EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Vice President for Academic Student Affairs and Global Engagement
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- Talent Management Coordinator
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- Dean, College of Engineering
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- Manager, HR Analytics & Reporting
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- Benefits & Leave Administrator
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- Library - Lactation Support
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- Talent Management Coordinator
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- Automotive Research, Center for - Engineering
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- Senior Associate Vice President for Finance and Deputy Chief Financial Officer
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- HR Consultant
- College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences / MPN
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- Director, HR Analytics & Reporting
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- Senior Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Associate Vice President of Academic Personnel
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- Senior Director, Total Rewards
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- Dean, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
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- Admin
- Director, HR Client Services, Region Admin
Bryan C. Barnhill II, is a purpose-driven leader with a passion for bringing transformational impact to systems and organizations. Bryan currently works in Ford Smart Mobility's City Solutions Group, where he plays a critical role in shaping the creation of Ford's urban eco-system for mobility innovation in Detroit.
Prior to joining Ford Motor Company, Bryan worked in Mayor Michael Duggan's administration as the Chief Talent Officer. Before working in the mayor's office, Bryan was the campaign manager for the Duggan for Detroit campaign. As campaign manager, Bryan led the historic write-in campaign victory for Mayor Michael Duggan. He has also served as Chief of Staff, and Director of Policy & Legislative Affairs in the Detroit City Council President's Office. Bryan has also worked at Southwest Housing Solutions in Detroit, and at Kushner Companies in New York.
Bryan is on the board of directors for the United Way of Southeast Michigan. He is also on the board of directors for the Detroit/Wayne County Stadium Authority, the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority, and is Chairman of the Detroit Building Authority. He is a gubernatorial appointee to the State of Michigan Blue Ribbon Panel for Parks & Recreation spaces, as well as the Belle Isle State Park Advisory Board. Bryan is the treasurer for the Iron Belle Trail Board of Managers.
He is a recipient of the Washington Post 40 Under 40 award, the Michigan Front Page's 30 under 40 award, Crain's Detroit 20 in their 20's award, the Payne-Pulliam Door Opener award, and the Spirit of Detroit Award. He was a "Men of Excellence" honoree by the Michigan Chronicle and has also received a Certificate of Congressional Recognition from the office of Congressman John Dingell.
Bryan is a Michigan State University Institute for Public Policy and Research Michigan Political Leadership Program Fellow. He was selected by the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce to be part of the inaugural cohort of Harvard Business School's Young American Leaders Program.
Bryan has a Bachelor's Degree in Government from Harvard University with coursework in corporate financial accounting from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has a Master's of Business Administration from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business with a concentration on finance and entrepreneurship.
Bryan is active with the Harvard College Alumni Association as an alumni interviewer for local applicants to Harvard College. Bryan is part of the MWPHGL Abiff Lodge #21 where he currently serves as a lodge officer. He also frequents Jabs Boxing Gym in Eastern Market.
Bryan is a proud Detroit native, and currently lives in Detroit with his wife Rian English, and their two children, Britton and Riley.
Job Titles:
- Senior Compensation Professional
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- Manager, Marketing and Communications
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- Associate Vice President
- Chief Human Resources Officer
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- Talent Management Coordinator
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- Senior Director of Business Affairs, Executive Offices of the President
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- HR Consultant
- College of Education / B
- College of Engineering / a
- Health & Physical Education / B
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- Administrative Staff Member
- Secretary
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- Member of the Board
- Founding Director of Mothering Justice and Mothering Justice Action Fund
Danielle Atkinson is the Founding Director of Mothering Justice and Mothering Justice Action Fund, two national organizations working to improve the lives of families by equipping the next generation of mother activists.
Atkinson is a nationally recognized speaker with extensive experience as a church-based, electoral, and community organizer. She has worked with organizations such as America Votes, State Voices, Population Connection, and The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. In 2012, Atkinson founded Mothering Justice, a leadership development and advocacy organization. To date, Mothering Justice has trained more than 1000 women, reached more than 500,000 mothers in voter engagement efforts, led Mama Conversations around the country, and drafted the Mamas' Agenda, a policy priority plan addressing financial stability issues of mothers in Michigan. Mothering Justice has been a part of winning campaigns to strengthen breastfeeding rights, licensure for Michigan Midwives, protecting federal safety net programs, and earned sick time in Michigan. Atkinson also helped lead a successful ballot initiative to raise the minimum wage in both Florida and Michigan and establish a paid leave law in Michigan.
Atkinson serves on the board of directors of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, Family Values at Work, Hope Starts Here, the Ghana Lacrosse Association and as the board chair for 9to5, in addition to her nonprofit board position. In 2020, Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed Atkinson to the Michigan Women's Commission.
Atkinson's work organizing mothers has earned her the 2013 Michigan Organizer of the Year Award, the 2015 Black Women's Roundtable SiStar Award in Organizing, the 2016 National Congress of Black Women-Oakland County Annual Pioneers and Leaders Award, the 2017 Michigan Women's Progressive Caucus' Progressive Outstanding Women's Empowerment Revolutionary Award, and the 2018 African American Leadership Rainwater Award.
In November 2022, Atkinson was elected statewide to the Board of Governors of Wayne State University. Atkinson holds two bachelor's degrees in both Political Science and Sociology from Pfeiffer University. She lives in Royal Oak with her husband and their six children.
Job Titles:
- Chief Business Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Operations, and Treasurer
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- Vice - President
- Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs and President, Wayne State University Foundation
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- Director, Organization & Employee Development
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- Dean, College of Education
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- Administrative Staff Member
- Office Manager
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- Associate Provost for Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer ( Interim )
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- Member of the University Leadership Team
- President
- Wayne State 's 13th President
Dr. Kimberly Andrews Espy was unanimously elected the 13th president of Wayne State University in 2023 by the Board of Governors. A leader with more than 25 years of experience in higher education, she is the first woman president in Wayne State's history.
Kimberly Andrews Espy was selected as Wayne State's 13th president in June 2023, joining the university to build on an impactful career in medicine and higher education.
Job Titles:
- Employee & Labor Relations Consultant
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- Acting Dean, Irvin D. Reid Honors College
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- HR Customer Relations Advocate - Senior ( 313 ) 577 - 2132
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- Associate Director of Student Programs
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- Program Manager
- Program Coordinator, Business, Engineering, Nursing, Social Work and Information Sciences / Jeffress Center
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- Dean, College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts
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- Grant Contract Administrator
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- President, Student Senate
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- Associate Director, Administrative Services
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- Associate General Counsel
- General Counsel
Julie A. Rajzer joined the Office of the General Counsel in 2014. She received her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and her law degree, cum laude, from Michigan State University College of Law. Ms. Rajzer represents the University in a wide range of matters with a focus on transactional and intellectual property (IP) matters.
Prior to joining the Office of the General Counsel, Ms. Rajzer was the Intellectual Property and Contracts Administrator for the University's Technology Commercialization office where she advised and assisted in the protection of the University's IP, negotiated and managed the contractual agreements for the University's IP, negotiated IP terms in research agreements, and managed the transfer of research materials in and out of the University. Prior to coming to Wayne State, she was an associate at both Butzel Long and Clark Hill PLC practicing primarily IP law.
Job Titles:
- Talent Management Coordinator
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- Director, HR Client Services, Health Affairs Region
- VP for Health Affairs / MPN
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Vice President and Secretary to the Board of Governors
Julie Miller, Secretary to the Board of Governors and University Secretary
Debra Harris, Administrative Assistant
Job Titles:
- HR Data Integrity Manager
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- Interim Presidential Communications Manager
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- Benefits Administrator & Compliance Specialist
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- Associate General Counsel
- General Counsel
Kristen Cook joined the Office of the General Counsel in 2018. She received her undergraduate degree, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with University Honors, from the University of Michigan. She earned her law degree, cum laude, from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Ms. Cook represents the University in a wide variety of litigation and administrative matters.
Prior to coming to Wayne State, Ms. Cook was in private practice at Kitch Drutchas Wagner Valitutti & Sherbrook. She specialized in representing employers in all aspects of labor and employment litigation and consultation, including in arbitration, state and federal court, and before administrative agencies.
Laura Johnston has been with the Office of the General Counsel since 1998. She is a graduate of Oberlin College and has a law degree from the University of Michigan. She works primarily in the areas of intellectual property and research support, reviewing and negotiating a wide range of agreements with sponsors, collaborators, licensees and vendors, as well as consulting on issues relating to patents, copyright, trademarks, library acquisitions, publishing activities and software purchasing and development.
Ms. Johnston came to Wayne State from Comshare, Inc., where she was Senior Counsel. Prior to that she was an associate with Clark, Klein and Beaumont practicing in the employee benefits area.
Job Titles:
- Director, Labor Relations
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- Executive Assistant to the President
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- Dean, College of Nursing, and WSU Chief Health and Wellness Officer
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- President, Academic Senate
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- Manufacturing Engineering / Matthaei Physical Education Center
Marilyn Kelly is the Distinguished Jurist in Residence at the Wayne State University Law School where she teaches. She is the former Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court where she served for sixteen years, having been elected to the Court in 1996 and reelected in 2004. Earlier she served for eight years on the Michigan Court of Appeals after being elected in 1988 and reelected in 1994. She was also President of the Michigan State Board of Education where she served for twelve years after being elected in 1964 and reelected in 1968.
Marilyn was born and raised in Detroit, attended the Detroit Public Schools, and graduated with honors with a juris doctorate from Wayne Law. She earned a master's degree from Middlebury College in Vermont and a bachelor of arts from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti. Before attending law school, she taught French in the Grosse Pointe Public Schools, Albion College and Eastern Michigan University.
Marilyn holds honorary doctor of laws degrees from Wayne State University, Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University. Wayne has awarded her its Distinguished Alumni Award.
The Michigan Education Association recognized her with its Distinguished Service Award. In 2014, the Negligence Law Section of the State Bar awarded her its Earl J. Cline Award for Excellence. In 2013, the Detroit and Michigan Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild honored her for a "life dedicated to justice and equality." In 2012, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan awarded her its lifetime achievement award, and Michigan Lawyers Weekly named her "Woman of the Year." She was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame in 2011.
Marilyn has served on numerous professional and community boards including the Michigan Leader Dogs for the Blind, Channel 56 Public Television, the National Consortium for Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Courts, the Michigan State Bar Foundation, and the Executive Committee of the Wayne Law School Board of Visitors. She has been President of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan and the Women's Bar Association.
Marilyn has endowed a scholarship for law students at Wayne who are dedicated to a career in public service and in access to justice.
She lives in Bloomfield Hills.
Mark Gaffney is recently retired from Teamsters Local Union #214, the largest Teamsters Local in Michigan with statewide jurisdiction for the public sector. He represented and negotiated on behalf of municipal and education workers in all walks of life and puts into practice the principles of positive labor management relations whenever possible.
Previously, Mark Gaffney had been elected three times in twelve years as the President of the Michigan AFL-CIO, an association of forty national labor unions representing over 700,000 active and retired union members in Michigan. In this role, Gaffney became one of the leading political, legislative and labor figures in the state. He led organized labor's role in state and national elections, worked extensively in the State Capitol and coordinated many of the activities in over 1400 local unions.
Mark Gaffney has extensive expertise in workforce issues and in labor relations that developed over a thirty-year career. He currently serves as a board member the Southeast Michigan Labor and Employment Relations Association, a joint labor management group for practitioners. He directed the Economic Alliance of Michigan for twelve years as a co-chair while this business labor coalition considered and set legislative policy. Gaffney also became the Chair of the Board of Human Resources Development, Inc., one of Michigan's largest workforce development agencies. During that time he served on the Executive Committee of the Michigan Council for Labor and Economic Growth, the state's statutory workforce investment board. Gaffney currently is appointed by Mayor Duggan to the Detroit Workforce Board.
Mark Gaffney has extensive healthcare industry experience, having negotiated healthcare coverage for workers for 30 years. During that time he served 12 years on the Board of Directors of Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Michigan and 12 years on the Michigan Employees Benefit System, a union owned healthcare insurance company. He remains serving on the Board of Directors of the Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Michigan subsidiary Lifesecure, a long term care insurance company.
In November 2016 Mark Gaffney was elected statewide to the Board of Governors of Wayne State University. This board sets policy for the university, determines tuition levels, reviews and authorizes the budget and sets academic goals. Also, 2016 was the fifth year of teaching for Gaffney at Wayne State's Masters of Arts in Employment and Labor Relations program as an adjunct professor.
Recently, Mark Gaffney concluded twelve years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, serving at both the Regional Bank in Chicago and at the Branch Bank in Detroit. His tenure included the years of unrestrained economic growth as well as the difficult recession and the subsequent fledging recovery.
A former member of the National Maritime Union (NMU), Seafarers International Union (SIU), and the Steelworkers (USW), Gaffney began his career by working on Great Lake ships. He is a lifelong resident of Michigan and is married to Trisha Stein, with three children. Mark Gaffney holds a Bachelors Degree in Philosophy and a Masters Degree in Labor Relations.
Job Titles:
- Member of the University Leadership Team
- Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
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- Vice President for Health Affairs
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- Associate Director, HR Analytics & Reporting
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- HR Consultant
- Institutional Research / B
- Provost & VP Academic Affairs / B
- Student Affairs / B
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- Associate Director, Benefits
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- Manufacturing Research, Institute for - Research
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- General Counsel
- Vice President
Michael Poterala joined the Office of General Counsel in October 2022 as Vice President and General Counsel.
Job Titles:
- Chief of Staff and Vice President of Marketing and Communications
- Vice President of Marketing and Communications and Chief of Staff
Job Titles:
- Business Process Improvement Project Manager
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- Talent Management Coordinator
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- HR Consultant
- Research / B
- Research Support / B
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- Helium Studio Artist Market
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- Benefits Administrator & Compliance Specialist
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- Vice President for Economic Development
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- Payroll Tax Compliance Officer
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- Associate General Counsel
Pamela Galloway came to the Office of the General Counsel in 1994. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and has a law degree from Wayne State University. Ms. Galloway represents the University in a wide variety of transactional matters, including real estate, affiliation agreements and worker's compensation. She is an advisor and member of several University committees, including the Human Investigations Committee, and the Loss Prevention Committee.
Prior to coming to Wayne State, Ms. Galloway worked as Assistant City Attorney for the City of Highland Park, Michigan and as a staff attorney for Wayne County Neighborhood Legal Services.
Job Titles:
- Vice - President
- Vice President for Government and Community Affairs
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- Dean, University Libraries and the School of Information Sciences ( Interim )
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- Executive Assistant & Contract Administrator, HR
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- Talent Management Coordinator
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- Executive Assistant to the President
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- Associate Vice President for Facilities Planning and Management
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- Chief Information Officer and Associate Vice President for Computing and Information Technology at Wayne State University
is Chief Information Officer and Associate Vice President for Computing and Information Technology at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. In his role as CIO, Mr. Thompson is responsible for the university's computing and networking facilities, datacenter operations, enterprise software applications, learning management environments, high-performance research computing, voice services, information security, and information technology support services.
With over 13 years of experience in higher education leadership and 29 years of experience in Information Technology, Rob has expertise in database integration, information technology management, data governance, business analytics, strategic systems support, software development and infrastructure management. He has led many successful digital transformation projects, enterprise deployments and software platform migrations. Mr. Thompson and the IT organization are presently focusing on campus-wide critical infrastructure enhancements and student success projects.
Rob has a B.A. from Wayne State University and serves on the Board of Directors at Merit Network.
Job Titles:
- Dean, School of Social Work
Job Titles:
- Associate Director
- Associate Director / Schoolcraft Center
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- Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
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- Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff
Job Titles:
- Associate General Counsel
- General Counsel
Thomas Cavalier joined the Office of the General Counsel in 2012. Mr. Cavalier earned his undergraduate degree, with great distinction, from the University of California at Berkeley, and both a master's degree (Philosophy) and a law degree from the University of Michigan. Mr. Cavalier advised the University on a wide variety of compliance matters.
Before coming to Wayne, Mr. Cavalier was in private practice, where he specialized in business litigation, appellate work and commercial contracts.
Job Titles:
- Talent Management Coordinator
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- Vice President for Research ( Interim )
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- Talent Management Coordinator
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- HR Well - Being Coordinator
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- HR Data Integrity Specialist
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- Administrative Staff Member
- Secretary
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- Director, HR Client Services, Region B
- Student Auxiliary Services / B
Job Titles:
- Dean, Mike Ilitch School of Business
Job Titles:
- Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs