Dr. John Porter, former president of Eastern Michigan
University and former state superintendent for public instruction,
has been appointed to Gov. Jennifer Granholm's emergency
financial advisory panel.
The panel, which will be chaired by former Michigan governors
William G. Milliken and James J. Blanchard, will review
the state's current financial crisis and offer recommendations
on how to best avoid similar crises in the future.
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Porter |
"As I said in my inaugural address just days ago, we have
an economic plan that will transform Michigan from a great
20th-century state to an even greater state in the 21st
century," Granholm said in the release announcing the
appointments. "However, full economic transformation is
the most pressing problem we face, and how we solve the
state's fiscal crisis is a critical part of our ability
to transform our economy. I am pleased to draw upon the
expertise of Michigan's most experienced and respected
leaders to offer insight on how to solve the crisis."
The panel was selected based on the varied backgrounds
and views of the members, along with their depth and breadth
of knowledge about state government.
Porter served as EMU's 17th president from 1979-89. His
tenure became known as the "decade of advancement" for
the University. During Porter's presidency, the College
of Business and the College of Technology were established;
enrollment growth hit record numbers; the Honors Program
was established; and the Olds/Robb Student Recreation Center
was built.
Porter received his bachelor's degree from Albion College
and his Ph.D. from Michigan State University.
Before arriving at EMU, Porter was a teacher at Albion
High School and then in Lansing. In 1957, he became an
educational consultant for the state superintendent of
public instruction. In 1960, Porter was appointed to head
up the Michigan Higher Education Assistance Authority to
administer the guaranteed student loan program. In 1969,
he became the nation's first black state school superintendent
and the youngest as well. He was 38.
Other members of the panel include: Paul Hillegonds, senior
vice president of DTE Energy and former co-speaker of the
state House of Representatives; Dan DeGrow, superintendent
of St. Clair County Regional Educational Service Agency
and former Republican state Senate majority leader; Sr.
Monica Kostielney, president and CEO of the Michigan Catholic
Conference; Dr. Lou Anna K. Simon, president of Michigan
State University; Frank Kelley, former Michigan attorney
general; S. Martin Taylor, University of Michigan regent;
John "Joe" Schwarz, former U.S. Congressman and former
chair of the state Senate Appropriations Committee; Don
Gilmer, Kalamazoo County administrator and former state
budget director; and Doug Roberts, former state treasurer.
