Jo Bonner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jo Bonner
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| 4th President of the University of South Alabama | |
| Assumed office December 2, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Tony Waldrop |
| Chief of Staff to the Governor of Alabama | |
| In office January 20, 2019 – December 2, 2021 |
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| Governor | Kay Ivey |
| Preceded by | Steve Pelham |
| Succeeded by | Liz Filmore |
| Chair of the House Ethics Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Zoe Lofgren |
| Succeeded by | Mike Conaway |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 1st district |
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| In office January 3, 2003 – August 2, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Sonny Callahan |
| Succeeded by | Bradley Byrne |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Josiah Robins Bonner
November 19, 1959 Selma, Alabama, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Janée Lambert |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Alabama (BA) |
Josiah Robins Bonner Jr. (born November 19, 1959), known as Jo Bonner, is an American university president and former politician. He is currently the fourth president of the University of South Alabama.
Before this, Bonner was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing a part of Alabama from 2003 to 2013. He is a member of the Republican Party. He left Congress in 2013 to work for the University of Alabama system. From 2019 to 2021, he was the Chief of Staff for Alabama's governor, Kay Ivey.
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Early Life and Education
Jo Bonner was born in Selma, Alabama, and grew up in the nearby town of Camden, Alabama. In 1982, he earned a degree in journalism from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
After college, Bonner became involved in his community. He served on the boards of groups like the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club. In 2000, the University of Alabama named him their Outstanding Alumnus in Public Relations.
Career in Politics
Bonner's career in politics began two years after he graduated from college. He started working for U.S. Congressman Sonny Callahan.
Working for a Congressman
In 1984, Bonner became the press secretary for Congressman Callahan's campaign. A press secretary is someone who talks to the news media for a politician. In 1989, Bonner was promoted to be Callahan's chief of staff. A chief of staff is the top advisor and manager for a politician's office.
U.S. House of Representatives
When Congressman Callahan decided not to run for re-election in 2002, Bonner ran for the same seat. He won the election and became a U.S. Representative for Alabama's 1st congressional district. This area is in the southwestern part of the state.
A U.S. Representative is a person elected to help make laws for the whole country. They are part of a group called the United States House of Representatives in Washington, D.C.
Winning Elections
Bonner was very popular in his district. After his first win in 2002, he was re-elected several times. In the 2008 and 2010 elections, he ran unopposed, meaning no one from another major party ran against him. He won his last election in 2012 with 56% of the vote in the Republican primary.
Time in Congress
During his ten years in Congress, Bonner was known for being a conservative politician. He was a member of the Republican Party. He was chosen to be an Assistant Whip, which is a leadership role that helps organize votes for the party.
He served on important committees, including the Committee on Appropriations. This committee helps decide how the U.S. government spends its money. He also served as the chairman of the Committee on Ethics, which makes sure members of Congress follow the rules.
In 2013, Bonner decided to leave Congress to take a job at the University of Alabama.
Working for the Governor of Alabama
In January 2019, Bonner became the Chief of Staff for Kay Ivey, the governor of Alabama. As her top advisor, he helped her run the state government. He held this important job until 2021, when he left to become the president of the University of South Alabama.
University Leadership
Bonner's career shifted from politics to education. In 2013, after leaving Congress, he became a vice chancellor at the University of Alabama. His job was to manage the university's relationships with the government and help with economic growth.
In November 2021, he was chosen to be the new president of the University of South Alabama. He officially started the job on December 2, 2021. Some people were unsure about a politician leading a university. Bonner asked them to give him a chance to show they could work together.
Personal Life
Jo Bonner is married to Janée Lambert. They have two children, a daughter named Jennifer Lee and a son named Josiah Robins, III. The family lives in Mobile, Alabama. His sister, Judy, was the president of the University of Alabama from 2012 to 2015.
