Board of Regents

207 Welch Hall
Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197
734.487.2410
[email protected]

Rich Baird

EMU Regent Richard Baird headshot
 Richard Baird
EMU Regent Richard Baird headshot

 Richard Baird

Richard L. Baird was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder in November 2018 to replace Mike Morris, whose term expired December 31, 2018. His term expires December 31, 2026.

Richard L. Baird was appointed Senior Advisor and Transformation Leader to Michigan Governor Rick Snyder in October of 2013 and served in that role until December 31, 2018. Prior to that, he was the CEO of MI Partners, LLC, a Michigan-based consulting company contracted by the Snyder administration in January, 2011.

Baird worked with the Governor and his leadership team to reinvent and transform Michigan. Baird has played key roles to address risk, financial solvency, organizational redesign and performance, talent assessment, financially distressed city turnaround strategies, public safety and infrastructure, economic/workforce development and education reform.

Baird served as co-leader (with U.S. District Court Judge Sean Cox) of the mediation team which led to the creation of the Great Lakes Water Authority and assisted U.S. District Chief Judge Judge Gerald Rosen in the successful resolution of creditor disputes under the Detroit bankruptcy. He created the Office of Good Government and the Office for Performance Transformation for the State of Michigan, designed the Governor's Council on Law Enforcement and Reinvention (CLEAR), and was actively involved in pension redesign, enhancing opportunities for the disabled, ex-offender rehabilitation, and tax payer reform.

More recently (January, 2016), Baird served as the Team Leader for "Mission Flint" which coordinates the State's partnership with the City of Flint and the related nearly $300 million appropriation to address problems arising from the water crisis and assist with economic/workforce development, medical and education initiatives.

In 2010, Baird retired from PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP as global and U.S. leader of people and change management. From 2003–2008, he was global managing partner – people, responsible for human resources and learning & education for PwC’s 150,000 partners and staff in 150 countries, while serving on the 14-partner global leadership team. He also held positions as Operations Partner for the U.S. Assurance and Business Advisory practice through the 1990’s. From 1997 to 2000, Baird was President of Compass.com, a company sold to TMP Worldwide (Monster.com) in 2000.

Baird has been referenced in various professional publications for his work in talent management, including The Wall Street Journal, Global HR News, Newsweek, Economist, and Chicago Tribune.

Baird serves as Treasurer of the Michigan Education Excellence Foundation and is a former member of the board for the Grow Michigan Investment Fund. He joined the board for the American Center for Mobility and the Governor’s Planet M Advisory Council in May, 2017. He is also a founding member of the Michigan Enterprise Risk Management Council for the MI Budget office.

Baird is a life member of the board of trustees for United Methodist Homes and Services and a past member of the AIESEC U.S. board of directors and global advisory steering committee. An avid conservationist, he also served on the board of the Great Lakes Protection Fund.

Baird received his bachelor’s degree from Albion College and was a trustee for 12 years, including five years as chair. He received an honorary Ph.D. from Albion College and from Eastern Michigan University. 

Regent Baird serves as the Vice Chair of the Educational Policies Committee, Vice Chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee, and is a member of the Audit Committee.

First appointed: January 2019

Current term expires: December 2026

Contact Information

Board of Regents Office
207 Welch Hall
Ypsilanti, MI 48197

734.487.2410

[email protected]

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