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Dear Friend,
As February and Black History Month come to a close, I want to highlight the contributions of Black Michiganders who serve on statewide boards, commissions, and task forces. The work they do moves Michigan forward, and I?m proud to have appointed them. These appointees are integral to building a brighter, more equitable future for Michiganders by helping us lower costs, providing students a better and more affordable education, and ensuring every vote can be cast and counted. They make history every day, and I am proud to honor them during Black History Month.
Every Michigander should see themselves reflected in our state government. That?s why I?ve made it a priority since I took office to ensure our boards and commissions and my cabinet and executive office represent Michigan.
Over the past year, my office has made hundreds of appointments throughout state government, including to Michigan?s judiciary, and they have been representative of our state?s incredible diversity. Many of these appointments have been historic, including Justice Kyra Harris Bolden, the first Black woman on the Michigan Supreme Court. Check out some other notable examples below.
 Gretchen Whitmer
Governor
Justice Kyra Harris Bolden (Michigan Supreme Court)
Justice?Kyra?Harris?Bolden was appointed?as?a Justice on the Michigan Supreme Court, the first?Black?woman in Michigan?history?to?hold that seat.?Justice?Bolden?has a?history?of service to the State of Michigan. Previously, she was elected as a State Representative for Michigan?s 35th House District. ?While?in that role,?she?served?as the?assistant Democratic?leader and as a member of the House Judiciary and Insurance Committees, and she focused her work on criminal justice reform as well as crafting and passing bipartisan legislation to protect survivors of sexual violence.?
Judge Kellen Dotson (61st District Court Judge, Grand Rapids)
Judge Kellen?Dotson?was appointed to?the 61st District Court?in Grand Rapids, where he became only the second?Black?man?in Michigan?history?to serve on that bench. Prior to his appointment, Judge Dotson served as an attorney in the?Kent County Office of the Public Defender, an adjunct professor at Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, a trial-skills trainer for the Michigan Indigent Defense Trial Skills Training Program, and a mediator with the Kent County Friend of the Court.?While in practice, Judge?Dotson?was?managing attorney with the Hennepin County Public Defender?s Office in Minneapolis,?MN?in the years?immediately following the murder of George Floyd.?
Judge Monique Sharpe (36th District Court, Detroit)
Judge Monique Sharpe was appointed to the 36th District Court?in Detroit. Prior to her appointment, Judge Sharpe served as the?deputy?general?counsel?to the 36th District Court, as?legislative?council?and?policy?advisor for the City of Pontiac, and as?chief of?staff to Representative David Nathan?in the Michigan House of Representatives. She is a former member of the Voyageur Academy?board of directors?and has?served as an advocate for voter rights?protection.?
Col. James F. Grady II (Michigan State Police)
As the 20th person to hold the title, Col. James F. Grady II is the third?Black?director of the Michigan State Police. Colonel Grady began his career with the MSP in 1998, serving as a trooper at the former Adrian and Detroit posts. Twenty-two years later, he?rose?through the ranks to captain and commander of the Training Division, where he?was responsible for?the development of all future troopers. In September 2023,?Governor?Whitmer?selected him to lead the department. As Director, he also serves as State Director of Emergency Management and as Michigan?s Homeland Security Director.
Director Brian L. Love (Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency)
Director Brian L. Love?is a Marine Corps veteran with extensive experience in veteran advocacy, education reform and political strategy?who was recently appointed to lead?the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency.?Director Love has a long?history?of public service.?Prior to his appointment, Director Love worked as the director of community engagement for The Education Trust ? Midwest,?as project management director for the Greater Detroit Area Health Council State Outreach, and as director at Students First Michigan. He has previously served as an appointee to the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund Board of Directors, and as chair of the?Black?Leadership Advisory Council Education Committee. He?has also served?on?numerous?non-profit boards and committees.
Shirley Stancato (Growing Michigan Together Council)
Shirley Stancato was appointed as co-chair of the Growing Michigan Together Council, a bipartisan initiative aimed at growing the state population by targeting certain key issue areas facing Michiganders.??She also serves as chair of the Wayne State University Board of?Governors.?For almost 20 years, Stancato was president and chief executive officer of New Detroit Inc., a metropolitan Detroit-based leadership coalition that served as an essential forum for discussion and advocacy for racial equity. Prior to joining New Detroit, Stancato enjoyed?a long career?at what is now Chase Bank, where she rose in the ranks to become Senior Vice President. Stancato currently serves on the boards of Fifth Third Bank of Eastern Michigan, Teach for America Detroit, The Detroit Symphony?Orchestra,?and the Detroit Zoological Commission, among others.
Dr. Bill Pink (MEDC Executive Committee)
Dr. Bill Pink is a member of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation Executive Committee. Pink is the 19th president of Ferris State University and is the first African American president in the University?s?nearly 140-year?history. Pink was selected to serve in conjunction with the Growing Michigan Together Council as?chair of the higher education workgroup?and serves on boards of the Higher Learning Commission, the American Council on Education, and?Corewell?Health West Michigan. Pink served as president of Grand Rapids Community College and as vice president for academic affairs at Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City Campus.?
Portia Roberson (Civil Rights Commission)
Portia Roberson is the?chief?executive?officer of Focus: HOPE, a Detroit-based non-profit?with a focus on workforce development and education.?She previously served the City of Detroit as the Group Executive for Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity.?Throughout her career, she has been actively involved in human and civil rights issues.?She?was also selected by to?serve?in?conjunction with the Growing Michigan Together Council as a co-chair of the ?Jobs, Talent, People? workgroup.
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