May 4, 2005

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced the formation of the Advisory Council on Asian and Pacific American Affairs to ensure Asian and Pacific Americans are equal participants in Michigan’s communities and economy.
 
“I am dedicated to building ‘One Michigan’ in which all people have an equal opportunity at fulfilling their dreams and are welcome in communities across the state,” Granholm said.  “Michigan’s Asian and Pacific Islander community has contributed significantly to the state’s culture and economy.  This council both underscores the community’s contributions and takes us one step closer to our vision of ‘One Michigan’.”

The Council, created by Executive Order 2005-10, is charged with serving in an advisory capacity to the Governor and alerting her to pertinent issues within the Asian and Pacific American community.  It will also make recommendations about programs and policies for the betterment of Asian and Pacific Islanders in Michigan and will help promote public awareness of Asian and Pacific American culture and accomplishments.

“This is a tremendous step forward for the Asian Pacific American community in Michigan and an excellent way to recognize May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month,” said Representative Hoon-Yung Hopgood.  “We are excited about the creation of the Governor’s advisory council and the recognition it will bring to issues of importance to Asian Pacific Americans.”

The Council will consist of 29 members appointed by the Governor to serve four-year terms after the initial appointments.  The Director of the Department of Civil Rights will serve as a non-voting member of the Council.

Members of the Council will include:

Francisco B. Borja, Jr. of Saginaw, president of Phil-Am Consulting & Tax Services, Inc.

Felix H. Chow, Ed.D. of Flint, retired superintendent of Flint Public Schools.

Ying N. Gee of West Bloomfield, international representative for Michigan UAW International, Detroit.

Maggie Chen-Hernandez of Okemos, interim director of Michigan State University’s Office of Racial Ethnic Student Affairs.

Roland Hwang of Northville, Assistant Attorney General.

Susan Im of Grand Rapids, attorney and coordinator of West Michigan Asian American Council.

Natividad (Nati) Jenks of Huntington Woods, Asian community activist.

Jayashree Kommareddi of Grand Blanc, past president of the Genesee County Medical Society Alliance, program committee member of Mott Children’s Health Center and board member of the Genesee County Free Medical Clinic.

Radha Krishnan of West Bloomfield, president-elect of the National Federation of Indian American Associations.

Narendra R. Kumar, M.D. of Freeland, president of Narendra R. Kumar, M.D., PC.

Dominic J. Pangborn of Grosse Pointe Shores, president of Pangborn Design, Ltd.

Ananda S. Prasad, M.D., Ph.D. of Orchard Lake, professor at Wayne State University School of Medicine.

Ganesh V. Reddy of Okemos, director of business development for HTC Global Services, Inc.

Ernestina DeLos Santos-Mac, M.D. of Troy, semi-retired pediatrician with Pediatric Consultants of Troy.

Marilyn Y. Schlief of Okemos, program director for the International Society for Technology in Education Professional Development Institute.

Samir Singh of East Lansing, president and CEO of Michigan Non-Profit Association.

Amy Ku’uleialoha Stillman of Ann Arbor, associate professor of American Culture, and director of the Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies at the University of Michigan.

Ramesh C. Verma of Novi, retired director of Design, Construction and Utilities Office, University of Michigan Hospitals, and member of the Commission on Services to the Aging.

Marie-Ange Weng, Ph.D., R.N. of Rochester Hills, retired member of the Association of Chinese Americans and the Organization of Chinese Americans.

H. Sook Wilkinson, Ph.D. of Bloomfield Hills, licensed psychologist, president of Sunrise Ventures and immediate past chair of the Council of Asian Pacific Americans of Michigan.

Peter K. Wong of Grosse Point Farms, president and CEO of Roy Smith Company and president of the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce.

Meredith Woo-Cumings of Ann Arbor, professor of Political Science at the University of Michigan.

Herbert Yamanishi of Lansing, president of the Mid-Michigan Asian Pacific American Association.

H. Sook Wilkinson is also designated chairperson of the Council.

These appointments are not subject to disapproval.

Go to www.michigan.gov/gov for a copy of the Executive Order.