Eastern Michigan University to get two new regents in new year

Posted on Fri, Dec 31, 2010 : 9:59 a.m.

Eastern Michigan University to get two new regents in new year

By David Jesse

Eastern Michigan University will start 2011 with two new members of the Board of Regents.

The terms of current Regents Gary Hawks and Phil Incarnati expire today.

Gov-elect Rick Snyder, who is being sworn into office on Saturday, will fill the seats with appointments.

Both Hawks and Incarnati have said they did not ask to be reappointed.

“Their experience and service to Eastern Michigan University runs deep,” said current Board of Regents chairman Roy Wilbanks. “They both did an outstanding job in serving the public.”

Snyder officials would not comment on whom the governor may appoint to fill the two seats, but did say they expect appointments to be made quickly after the inauguration.

Wilbanks said he hopes Snyder will appoint people with backgrounds in accounting or architecture to reflect the work being done at EMU on finances and construction.

Gary Hawks

Hawks was appointed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, replacing Sharon Rothwell, who resigned partway through her term.

He had worked at EMU from 1964 to 1981 in a variety of different jobs, including director of personnel, executive director of university relations, vice president of university relations and secretary to the Board of Regents. He has a master’s degree from EMU.

He also spent several years working in the Michigan Department of Education. That experience in Lansing helped EMU in its dealings with legislators, Wilbanks said.

Phil Incarnati

Incarnati is the longest-serving Regent currently on the board. He was appointed in 1992 by Gov. John Engler to replace John Burton. He was then reappointed by Engler in 1994 and in 2002. He is the president and chief executive officer for the McLaren Health Care Corporation in Flint. He holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degrees from EMU. He was the chairman of the board from 1995 to 2005.

“He brought significant value to the university, especially in helping us work in the area of reshaping our helath care benefits,” Wilbanks said.

There are eight members of the Board of Regents. They are all appointed to eight year terms by the governor.

David Jesse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidjesse@annarbor.com or at 734-623-2534.

Comments

Rimshot

Sat, Jan 1, 2011 : 8:49 a.m.

It would be nice if the new Governor appoints someone who cares about education more than they do football. A real nice change.

joe golder

Fri, Dec 31, 2010 : 7:45 p.m.

Share the wealth EMU.

pseudo

Fri, Dec 31, 2010 : 7:32 p.m.

funny, I was just thinking that I hope the new regents are able to continue improving the relationship with the city and restore what was lost back in the late 80s and early 90s with a city council that was impossible to work with.

joe golder

Fri, Dec 31, 2010 : 2:22 p.m.

Who ever is picked By Gov. Snyder...I hope they show more concern for the city of ypsilanti and the surrounding neighborhoods. It would be nice to see some of the money pouring in spread through the ypsilanti business community. Keeping most things in house has attributed to the decline of growth in the city.

Cash

Fri, Dec 31, 2010 : 1:56 p.m.

The Republican Senate rejected the Granholm appointments back in the late spring. Apparently it was appropriate for Republican Governor Engler to appoint at the end of his term, but not Democrat Governor Granholm.

Peter Eckstein

Fri, Dec 31, 2010 : 1:10 p.m.

It's interesting that Governor Engler appointed an EMU regent in 2002 for a term that did not begin until January 1, 2003, while Governor Granholm has recognized that she should not fill vacancies that don't exist until after she is no longer governor. Am I reading this correctly?