Feb. 11—Southern Oregon University's Board of Trustees has two new members, including a former state Supreme Court justice.

The governor's nominations of retired Justice Virginia Linder and Katherine Cable, a registration systems analyst for the school, were confirmed Thursday by the state Senate, SOU announced in a news release. Their appointments begin in July.

The board has 18 members who are responsible for overseeing SOU's programs, finances and presidential leadership. It recently completed a months-long presidential search that resulted in the appointment of Dr. Rick Bailey, Jr., who assumed his post Jan. 15.

In prepared statements, Linder, who will serve a four-year term, and Cable, who will serve two years, said they are pleased to serve SOU.

"I am honored by this appointment and look forward to engaging and contributing to the board's work in meeting the needs of SOU's students and the surrounding community," said Linder, who earned her bachelor's degree in political science at SOU in 1975 and currently lives in Salem.

Cable called herself a life-long student, owing to the fact that she has a bachelor's degree in emerging media and digital arts from SOU and is working on a second bachelor's degree in English.

"I've attended classes on many campuses in three states, and SOU is by far my favorite of them all," she said. "I'm proud to call myself an alumna and staff member of this university, and I look forward to serving and doing my part to make SOU the best we can be."

Board Chairman Danny Santos praised the women in a statement.

"We are doubly lucky that Virginia and Katherine both have been appointed," he said. "As alumni who both have remained engaged in this institution, I know their care for SOU will only strengthen our future work together."