Occupation / Current Position
CEO/Capitol Fundraising Associates
Education
B.A. Michigan State University 1992
Qualifications and Experience
I and my children are MSU graduates. I've served on many public and nonprofit boards and know how to work with fellow board members and the administration in a respectful and civil manner.
I aim to leverage my extensive board experience to make MSU a force for positive change in Michigan. As Chair of the Capitol Area Michigan Works! Workforce Development Board, President of the Rotary Club of Lansing, and a member of the Capital Regional Community Foundation Board, U-M Health Sparrow Specialty Hospital Board, and the Ingham County Jury Board, I bring solid diplomatic skills to the university. I also served on the Ingham County Board of Canvassers (2018-2024), protecting our democracy and ensuring that all voters can fairly participate in elections.
The rising cost of tuition is making MSU increasingly unaffordable for working-class families, often leaving students with crippling debt. MSU must find budget solutions that don't burden students with higher fees. Secondly, campus safety is critical, requiring both common-sense gun control and accessible mental health services for students, faculty, and staff. These issues are essential for ensuring a secure and equitable environment at MSU.
To make university education more affordable, I propose expanding scholarships, grants, and work-study opportunities, while controlling tuition costs. Regular audits should identify inefficiencies to redirect savings toward student support. Strengthening partnerships with businesses and local communities can offer more paid internships to help reduce tuition debt. Finally, advocating for increased state support to help minimize the need for tuition hikes.
Candidate has not yet responded.
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Occupation / Current Position
Real Estate Broker & Consultant
Education
Bachelor of Science, U.S. Naval Academy 1994, Masters of Business Administration, University of Michigan, 2008
Qualifications and Experience
Over 23 years of business leadership experience, 7 years as a U.S. Naval Officer
I believe MSU is a great institution that has suffered greatly from some poor leadership over the last several years. I believe that my experience as a proven leader in various organizations can bring stability and transparency to the MSU board, which will lead to much better outcomes for the hard working families that pay tuition and taxes that support MSU, and especially the young men and women who attend college there. As a former president of several volunteer organizations, and a parent of 3 college age girls, I feel I am uniquely situated to serve at this point and time.
MSU is facing a crisis of confidence in its administration and board. It seems that scandal after scandal affect the school, and there is little accountability. We need to address issues head on, and not try to cover them up. In particular, the school has never done an investigation into "who knew what and when" that allowed the sexual predator Larry Nassar to abuse so many young women on campus for so long. As a father of 3 girls, I find this abandonment of justice and the truth abhorrent. I also will stand for women's rights in sports, as MSU has cut them in recent years.
Continued outreach to the communities and high schools that send students to MSU. Helping communities with resources to ensure that high schools are providing the proper base to enable students to succeed in college. Increase partnership with 2-year colleges and trade schools to ensure education credits are extremely transferrable, as well as giving college credit for real-world experience. Always look to find alternate sources of funding to help lower the cost of education, which has become too expensive for many, and driving many into unsustainable levels of debt.
Education
BA University of Michigan-Dearborn
Qualifications and Experience
Common sense, experienced leader and a Spartan Mom. Former Novi City Councilwoman, former Novi Planning Commission member, and is currently a member of the Novi Economic Development Committee.
I previously served the City of Novi in multiple capacities, most notably as a City Councilwoman. My experience on Council directly correlates to the MSU Board of Trustees, as you are required to work civilly with the same group of leaders over multiple years. The Board has struggled navigating these relationships and, as a Spartan Mom of one graduate and one current student, I’ve experienced this turmoil and lack of administrative control firsthand. I want to serve on the Board to stop the infighting and political rhetoric, and instead focus solely on advancing the university’s interests.
Board members have plagued MSU with lack of professionalism, infighting, and political battles. It’s time to restore normalcy and a common sense approach to the Board - focusing on students rather than politics. We must re-introduce a culture of accountability and transparency. The role of the Board is to hold university administration accountable for decisions and provide transparency to all Michigan residents. Today’s Board wastes hundreds of millions of dollars shielding MSU Administration from scrutiny, instead of holding people accountable for (and working to correct) past mistakes.
Admission requirements and tuition costs both greatly impact the accessibility of college education for MI residents. As a taxpayer-funded state university, MSU must prioritize in-state student admission over out-of-state and foreign students. Many universities nationwide require a minimum percentage of each incoming class to be in-state students, and this is something MSU should consider implementing. MSU must also be fiscally conscious and eliminate wasteful spending, which will help eliminate the need for future tuition increases, in turn enhancing MSU’s affordability for MI families.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
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Occupation / Current Position
attorney (solo practice)
Education
BA, planning/public administration, Macalester College, 1978. JD, Cooley Law School, 2008. Also took Teaching of English as a Second Language classes at MSU in 1989-1990.
Qualifications and Experience
jalp4thePeople.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/legal-resume-current.pdf
30+ years ago I took classes at MSU, preparing to teach English in Japan. 20+ years ago I joined the march from MSU to the Capitol to protest getting lied into Gulf War II.
I’ve worked 10 years each in government, non-profits, and private business – and 15 as a lawyer. I’ve overseen many budgets and inventories, so I can protect the people’s money.
I want to make MSU, called the nation’s worst-governed major public university last fall, a place I’d be proud to send my daughters – a place they’d feel safe attending. I’m not a fat cat or an insider – I'll be a Trustee the people can trust.
A public university must be a beacon of transparency and free speech.
I’ve pushed for Freedom of Information and Open Meetings as a citizen and a lawyer. I’ll lead in making MSU meetings, reports, and discussions more public and open.
I oppose MSU’s punishment of protests against genocide in Gaza, as I deplore historical oppression of others. I’ll serve students first, with MSU workers and MSU families close behind.
These policies will draw students, faculty, and staff of conscience here. Embodying democracy, free speech, and human rights can be good for MSU’s reputation and its economy.
The Green Party platform calls for lifelong free public education, from pre-K through college and graduate school (and including trade schools). If this ambitious plan needs a starting place, MSU – our state's original land-grant college and the model for the first national legislation creating more of them, the 1862 Morrill Act – is in great position to serve as a model again. MSU can build a statewide network of university-level educational opportunities, in person and remote, working through the Extension service and possibly with public libraries as well as (other) public schools.
