ANNAPOLIS, MD -- Governor Martin O’Malley today reaffirmed his commitment to the Asian Pacific American community, submitting to the Maryland Senate a list of “green bag” nominations which included several prominent Asian Americans for appointment and reappointment to State boards and commissions.

The list includes nominees for the Maryland Economic Development Commission, the Maryland State Board of Education, the Board of Trustees of Residential Boarding Education Programs (SEED School), the University System of Maryland Board of Regents, Community College Board of Trustees (in various counties), and the Critical Areas Commission for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays, among other regulatory and advisory boards. Today’s green bag appointments also included the nomination of Christian S. Johansson to serve as Secretary to the Department of Business and Economic Development.

“I am especially proud to make a number of appointments to fill key leadership positions on our State Board of Education, the University System Board of Regents and the Community Colleges Boards of Trustees to continue the progress we have made in building the No. 1 ranked school system in America, and making college more affordable for our families,” said Governor O’Malley. “We have worked hard to compile a list of individuals from across our State with diverse geographic and ethnic backgrounds to continue to help protect Maryland’s priorities.”

The term “green bag” derives from the historical green satchel that is used once every year to bring the gubernatorial nominations to the Senate. When not in use, the bag is stored at the Maryland State Archives. It is state tradition that a senior member of the governor’s staff delivers the “green bag” to the Senate.

Among the nominees are:

Madhu Sidhu (new appointment to the State Board of Education): Ms. Sidhu currently serves as the Executive Director and Program Development Manager for Character Counts!, a non-profit in Kent County. She has been actively involved in the Maryland State PTA, both as a board member and as Chair of Curriculum and Instruction. She also served as the President of Kent County High School PTSA, during which membership increased by 135%. Ms. Sidhu has devoted her life to teaching and education, both in the classroom and as a parent. She received a BA from SNDT Women’s University (India) and from Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, and has completed computer courses at Washington College. She is a Kent County resident.

John L. Young, M.D. (new appointment to the University System of Maryland Board of Regents and reappointment to the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission): Dr. Young is a medical physician at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Gaithersburg. He is the founding and managing partner of Genetic Consultants of Maryland. Dr. Young received his Bachelor of Science in zoology from the University of Maryland College Park, and received his Medical Degree from the University of Maryland Medical School. Dr. Young is currently Commissioner of the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission, and is President-Elect of the Montgomery County Medical Society. He is a certified diplomat of the American Board of OB/Gyn and board-certified on the National and Maryland Board of Medical Examiners. He is a Montgomery County resident.

Kenny W. Kan (new appointment to the Maryland Health Care Commission): Mr. Kan is being nominated for appointment as a member of the Maryland Health Care Commission. He is Senior Vice President and Chief Actuary for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. Mr. Kan has 20 years of actuarial and health care consulting experience and is a Fellow in the Society of Actuaries and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He is also a Certified Public Accountant and a Chartered Financial Analyst. Mr. Kan holds both a Master’s Degree in Professional Accounting and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a Howard County resident.

Rene Javier (reappointment to the State Board of Waterworks and Waste Systems Operators): Mr. Javier is an engineer and pre-treatment coordinator for Howard County Utilities. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Adamson University in the Philippines and a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from the University of Maryland. He is a member of the Environmental Division of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and a member of the Water and Waste Operators Association. Mr. Javier is a Baltimore County resident.

Jonathan C. Nou, D.C. (new appointment to the State Board of Chiropractic and Massage Therapy Examiners): Dr. Nou is the Clinical Director of AllCare Chiropractic, LLC. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York Regents College in Albany and his Doctor of Chiropractic from New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls. Dr. Nou is a member of the Maryland Chiropractic Association, the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Academy of Pain Management. He is a Howard County resident.

Jon Jiang Liu, Ph.D. (reappointment to the Maryland State Arts Council): Dr. Liu is a Liaison Officer to the U.S. Army Logistics Innovation Agency for the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff. He received his Bachelor of Science in Optical Physics and Master of Science in Optics and Laser Physics from the Peking University and his Ph.D. in Microelectronic Physics from Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Liu is a Senior Member of the International Electrical and Electronics Engineers Society, is author and co-author of over 80 publications in the U.S. and internationally circulated journals and reports and holds 5 U.S. patents. He is a Board Member of the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce and the Montgomery County Arts and Humanity Council and is the Founder and President of the Agis Center for Arts and Humanities. Dr. Liu is a Montgomery County resident.

ChanSu Chong (reappointment to the State Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators): Ms. Chong is a Social Insurance Specialist and Program Expert for the Social Security Administration. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Baltimore. She is a member of the National Unification Advisory Council and she resides in Howard County.