NIU has named Jerry D. Blakemore as vice president and general counsel.

Blakemore will succeed Kenneth Davidson on April 1, provided he is approved by the NIU Board of Trustees. According to a press release from NIU Media Relations and Internal Communications, the board is scheduled to approve Blakemore at their meeting March 24.

NIU President John Peters said in the release that the university is “fortunate” to have someone of Blakemore’s experience on board.

“Jerry Blakemore will be a tremendous asset to NIU. He brings extensive expertise and knowledge about Illinois law, public policy, and regulatory affairs,” Peters said.

Marc Strauss, chair of the NIU Board of Trustees, also expressed his enthusaism for Blakemore..

“The position is important to the Board of Trustees because the general counsel provides input into the workings of the board and supports issues crucial to the development of NIU,” Strauss said.