member of the Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, National College of Advocacy, Fayette County and the Kentucky bar associations.
Merchant is a member of the Cincinnati law firm of Peck, Shaffer and Williams. He is a graduate of Morehead State University and the University of Kentucky College of Law.
“I am honored to accept reappointment to the Board of Regents,” said Merchant. “The University is making remarkable progress in spite of economic challenges and I believe even better days are coming.”
MSU’s 11-member governing board is comprised of eight citizens appointed by the governor and elected representatives of the faculty, staff and students.
Other new regents officially taking office July 1 were Terry White of the staff and SGA President Kyle Yarawsky, Burlington senior.
Posted: 7-7-09
