RELEASE: Governor Whitmer Makes Appointments to Boards and Commissions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE?

January 11, 2024?

Governor Whitmer Makes Appointments to Boards and Commissions?

LANSING, Mich. ? Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the following appointments to the Western Michigan University Board of Trustees, Michigan Domestic & Sexual Violence Prevention & Treatment Board, Advisory Council on Deaf, Deafblind, Hard of Hearing, Michigan Board of Behavior Analysts, Michigan Board of Psychology, Michigan Board of Optometry, Michigan Statewide Independent Living Council, and State Historical Records Advisory Board.?

Today?s appointees represent Michigan?s young professionals, communities of color, seniors, and more. The appointees announced this week build on Governor Whitmer?s work to ensure appointees reflect Michigan?s diverse population. Sixty percent of appointees are women or people of color, and the Whitmer cabinet is the most diverse in Michigan history.?

Western Michigan University Board of Trustees?

James Liggins, of Kalamazoo, is senior counsel at Warner Norcross + Judd LLP. Previously, he was a partner at Miller Canfield Paddock and Stone, PLC, and an in-house litigation associate at Consumers Energy. He serves on the executive committee and as vice chair of the board of directors for Bronson Healthcare Group, as a member of the American Hospital Association Committee on Governance, as past chair on the board of directors for the United Way of Southcentral Michigan, boardmember of The Harold and Grace UpJohn Foundation, as co-chair of the State Bar of Michigan Judicial Qualifications Committee. He also serves on the on the board of directors for the Greanleaf Trust and the State of Michigan Board of Ethics.?

Liggins holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Michigan and his Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law. He is appointed for a term commencing January 11, 2024, and expiring December 31, 2024. He succeeds Shani Penn, who has passed.?

Kara Wood, of Grand Rapids, is the Executive Director of Grand Action 2.0. Prior to this, she was an associate Vice President in Community Partnerships for Western Michigan University and a managing director of economic development and mobility for the City of Grand Rapids. Wood serves as the secretary of the board of the Grand Rapids African American Arts and Music Festival, treasurer of the board of Great Lakes Commercial Finance, a board member of Michigan Community Capital, a board member of Downtown Grand Rapids Inc, a member of Experience Grand Rapids and a member of the Magnet Lending Corporation.?

Wood received a Bachelor of Arts in business administration from Michigan State University and a Master of Public Administration in state and local government from Western Michigan University. She is appointed for a term commencing January 11, 2024, and expiring December 31, 2028. She succeeds Kurtis Trevan, who has resigned.?

Article VIII ? 6 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963 establishes that Michigan?s institutions of higher education, that are established by law as having authority to grant baccalaureate degrees, shall each be governed by a Board of Control which shall be a body corporate. The Board has general supervision of the institution and the control and direction of all expenditures from the institution?s funds. The Board also, as often as necessary, elects a president of the institution under its supervision. Each Board of Control consists of eight members appointed by the Governor for eight-year terms.???

These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.??

Michigan Domestic & Sexual Violence Prevention & Treatment Board?

Dr. NiCole Buchanan, of Okemos, is a professor of psychology at Michigan State University and a member of the MSU Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Expert Advisory workgroup. Her research examines the interplay of race, gender and victimization and how social identity dimensions impact the nature of harassment. Dr. Buchanan received her Bachelor of Science in psychology, her Master of Arts and Ph.D. in clinical community psychology from the University of Illinois ? Champaign-Urbana. Dr. Buchanan is reappointed to represent persons with experience handling the problems of domestic violence and/or sexual violence for a term commencing January 11, 2024, and expiring December 4, 2027. ??

The Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board coordinates and monitors programs and services for the prevention of domestic and sexual violence and the treatment of victims of domestic and sexual violence. The Board administers grants awarded under the Violence Against Women Act, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, and other governmental and non-governmental grants.????

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This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.???

Advisory Council on Deaf, Deafblind, Hard of Hearing?

Louis Bailey, of Detroit, is the program coordinator for Disability Network Detroit. He has also served as a finance manager for Savon Luxe and as a contracted law clerk for the Law Clinic of Michigan. Bailey received his Bachelor of Science in hotel and restaurant management from Eastern Michigan University and his Master of Business Administration from Robert Morris University Chicago. Lois Bailey is reappointed to represent deaf or hard of hearing persons for a term commencing January 19, 2024, and expiring January 18, 2027. ? ?

Terri Gordinier, of Ann Arbor, is a speech language pathologist for Supplemental Health Care. She is fluent in American Sign Language and is a speech language pathologist at the Michigan School for the Deaf. Gordiner received her Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders from Columbus State University and her Master of Arts in communication disorders from Eastern Michigan University. Terri Gordiner is reappointed to represent individuals knowledgeable in the field of deafness for a term commencing January 19, 2024, and expiring January 18, 2027.?????

Matthew Stephens, Ypsilanti, is a freelance photographer for Stephens the Designer. Stephens received his associate of arts in in visual communications studies from the Rochester Institute of Technology and his Bachelor of Science in computer engineering technology from Eastern Michigan University. Matthew Stephens is reappointed to represent deaf or hard of hearing persons for a term commencing January 19, 2024, and expiring January 18, 2027. ? ?

Joanne Forbes is the department chair of sign language interpretation for Oakland Community College. She is also a member of the American Sign Language Teacher Assocation and has taught multiple American Sign Language classes. Forbes received her Bachelor of Arts in business administration from the Rochester Institute of Technology and her Master of Arts from Gallaudet University. Joanne Forbes is appointed to represent deaf or hard of hearing persons for a term commencing January 19, 2024, and expiring January 18, 2027. She succeeds Jill Gaus whose term has expired. ?

The Advisory Council on Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing serves to advise the Department of Civil Rights on matters pertaining to deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing persons.?

These appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.?

Michigan Board of Behavior Analysts?

Dr. Jonathan Baker, of Kalamazoo, is an associate professor and chair of the Department of Psychology at Western Michigan University. Dr. Baker?s main research interest is behavioral gerontology, including the assessment and treatment of behavioral excesses and developing programs that remediate behavioral deficits in older adults with neurocognitive disorder, as well as treatment adoption. He received a certificate in gerontology and a master's in applied behavior science from the University of Kansas, and a Ph.D. from Western Michigan University. Jonathan Baker is appointed to represent a member who is affiliated with a university in the state and provides instructions or conducts research in applied behavior analysis for a term commencing January 4, 2024, and expiring December 31, 2027. He succeeds Christine Nutkins whose term has expired.??

The Michigan Board of Behavior Analysts was created to assist the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs with the regulating and licensing of behavior analysts who utilize applied behavior analysis interventions that are based on scientific research and the direct observation and measurement of behavior and the environment.?????

This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.?

Michigan Board of Psychology?

Gary Harper, of Ann Arbor, is a professor at the University of Michigan in the School of Public Health. He also serves as a professor of health behavior and health education, and as a professor of global public health at the University of Michigan. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in biology and psychology from Washington University, a Master of Science in psychology and a PhD in clinical psychology from Purdue University. He has also served as vice-chair of the board since 2020. Gary Harper is reappointed to represent the general public for a term commencing January 11, 2024, and expiring December 31, 2027. ??

The Michigan Board of Psychology was created to work with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to promulgate rules and grant licenses to professionals in the field of psychology. The Board has a duty to promote and protect the public's health, safety, and welfare. The Board implements this responsibility by ascertaining minimal entry level competency of health practitioners and by taking disciplinary action against licensees who have adversely affected the public's health, safety, and welfare.???

This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.??

Michigan Board of Optometry?

Lauren Plawecki, of Plymouth, is a community and social engagement partner at MASCO Corporation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in history of art from the University of Michigan. She also serves as a mentor for Women of Tomorrow in metro Detroit. Lauren Plawecki is being appointed to represent the general public for a term commencing January 11, 2024, and expiring June 30, 2027. She is replacing Hrisais Skorna whose term has expired. ?

Velma Overman, of Inkster, is currently retired. She has experience in community activism and worked for the Ford Motor Company for 30 years. Additionally, she is vice chair of the Western Wayne County NAACP, an advisory member of the Beaumont Teen Health Center, and a board member of the Wayne Metro Community Action Agency. Velma Overman is reappointed to represent the general public for a term commencing January 11, 2024, and expiring June 30, 2026. ? ?

Virginia Manolakoudis, of Howell, is the Executive Assistant in the Intelligence Operations Division at the Michigan State Police. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Michigan State University. Virginia Manolakoudis is reappointed to represent the general public for a term commencing January 11, 2024, and expiring on June 30, 2027.??

The Michigan Board of Optometry was enacted as part of the Public Health Code to license optometrists in this state. The Board promotes and protects the public's health, safety, and welfare by ascertaining minimal entry level competency of health practitioners and verifying continuing education during licensure. The Board also has the obligation to take disciplinary action against licensees who have adversely affected the public's health, safety, and welfare.???

These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.?

State Historical Records Advisory Board??

Lance Werner, of Rockford, is the executive director of the Kent District Library. He holds a master?s degree in library and information science from Wayne State University and a Juris Doctor from the Michigan State University College of Law. He is reappointed for a term commencing January 11, 2024, and expiring December 31, 2027.?

The State Historical Records Advisory Board serves as a central advisory body for historical records planning and for National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC)-funded projects in the state. The Board acts as a coordinating body to facilitate cooperation and communication among historical records repositories and information agencies within the state, and as a state-level review body for grant proposals that meet NHPRC grant program guidelines.??

This appointment is not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate?

Michigan Statewide Independent Living Council?

Jamia Davis, of Southfield, is a special counsel for the US Small Business Administration. Over the course of her career, she has also volunteered for the Sparka of Hope Gala Fundraising Committee and the D. Augustus Straker Bar Assocation. Davis received her Bachelor of Arts in political science from Michigan State University and her Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School. Jamia Davis is reappointed to represent individuals with disabilities for a term commencing January 11, 2024, and expiring on December 31, 2026. ??

Melinda Kulasa, of Richland, is a substitute teacher and paraprofessional within the Kalamazoo School District. She has also worked as a client advisor for National City Bank and as a lead consultant for Excel Advisory Services. Kulasa received her Bachelor of Science in Finance from Valparaiso University and her Master of Business Administration from Western Michigan University. Melinda Kulasa is reappointed to represent individuals with disabilities for a term commencing January 11, 2024, and on December 31, 2026. ? ?

Yvonne Fleener, of Grand Ledge, is the executive director for Helping Hands Respite Care. She has also worked for the University Rehabilitation Alliance and the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan. Additionally, she is a member of the Disability Action Committee. Flenner received her Bachelor of Arts in psychology and social science, as well as her Master of Arts in public administration from Michigan State University. Yvonne Flenner is appointed to represent a director of a center for independent living chosen by the directors of centers for independent living within this state for a term commencing January 11, 2024, and expiring December 31, 2024. She succeeds Mark Pierce who has resigned.?

Aaron Andres, of Marquette, is the vice president of the Superior Alliance for Independent Living. Additionally, he is a chairman of the Marquette City Planning Commission and as a member of the Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress. Andres received his Bachelor of Arts in in Public Administration, as well as his Master of Arts in public administration from Northern Michigan University. Aaron Andres is reappointed to represent organizations that provide services for individuals with disabilities including, but not limited to, private business for a term commencing January 11, 2024, and expiring December 31, 2026. ? ?

The Michigan Statewide Independent Living Council is charged with developing the state plan as provided in Section 704(a)(2) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 USC 796c(a)(2). The Council may work with centers for independent living to coordinate services with public and private entities to improve services provided to individuals with disabilities and conduct resource development activities to support the Council and the provision of independent living services by centers for independent living.??

These appointments are not subject to advice and consent of the Senate.?

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