Governor appoints two new members to university governing board

Christopher Falcon, a lawyer from Northern Virginia, and John Lynch, a lawyer from Norfolk, have been appointed by Gov. Ralph Northam to the James Madison University Board of Visitors. 

The 15-member Board of Visitors is the governing body of JMU, which by statute is responsible for overseeing the effective government of the university. Members of the Board of Visitors are appointed for terms of four years each. 

Falcon, a 2003 JMU graduate, is the civil division supervisor and legal counsel to the Arlington County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office. He is also owner and founder of The Falcon Firm PLLC, an estate planning law practice. 

Lynch, a 1991 JMU graduate, is a partner at Troutman Sanders LLP (Troutman Pepper-effective July 1, 2020) and serves on the firm’s executive and partner compensation committees. He has a national practice focused on business litigation, financial services and class action defense. 

In addition to the two new members, Northam reappointed three members to second terms: Maribeth D. Herod, the current rector of the board; Lara Major, the current vice-rector of the board, and John Rothenberger. 

Herod, a 1982 JMU graduate, is senior vice president of Bank of America; Major, a 1992 JMU graduate, is an educational consultant; and Rothenberger, a 1988 JMU graduate, is CEO of Strategic Enterprise Solutions, Inc. 

Falcon and Lynch replace Mike Battle and Mike Thomas, who have each served consecutive terms on the board starting in 2012. Visitors are not eligible to serve for more than two successive four-year terms. 

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