President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced plans to nominate former Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell and East Tennessee State University President Brian Noland to the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors.

Harwell, a Republican from Nashville, made history in 2011 as the state’s first female speaker of the House. The longtime legislator effectively retired to launch an unsuccessful bid for governor in 2018, and in January she presided over the state House for the last time.

Since then, Harwell has spent her time working for private companies and teaching classes, including one on political science at Middle Tennessee State University.

Noland took the helm of East Tennessee State University in 2012. He previously served for six years as chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education System.

The university has launched several large construction projects during Noland’s tenure, including work on a performing arts center, a new football stadium, and a new research and education center. Noland was one of four candidates considered for the chancellor position at the University of Tennessee’s Knoxville campus last year. He ultimately withdrew his name from the search.

The TVA Board of Directors is composed of nine members who are nominated by the president. Nominees must be approved by the U.S. Senate. Each serves a term of five years.

The board currently only has seven members.

Sen. Lamar Alexander in commenting on the nomination of Harwell said: “Throughout her time in the Tennessee House of Representatives, and as Speaker of the House, Beth has worked with the TVA on several issues. She understands that TVA’s mission is to continue to provide cheap, clean and reliable electricity throughout the Tennessee Valley, and I know her leadership will be a valuable asset to the TVA board.”

Of Noland, Alexander said, “Brian is a respected leader in East Tennessee, and during his tenure as president, he has helped transform Tennessee’s fourth largest university, East Tennessee State University. His administrative experience makes him the right person to help keep TVA on a good path — to continue to provide clean, cheap, reliable electricity at the lowest possible rates for homes and businesses through the seven-state Tennessee Valley region.”