Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has named Scott Ballard as the next chairman of the LSU Board of Supervisors. Ballard, a Covington businessman and PJs Coffee franchisor, was appointed to the board by Landry last year. Ballard is also a political donor who has given extensively to Landry and other candidates. Landry also announced the appointment of Roderick “Rico” Alvendia of New Orleans to the LSU board. An attorney and U.S. Army veterans, Alvendia  replaces former chair Jimmie Woods of New Orleans. Alvendia has contributed to Republican and Democratic candidates. President Joe Biden appointed him in 2022 to a three-year term on the board of directors for the U.S . Military Academy at West Point. Alvendia will reign as king of Washington Mardi Gras, which takes place later this month. Neither man is an LSU alumni. Ballard received an economics degree from Tulane, and Alvendia graduated law school from Loyola New Orleans. Landry is the first governor to choose the LSU board chair directly thanks to  legislation approved last year that gives him broad authority to select the heads of powerful state panels and commissions. Prior to the law taking effect, governors could only appoint members to the board who would then select their own chairs.