The Kansas University Endowment Association is poised to elect the first female chairwoman of its Board of Trustees in October.

Deanell Reece Tacha, a U.S. Court of Appeals judge for the 10th Circuit, has been nominated to succeed Wichita resident Kurt Watson, president and CEO of The IMA Financial Group.

“She’s a very energetic, outstanding, dynamic leader who exudes confidence and inspires confidence in everybody she’s around,” said Dale Seuferling, president of KU Endowment.

The recommendation will be forwarded to the full board for consideration during its October annual meeting. Watson would remain on the board’s executive committee as an immediate past chairman, Seuferling said.

Tacha, of Lawrence, is a former member of the KU School of Law’s faculty and a former chairwoman of the KU Alumni Association’s national board of directors. She is currently vice chairwoman of KUEA’s Board of Trustees.

“I consider myself one of the most fortunate Jayhawks in Jayhawk nation,” Tacha said, because she has been able to serve KU in so many roles.

She said she will be taking on only administrative and management roles and will not be involved in fundraising efforts in order to prevent any conflicts of interest from arising because of her position as a federal judge.

The KU Endowment Board of Trustees has up to 75 members who meet once a year, supported by six standby committees that meet throughout the year. Board members receive no compensation for their service.