Juanita Powell Baranco, a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Decatur, has been elected vice chairman of the Georgia Board of Regents. The election was unanimous. She was to take office July 1. She succeeds Donald M. Leebern, Jr., in the post of vice chairman. Mr. Leebern now becomes chairman with the resignation of Chairman Barry Philips which was announced June 28.

As vice chairman of the board, Mrs. Baranco will work closely with newly elected Chancellor Stephen Porch who joins the university system this month.

Mrs. Baranco and her husband Gregory own the Baranco Automotive Group. She serves as legal counsel, co-owner and executive vice president of the company which has auto dealerships in Decatur, Duluth and Morrow.

The Baranco’s have four children. Their son, Gregory Jr., while a seventh grade student at Sts. Peter and Paul school won top national honors in the Modern Woodmen of America's civil oration contest. More than 80,000 students competed nationally.

Mrs. Baranco sings in the choir at Sts. Peter and Paul, and is active in organizations helping children and improving educational opportunities. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority and is a popular inspirational speaker and role model for young women in her community.

Mrs. Baranco earned bachelor of science and law degrees from Louisiana State University. She is a member of the American Bar Association and the bar associations of Georgia and Louisiana.

She has received awards for excellence in business from Dow Jones and the Turner Broadcasting System, the Atlanta Business League and Atlanta Business Chronicle. In 1988 she was featured in Essence magazine as one of Atlanta’s women on the move.

Mrs. Baranco was named a regent in 1991 by Gov. Zell Miller. Before that she was a member of the state board of education. The board of regents governs the Georgia university system made up of 34 public colleges and universities.