governing board - a board that manages the affairs of an institution

committee member - a member of a committee

swayer, ruler - a person who rules or commands; "swayer of the universe"

Catherine de Medicis - queen of France as the wife of Henry II and regent during the minority of her son Charles IX (1519-1589)

combining form - a bound form used only in compounds; "`hemato-' is a combining form in words like `hematology'"

powerful - having great power or force or potency or effect; "the most powerful government in western Europe"; "his powerful arms"; "a powerful bomb"; "the horse's powerful kick"; "powerful drugs"; "a powerful argument"