The Senate approved three members of the CPB Board Thursday, one returning and two new. The three were nominated by President Obama earlier this year.
New to the governing body for a term expiring in 2016 is David Arroyo of Brooklyn, N.Y., s.v.p. for legal affairs at Scripps Network Interactive. From 2008-12 Arroyo chaired the Board of Latino Justice, formerly the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund. He also was recognized by the Imagen Foundation as one of the most influential Latinos in entertainment in 2012.
Retired dentist Judith Davenport of Pittsburgh is the other new CPB director. She is a co-founder and director of Sheridan Broadcasting Corp., an owner of radio stations. Davenport also serves on several boards, including for the Heinz Endowments and Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. Her term expires in 2020.
Returning is Elizabeth Sembler, CPB Board vice-chair and an educator in Clearwater, Fla. Sembler was first appointed to the board by President Bush and confirmed by the Senate in October 2008. She has served on the board of WEDU-TV in Tampa since 1993 and chaired that board from 2001-03. Sembler also served on the board of the Association of Public Television Stations from 2006-08. Her new term also expires in 2020.
The board now stands at nine members and is chaired by Patricia Cahill, retired general manager of KCUR-FM in Kansas City. Directors set policy and programming priorities. The board also appoints CPB’s president and chief executive officer.