Conrad Burrell, a member of the state’s Board of Transportation and chairman of Southwestern Community College’s board of trustees, underwent surgery Monday for fractured vertebrae in his neck.

“The surgery went well,” Joel Seltzer, who oversees this region for the N.C. Department of Transportation, said. “He is resting after surgery and will be in the hospital for several days. It is unsure when he may be released. He is expected to make a full recovery.”

Burrell, who is a Sylva resident, tripped and fell down a set of stairs last week after a board of transportation function in Raleigh. He was taken to Wake Medical Center.

Burrell is long-time public servant in Jackson County who has served as register of deeds and a county commissioner in the past.