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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.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
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