Nathan K. Ford
Nathan K. Ford
Nathan K. Ford was appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in December of 2020 to fill the seat of Mary Treder Lang whose term had expired. He is appointed for a term expiring December 2028.
Nathan K. Ford was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and was a graduate of Detroit’s Cass Technical High School. After high school, he went on to earn his bachelor’s in business administration at Morehouse College. While attending Morehouse, Ford immersed himself in several organizations. Amongst them was the Morehouse College Business Club, where he later rose to become the Executive Vice President. This led to Ford being selected for Spring Tour, which is the highest honor in the business department. Ford’s educational background also includes the Michigan Political Leadership Program, sponsored by Michigan State University, and the Excel 2000 Leadership Development Program, sponsored by New Detroit and Unisys Corp.
Ford began his career as a Marketing Representative for Baxter Healthcare Corp, where he managed an $8.2 million territory. Early on in Ford’s career, he also served as the administrative assistant to Detroit Councilman Nicholas Hood II.
The Living Cities Fellows program later chose Ford, to serve and rebuild the City of Detroit as a Business Advocate. In this new role, Ford streamlined processes for local businesses, including permits and licensing. This led Ford to assume the position of Director of the City of Detroit’s Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED). Ford oversaw a department responsible for executing business processes across the city including inspections, permits, licenses, zoning, and demolitions. Prior to serving in former Mayor Dave Bing’s administration, Ford has held numerous positions that have led to the advancement of city causes. This includes a 14-year stint on the Wayne County Building Authority Board, where he ultimately became board chairman.
Over the years, Ford has served on a number of boards including the board of directors for the NAACP and Urban League, the Detroit/Wayne Brownfield Advisory Board, and the University District Community Association. Presently Ford serves as a board member for the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) where he was awarded private executive of the year in 2019. In addition, Ford co-founded the Detroit Braves Baseball Team, of the Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL), where he coached alongside his high school classmate.
Currently, Ford serves as Associate Vice President at a national transportation engineering consulting firm called HNTB Corporation, in Detroit, Michigan. Ford also sits on HNTB’s National PAC Board that is active throughout the country.
Ford resides in Detroit, is an active member of his church, and is married with two daughters.
Regent Ford is currently Chair of the Board of Regents, a member of the Personnel and Compensation Committee, and is a member of the EMU Foundation Board of Trustees.
First appointed: December 2020
Current term expires: December 2028
Contact Information
Meet Regent Nathan Ford: Collaborative Leader
Board of Regents Office
207 Welch Hall
Ypsilanti, MI 48197