Press release:

Pima County School Superintendent, Dr. Linda Arzoumanian, has appointed Dr. Alexandre Sugiyama to the Governing Board of the Tucson Unified School District. Dr. Arzoumanian interviewed three candidates to fill the open seat on the Governing Board of the Tucson Unified School District. Those names were forwarded to her by the community advisory committee tasked with identifying the best candidates on behalf of the TUSD community. The committee made its recommendations to Dr. Arzoumanian after interviewing all 54 applicants beginning on December 10, 2011.

Dr. Arzoumanian interviewed Dr. Sugiyama, Ronald Michaels, and Ross Sheard separately before making a decision to appoint one of the three. Dr. Sugiyama will fill the seat left vacant by the death of Judy Burns and will serve out the remainder of the term through December 31, 2012. The seat is one of three in TUSD that will be up for election in November of 2012.

Dr. Sugiyama is a lecturer in the University of Arizona’s Department of Economics. A long-time Tucson resident, he earned both his Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in economics prior to launching a post-graduate career in the financial industry. Dr. Sugiyama is motivated to serve on the TUSD board by his two young daughters as well as a strong belief that “educational excellence allows for the American dream to continue for a new generation.”

Dr. Sugiyama will be sworn into office by Dr. Arzoumanian at the TUSD board meeting on Tuesday, January 3 at 5:30p.m. TUSD board meetings are held at TUSD Central Office, 1010 E. 10th St.

Dr. Arzoumanian would like to thank the five members of the community advisory committee — Tola Baker, Michele Harbour, Steve Holmes, Charles Weisel and Juan Ciscomani — for their important work and commitment to the process. Dr. Arzoumanian would also like to thank the 54 applicants for their desire to serve the TUSD community and to recognize the strength of the pool of candidates.