Indiana Gov. Frank O'Bannon made the announcement April 3, extending Hughes' term though Jan. 1, 2005.

Hughes, a South Bend resident, earned a bachelor's degree in 1965 and master's degree in 1973, both from Ball State. He is the past-president of the Ball State Alumni Council, the governing body of the university's alumni association.

He is the president and chief executive officer of the St. Joseph County United Way, Inc. Previously, he was the director of the St. Joseph County Housing Allowance Office and executive director of the St. Joseph County Housing Authority.

His wife, the former Lavera R. Knight, is a first-grade teacher at James Monroe Elementary School in South Bend. She received her master's in 1972 from Ball State.

By Marc Ransford, Communications Manager