I am a proud Oakland Community College graduate, where I earned two associate degrees before continuing my education at the University of Michigan, earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. I later earned a law degree and continued my studies in public administration and public policy.
My commitment to public service includes approximately a decade in Independence Township, where I served as a Township Trustee and later as Township Supervisor. That experience strengthened my skills in leadership, budgeting, accountability, strategic planning, and working with residents and community organizations.
I am running for OCC Trustee because OCC played an important role in my own educational journey. I want to give back by helping ensure that future students have access to affordable, high-quality education and opportunities that prepare them for successful careers.
My three priorities for Oakland Community College are affordability, workforce development, and innovation.
First, I believe OCC must remain affordable and accessible. I do not support increasing tuition. I would emphasize responsible budgeting, controlling unnecessary expenses, and expanding scholarship and financial-aid opportunities.
Second, I want to strengthen workforce pathways by supporting skilled trades, certificate programs, apprenticeships, and partnerships with local employers. OCC should prepare students for good-paying careers in fields where workers are needed.
Third, I believe OCC must continue adapting to changes in technology. I support expanding opportunities for students to learn about artificial intelligence, advanced technology, and other emerging fields.
My goal is to help OCC provide students with an affordable education and practical pathways to a successful future.
Born in Detroit, Experienced educational leader with strong background in school improvement, charter school administration, and grant development. Proven success in multi-school systems, developing curriculum, and securing over $100M in funding. Skilled in strategic planning, financial oversight, and federal budget management.
Doctoral candidate - Wayne State University, (WSU) Master's Degree +30, Teaching Certification, B.A. West Virginia State College.
Strategic planning and curriculum development
Title I Finance Management
Grant Writing and financial oversight.
As a Trustee, I would bring a collaborative, fiscally responsible, and student-focused approach to the Board. I will help OCC continue to provide high-quality, affordable educational opportunities while preparing students for careers and purposeful contributions to their communities.
I am seeking this position because I have dedicated my career to education, leadership, financial accountability, and student success.
1. Declining enrollment - 15K less students than the previous decade. I will act to increase enrollment by advertising in multi-media. I will provide transportation and daycare, as needed. Variety of Scholarships and financial assistance will be offered to the underserved community.
2. Too Much Campus Space - With fewer students there is less need for large campuses. Campus programs will be combined, offering more online courses, and offering dual-enrollment and activities for high school students, while identifying industrial and business needs, and resources.
3. Financial pressure - Changing and fluctuating State and Federal resources. Declining student enrollment- revenue, may cause financial pressures in the near-future. I will act to find resources for more challenging and relevant programs in technology, AI, and climate change. I will seek private, state, and federal financing.
I will offer more relevant online courses to drive enrollment and offer financial assistance.
MiVida Burrus is a nonprofit executive, community leader, author, mentor, and proud Oakland Community College alumna and former employee. She began her higher education journey at OCC, earning an Associate of Business Administration before earning a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and an MBA from Walsh College.
As Senior Director of Development for Avalon Healing Center, MiVida leads fundraising, partnerships, and community engagement efforts that help strengthen services and expand impact. Her career includes experience in nonprofit leadership, executive coaching, and strategic relationship building.
MiVida is running for Oakland Community College Trustee to champion affordable education, strong workforce pathways, transparent leadership, and greater support for students balancing school, work, and family.
Affordable Education, Stronger Workforce Pathways and Greater Support for Students.
As a trustee, I will continue to advocate for the lowest tuition increases and rates in the state. I will work with the administration to ensure that we focus on both student's financial need and college's administrative needs.
I continue to work with the college to provide students with pathways that lead to a career of their choosing and encourage the college to explore both academic and technical opportunities for our students.
And I believe as a support system, the college is a landing ground for community engagement and supportive services. I understand having professional and personal connections are important to success and fulfilling dreams.
I will use my experience as a student, former employee and now Trustee to help me in my decision making and relationship building. It is important to me to have a healthy working relationship with staff, faculty and the administration.
I am the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of AsherKelly, an Oakland County law firm. For nearly 30 years, I have advised boards on governance, fiduciary responsibility, financial oversight, and acting in the best interests of the people they serve. I served on the Village of Beverly Hills Council, where I gained valuable experience balancing competing priorities and making responsible decisions about public resources. As the parent of a former OCC student, I have seen firsthand the vital role OCC plays in helping students achieve their educational and career goals. I am running for the OCC Board of Trustees because I want to use the experience, knowledge, and skills I have gained throughout my career to help ensure OCC remains a strong, affordable, and accountable institution serving students, families, employers, and our community. On a personal note, my husband of 35 years, an educator and coach, and I are lifelong Oakland County residents, where we have raised our two adult children.
I believe three priorities for OCC are: (1) ensuring OCC remains a college of opportunity for every student, whether pursuing a career-focused institution, an associate degree, a pathway to a four-year program, or continuing education; (2) keeping OCC affordable and accessible; and (3) providing strong governance, accountability, and fiscal responsibility.
To advance these priorities, I would support programs that help students achieve their educational and career goals and expand opportunities for more members of our community to benefit from OCC. I would carefully review budget priorities and long-term financial planning and engage regularly with students, faculty, employers, and community stakeholders to help ensure OCC remains responsive to community and workforce needs.
I am a lifelong advocate for working families, education, workforce development, and public service. I spent 35 years with Consumers Energy, working in a wide range of skilled and technical positions, including as a lineman, pipefitter, welder, welding inspector, and cathodic protection specialist. I also served for many years in union leadership, including nine years as president of my local and as the first woman to hold that position. Throughout my career, I worked to improve workplace safety, create training and advancement opportunities, negotiate contracts, and help establish a new job classification that created more than 800 union jobs.
My commitment to education and community service is equally important to me. I served on the Waterford School Board from 2009 to 2016, where I worked on issues involving student achievement, district governance, Head Start, and the hiring of a superintendent. I have remained active in Oakland County through nonprofit, and community organizations
1. Student Success, Retention, and Removing Barriers to Completion
My first priority would be making sure that students not only have access to OCC, but also have the support necessary to complete their education. Affordability is important, but tuition is only one of the barriers students face. Many students are balancing work, family responsibilities, transportation, childcare, food insecurity, mental health challenges, and other financial pressures while trying to complete a degree or certificate.
2. My second priority would be strengthening OCC's role as a workforce development leader for Oakland County. Community colleges are uniquely positioned to connect education directly to good-paying careers, and that role will become even more important as technology and artificial intelligence continue to change the workplace.
3. Financial Stewardship, Transparency, and Responsible Long-Term Planning
I would be making OCC remains financially strong, transparent, and accountable.
After more than a decade helping organizations develop people, prepare leaders, and build the workforce of the future, Alexandra Morgan wants to put that experience to work for OCC. She is an Oakland University-educated business and talent management executive leader who understands how education connects to careers, employers, organizational performance, and the changing workforce. Alexandra has 14+ years of progressively responsible Human Resources, Leadership Development, Learning, and Performance Management experience and is the Former Chief People Officer at nonprofit, Leader Dogs for the Blind, right here in Rochester, MI. She formerly served as SVP, Head of Leadership, Learning and Performance at City National Bank/RBC, where she led enterprise talent management initiatives, performance management, career development, training and instructional design, and workforce planning. She is now currently the VP of Talent Management at Finance of America.
Stronger Connections between OCC and Oakland County employers: Alexandra understands what happens on both sides of the classroom-to-career equation. She understands how people learn and develop, and what employers need from their workforce. She can credibly advocate for stronger employer partnerships, internships, career pathways, workforce credentials and programs responsive to emerging skill requirements.
Education that Leads: Alexandra has a passion for making sure that education keeps pace with the jobs employers are creating. The workforce and the way it delivers rapidly changes (sometimes by the day), education should too.
Curriculum Impact: Alexandra's professional background gives her firsthand knowledge of the skills employers seek. The goal is to create an accessible education that results in transferable skills and credentials leading to strong careers and happy employers.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
