OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Gov. Kevin Stitt's first appointment to the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents is sailing through the state Senate, with the Ohio resident overcoming concerns from some members about his living out of state.

The Senate Education Committee voted unanimously on Tuesday to confirm Stitt's nomination of Eric Stevenson to the seven-member panel. His nomination now advances to the full Senate for final confirmation.

Several members of the Oklahoma Legislature's Black Caucus had expressed reservations about Stevenson, an African American OU alum and business executive who lives in Ohio.

Sen. George Young of Oklahoma City says Stevenson has impressive credentials but that he would have preferred someone more closely connected to students on the Norman campus.

OU has been rocked by a series of racially charged incidents in recent years.