Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi was elected chair of the Southern Regional Education Board at the annual meeting of the board June 22 in Atlanta.

As SREB chair, Reeves now leads the collaborative work of governors, legislators and state education leaders on SREB’s 80-member board to improve public education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce.

“I’m honored to have been elected chair of the Southern Regional Education Board and I’m excited to help lead this important work to strengthen education across the South,” said Gov. Reeves. “In Mississippi, we’ve seen what’s possible when we set high standards and stay committed to results — from the Mississippi Miracle to nation-leading fourth grade reading and math gains. I look forward to working with fellow governors, as well as legislators and state education leaders to build on that momentum and deliver even more opportunity to our students.”

“Gov. Reeves is a long-time supporter of education strategies that have resulted in positive student outcomes: setting clear goals, then working steadily and with commitment to achieve them,” said SREB Interim President Dale Winkler. “His leadership will continue SREB’s tradition of solving challenges together through unique solutions.”

Gov. Reeves succeeds Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who served two one-year terms as SREB chair, from 2023 to 2025.

“Governors founded SREB 77 years ago, and their guidance has remained central,” Winkler said. “We appreciate Gov. Reeves and Gov. Kemp and their leadership to improve the lives of students and the prosperity of communities across the South.”

Gov. Reeves is a native of Rankin County, Mississippi, and a graduate of Millsaps College. He and First Lady Elee Reeves are the parents of three daughters.

SREB Board Officers

Felicia Cumings Smith of Kentucky was re-elected vice chair of the board. She has served on the SREB board since 2020.

Cumings Smith, president of the National Center for Families Learning based in Louisville, began her career as a classroom teacher. She previously served as an assistant superintendent of the Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, an associate state education commissioner in Kentucky, and senior director for U.S. regions of the National Geographic Society.

North Carolina State Senator Graig Meyer was elected treasurer of the board. He has been an active member of the SREB Board and Legislative Advisory Council since 2018, including as a member of the executive committee.

Meyer was elected to the senate in 2022 and serves on the appropriations committee. He previously served in the North Carolina House of Representatives beginning in 2013. 

A trained social worker, he spent 16 years in North Carolina’s public schools, including as coordinator of the Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate program. He lives in Orange County.

SREB Legislative Advisory Council Officers

State Senator Beth Mizell of Louisiana was re-elected chair of the Southern Regional Education Board’s Legislative Advisory Council at the meeting. Mizell serves on the state’s senate education committee. She is a businessperson and cattle rancher with a background as a court-appointed special advocate for children. She lives in Franklinton.

State Senator Jay Chaudhuri of North Carolina was re-elected vice chair of SREB’s Legislative Advisory Council. Chaudhuri is senate minority whip and serves on the education/higher education and appropriations on education/higher education committees. He graduated from Davidson College, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, and North Carolina Central University School of Law with honors. He lives in Raleigh.

The SREB Legislative Advisory Council serves an advisory function to the Board as members help set priorities for SREB work.

Contact: Beth Day, SREB Communications, at Beth.Day@SREB.org or (770) 315-2041.

The Southern Regional Education Board works with states to improve education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce. An interstate compact and a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in Atlanta, SREB was created in 1948 by Southern governors and legislatures to advance education and improve the social and economic life of the region. The 16 SREB states are Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.