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Appointments to Boards and Commissions 5-26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 26, 2022

Contact: press@michigan.gov

 

Governor Whitmer Makes Appointments to Boards and Commissions

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the following appointments to the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, Michigan Board of Psychology, Michigan Strategic Fund Board of Directors, Michigan Appellate Defender Commission, Advisory Council on Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing, Governor’s Educator Advisory Council, and the Nursing Home Workforce Stabilization Council. 

Michigan Civil Rights Commission

David Q. Worthams, a Republican of Kalamazoo, is the director of employment policy for the Michigan Manufacturers Association. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from Western Michigan University and a Master of Science in Legal Studies from Kaplan University. Mr. Worthams is appointed to serve for a term commencing May 26, 2022 and expiring December 31, 2025. He succeeds Ira Combs whose term expired December 31, 2021. 

The Michigan Civil Rights Commission was created by the Michigan Constitution of 1963 to carry out the guarantees against discrimination articulated in Article I, Section 2.  The Commission is charged with investigating alleged discrimination against any person because of religion, race, color or national origin, genetic information, sex, age, marital status, height, weight, arrest record, and physical and mental disability.

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

David Worthams

Michigan Board of Psychology

Brandell Adams, of Saginaw, is the Second Chance Pell coordinator and Pioneer Connect advisor for Delta College. He is also a trustee for the Bridgeport Charter Township Board of Trustees. He holds an Associate of Science in Business and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Saginaw Valley State University. Mr. Adams is appointed to represent the general public for a term commencing May 26, 2022 and expiring December 31, 2025. He succeeds Para Knight whose term expired December 31, 2021. 

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 Strategic Fund Board of Directors

Dimitrius Hutcherson, of Southfield, is the current executive vice president, chief administrative officer, and chief technology officer for First Independence Bank. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from Morehouse College and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. Mr. Hutcherson is appointed to represent a member from the private sector with experience in commercial lending for a term commencing May 26, 2022 and expiring July 31, 2023. He succeeds September Hargrove who has resigned. 

The Michigan Strategic Fund Board of Directors was created by Executive Order No. 2019-13. The Board’s responsibilities include approval of the use of private activity bonds, authorizing the submittal by local governments of Community Development Block Grant applications, and approval of Tool and Die Renaissance Recovery Zones.  

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

Dimitrius Hutcherson

Michigan Appellate Defender Commission

JoAnn Lank, of Livonia, is the district clerk for the Michigan Court of Appeals in Detroit. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia and Juris Doctor degree from the University of Tulsa College of Law. Ms. Lank is appointed to represent the Michigan Court of Appeals for a term commencing May 26, 2022 and expiring May 24, 2026. She succeeds Douglas Messing whose term expired May 24, 2022. 

The Michigan Appellate Defender Commission is responsible for the development of a system of indigent appellate defense services which shall include services provided by the office of the state appellate defender and locally appointed private counsel. The Commission will be responsible for the development of minimum standards to which all indigent criminal defense appellate services shall conform and will compile and keep current a statewide roster of attorneys eligible for and willing to accept appointment by an appropriate court to serve as criminal appellate defense counsel for indigents.

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

Advisory Council on Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing

Gerid Adams, of Wyoming, is a CaptionCall account manager and travels around the state educating members of the deaf and hard of hearing community on how to set up CaptionCall phones. He is also the president of Hearing Loss Association of America-Greater Grand Rapids Chapter. Mr. Adams is reappointed to represent deaf or hard of hearing persons for a term commencing May 26, 2022 and expiring January 18, 2025.

Susan Caudell, of Westland, is a deaf and hard of hearing outreach teacher consultant for Wayne-Westland Community Schools. She holds a Bachelor of Education in Special Education from the University of Toledo and master’s degree in special education from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Mrs. Caudell is reappointed to represent individuals knowledgeable in the field of deafness for a term commencing May 26, 2022 and expiring January 18, 2025.

Terri K. Gordinier, of Ann Arbor, is a speech language pathologist for Supplemental Health Care. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders from Columbus State University and a master’s degree in communication disorders from Eastern Michigan University. Ms. Gordinier is appointed to represent individuals knowledgeable in the field of deafness for a term commencing May 26, 2022 and expiring January 18, 2024. She succeeds Kimberly Bush who has resigned.

Christopher H. Hunter, of Holt, is currently retired after serving as the director of the Michigan Division on Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing and as an adjunct professor in the Michigan State University Department of Counseling. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Gallaudet University and a Master of Arts in Education, Administration and Supervision from California State University. Mr. Hunter is reappointed to represent deaf or hard of hearing persons for a term commencing May 26, 2022 and expiring January 18, 2025.

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. 

Governor’s Educator Advisory Council

Lisa Rivard, Ph.D., of East China, is an adjunct professor of education at Wayne State University and a K-12 literacy consultant with the Macomb Intermediate School District. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Business Administration from Michigan State University and earned her Ph.D. in Instructional Technology from Wayne State University. Dr. Rivard is reappointed to represent higher education for a term commencing May 26, 2022 and expiring May 9, 2026.

Ruth J. Ryynanen, of Chassell, is an English, AP English, and theater teacher at Houghton High School in Houghton-Portage Township Schools. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Michigan, Bachelor of Arts in Secondary English Education from Michigan Technological University, and Master of Arts in English from Northern Michigan University. Ms. Ryynanen is reappointed to represent secondary education for a term commencing May 26, 2022 and expiring May 9, 2026.

Marcus Walton, of Commerce Township, is a special education teacher at Detroit Public Schools. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from Wayne State University. Mr. Walton is reappointed to represent specialists for a term commencing May 26, 2022 and expiring May 9, 2026.

Jeff Whittle, of Eastpointe, is a paraprofessional with the Macomb Intermediate School District and the president of the Macomb ISD Federation of Paraprofessionals. He holds certificates in the certified paraprofessional and job coach training courses from the Macomb Intermediate School District. Mr. Whittle is reappointed to represent specialists for a term commencing May 26, 2022 and expiring May 9, 2026.

The Governor’s Educator Advisory Council was created by Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order No. 2019-9. The Council will review and make recommendations regarding legislation relevant to this state’s public education system, identify and analyze issues impacting the effectiveness of Michigan’s public education system, identify best practices in public education and recommend corresponding changes and improvements to Michigan’s public education system, and provide other information or advice relevant to public education.

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

Nursing Home Workforce Stabilization Council

Dian Palmer is the current trustee for SEIU Healthcare Michigan. She earned her associates degree in registered nursing from Milwaukee Area Technical College and her Bachelor of Science in Registered Nursing from Carroll University. Ms. Palmer is appointed to represent the nursing home workforce for a term commencing May 26, 2022 and expiring December 1, 2023. She succeeds Andrea Acevedo.

The Nursing Home Workforce Stabilization Council was created by Executive Order 2021-15. The Council will identify, review, develop, and recommend policies, administrative actions, legislative changes, and other approaches to support high-quality nursing home care.  

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

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