Whitmer names bank executive Sandy Pierce to MSU Board of Trustees

Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press
·2 min read
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LANSING — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday named a bank executive to fill a vacancy on the MSU Board of Trustees.

Sandy Pierce
Sandy Pierce

Sandy Pierce will fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Pat O'Keefe, Whitmer announced in a news release. Pierce's term begins immediately and expires Jan. 1, 2029.

Pierce, of Detroit, is the senior executive vice president of Huntington National Bank. Previously, she was named vice chairman of FirstMerit Corporation and has held senior roles at RBS Citizens and JPMorgan Chase.

“The students, staff, faculty, and alumni of Michigan State University deserve leadership who will put them first and do the right thing no matter what,” Whitmer said. “Sandy is the right person for the job because she leads with her values and has decades of experience to back it up. She is a trusted professional and a tested, proven leader."

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Whitmer said she met with students, alumni, and faculty from MSU prior to making the appointment. The university in East Lansing is still recovering from the shock and pain of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to serve the students, staff, and alumni at MSU and am eager to work with my partners on the Board of Trustees,” Pierce said in the news release.

“I’ve dedicated my career to economic development in the state of Michigan and its world class institutions. This is a wonderful opportunity for me to continue to help advance the school’s mission and provide relevant guidance on its strategic goals and objectives. Access to a good education is the bedrock of our success and is a part of securing the future for this great state. I know Gov. Whitmer shares my passion around this, and I am honored to work together to further the vision for this wonderful institution.”

Pierce has not been a major political donor but has supported Democrats, including Whitmer, former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, and former Wayne County Executive Bob Ficano.

O'Keefe, who resigned in November, was a Republican.

Pierce, who is chair of the Detroit Economic Club board, has held many board roles, including chair of the Henry Ford Health System Board. She has been recognized by Crain’s Detroit Business, the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity & Inclusion, and Harvard Business School. In 2018, she was awarded Michigan State University’s Honorary Alumni Award. Pierce earned her bachelor's and Master of Business Administration degrees at Wayne State University.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Whitmer names bank executive Sandy Pierce to MSU Board of Trustees