School bus transportation provider First Student has appointed Kevin L. Matthews to a newly created position as head of school bus electrification, taking the lead on development and deployment of all electrification initiatives and technologies.

"First Student is committed to lowering emissions and reducing our carbon footprint for the future of the five million children we transport every school day," said First Student President Paul G. Osland. "Kevin's extensive experience in electrification will help school districts modernize their fleets and ensure communities have cleaner transportation options."

Matthews has more than 30 years of diverse sustainability experience, including policy development at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He served as director of governmental relations for the environmental insurance division of AIG. Most recently, he was a managing director at National Strategies, overseeing the first vehicle-to-grid integration using electric school buses.

Matthews earned a bachelor of arts in history from Hendrix College and a master's degree in public policy from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, Austin.