As the EMU press release notes, “Governor Granholm appoints Michael Hawks and Erane Washington-Kendrick to Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents.” Here are the opening paragraphs:
Governor Jennifer Granholm has appointed Michael Hawks and Erane Washington-Kendrick to the Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents. Their terms begin January 1, 2011.
Hawks, a graduate of Eastern who lives in Saugatuck, is the son of current Regent Gary Hawks. He is a director of Governmental Consultant Services, Inc. (GCSI), a legislative consulting firm in Lansing. Washington-Kendrick is the founder of the Law Firm of Erane C. Washington-Kendrick, PLLC, an Ann Arbor-based firm that represents individuals and businesses in a variety of legal areas including estate, business, securities and complex litigation. She also is a partner with the Julington Litigation Center.
Talk about how connections pay off! I only did a brief search, and I think Washington-Kendrick’s tie to EMU is that she was once the “judicial assistant” (is that a clerk? I think so…) to none other than Judge Donald “almost but not quite EMU president” Shelton. And as far as I can tell, she hung out a shingle and is her own law firm.
As for Hawks– well, the connection there is pretty obvious. I will say this though: the Michigan State lobbying firm he works for apparently is effective, so it might not be such a bad thing to have a BoR member who has those kinds of skills.
Foremost, as someone who does some straddling between community and university, I think I can somewhat authentically speak about the university’s relationships within some aspects of the community. I do believe that the current hire of Leigh Greden, as Executive Director of Government and Community Relations will be an active, engaged and consistent bridge to some factions of the surrounding Ypsilanti community. I also believe that Erane Washington-Kendrick, friend and fellow community activist will also provide a much needed local voice among our Board of Regents. Though unaware of her appointment until it was announced, I can honestly say…I think Erane will bring great integrity, candor, diligence, and warmth to Welch and beyond.
You’re probably right Decky, though for me, it raises a question of just exactly how regent members are chosen in the first place. I think it is entirely possible that Greden and Washington-Kendrick will do good things for EMU; at the same time, it sure seems like connections to people tied to the BoR is a heck of a lot more important than ties to Ypsi or ties to EMU.
Really, I suppose these kinds of suspicions are inevitable if the process for finding people is mysterious and/or suspicious. For example, we hired Greden after we conducted a better publicized search (which itself was problematic) went belly-up. The governor just picks people for the BoR, presumably after consulting her political cronies but certainly not after some effort at asking people at EMU. Again, the suspicious process doesn’t mean that these people are themselves tainted, but why not have a more open process?
I agree — I think that the process and approach for the Board Of Regents of ‘regional’ universities such as Eastern, Western, Central, and Northern is archaic. The process (the regents) regardless of intent is political, and thus the BOR is often viewed by the campus community as something separate and apart from the university it serves. That the people of a regional university do not directly vote for its BOR promotes ( conscious or not) a sense of powerlessness over its own destiny. Yes, sure we the people can elect a governeor, but the degrees of separation between a regent of a regional university and a governor are quite far apart. Perhaps if there was a blend of political (governor) appointees and elected regents (as in MSU, Wayne State and U of M), from the county where the university resides there might be less tension among a university community and its BOR.
That said – I reiterate that despite selection processes both Greden and Kendrick-Washington will be bridges between the community and the university.
Really, what I do know..I just walk in parades….throw candy.