California - The University of California (UC) board of regents appointed Dr. Juan Sanchez Munoz as UC Merced's fourth chancellor on May 20. He will take over from interim chancellor Nathan Brostrom who will return to the UC office of the president on August 1. Munoz most recently served as president of the University of Houston-Downtown.
Oklahoma - The state's Department of Transportation (ODOT) named Ron Brown as division engineer for Division Three. Brown previously served as construction engineer for the same region. Prior to that role, he was ODOT's resident engineer in Ada, Oklahoma.
Alabama - Former state Rep. April Weaver accepted a position as U.S. Health and Human Services Regional Director for Region IV, which comprises Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Weaver previously worked for more than 23 years in hospital management in urban, suburban, and rural hospitals.
Ohio - The city of Middletown named James Palenick as its next city manager, effective July 13. He will succeed acting City Manager Susan Cohen. Palenick most recently served as the city administrator for Racine, Wisconsin. Before joining Racine, he was the director of economic and business development for the city of Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Florida - Broward County selected Jonathan Daniels as the chief executive and port director at Port Everglades on May 20. He will succeed acting chief executive and port director Glenn Wiltshire. Daniels most recently served as executive director of the Port of Gulfport, Mississippi. Prior to that role, he was the executive director of the Port of Oswego in New York.
Nevada - Gov. Steve Sisolak appointed Caleb Cage to serve as the state's COVID-19 response director on May 18. Cage is the former head of the State Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and most recently the assistant vice chancellor for workforce development and community colleges at the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE).