Alabama Senate confirms three Auburn University trustees to another term

The Alabama Senate on Wednesday confirmed Auburn University Trustees Mike DeMaioribus, Jimmy Sanford and Wayne Smith to another term on the board. Members of the board serve seven-year terms, with nine representing Alabama Congressional Districts as they were constituted on Jan. 1, 1961, and five others serving at-large.

DeMaioribus studied electrical engineering at Auburn, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1976 and a master’s degree in 1977. He is a retired defense and aerospace executive, having worked 39 years with Dynetics, Inc. Currently, DeMaioribus is a technical and operational executive consultant through DeMaioribus Technologies. He began serving the 8th District in 2013.

Sanford graduated from Auburn with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1968 and a master’s degree in economics in 1971. He is the chairman of the board of HOME Place Farms, Inc. and the Alabama Cotton Commission. He is the former chairman of the Birmingham branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and is affiliated with many organizations, including Judson College, the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce, Autauga County United Services and various advisory boards with Auburn University. Confirmed by the Alabama Senate in March 2012, Sanford represents the 4th District.

Smith has been a trustee at-large since March 2012 and currently serves as the board’s president pro tempore. A two-time Auburn graduate, he earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 1968 and a master’s degree in educational administration in 1969. Smith also holds a master’s degree in health care administration from Trinity University. He is the executive chairman of Tennessee-based Community Health Systems.

DeMaioribus, Sanford and Smith were named recently by the Auburn University Trustee Selection Committee, who forwarded the names to the State Senate for approval. Each of the three trustees was confirmed to serve the second of his two allowable terms.