CMU ON BOARD: Dr. George E. Ross Joins Group Boosting STEM Education
CMU President Becomes 48th Board Member of GLBRA
August 4, 2014
By: Dave Rogers
Dr. George E. Ross, joins regional alliance board.
A nationally-known educator has joined a regional organization aiming to boost
students interest and ability in science, engineering, technology and mathematics.
The STEM Impact Initiative, funded by business, education and nonprofit organizations, aims to increase the number of students who want to and are prepared to pursue, science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, related careers in the region.
Dr. George E. Ross, president of Central Michigan University, has joined the board of directors of the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance.
The Alliance is supported by public and private educational institutions, including CMU, Northwood, Davenport and Saginaw Valley State universities, Delta College, and corporations led by Dow Chemical Company, Consumers Energy, Hemlock Semiconductor, Dow Corning and Nexteer Automotive.
"We are ecstatic that Dr. Ross has agreed to join our Board of Directors," said Matthew Felan, President and CEO of Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance. "The absolute top priority of the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance is talent development through STEM education. Dr. Ross understands and truly values the transformative power of higher education."
Prior to assuming the CMU presidency in 2010, Dr. Ross served as President of Alcorn State University, founded in 1871 as the nation's first public historically Black land-grant university.
Before his appointment as president, he held the positions of Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services at Central Michigan University, Executive Vice President at Clark Atlanta University, Executive Vice Chancellor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and Vice President for Business Affairs at Tuskegee University.
A certified public accountant, Dr. Ross held positions in corporate and nonprofit finance and management prior to his work in higher education. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration from Michigan State University, a Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Alabama, and completed postdoctoral studies at Harvard University.
"Central Michigan University knows the power of regional collaboration," Dr. Ross said. "Our partnerships with Covenant Healthcare and St. Mary's of Michigan in Saginaw will have a profound impact on healthcare throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region and beyond.
"In another example, CMU's Great Lakes Research Institute is helping to preserve and protect our precious waterways. We look forward to expanding relationships with partners throughout the region."
Dr. Ross and his wife, Elizabeth, have two adult daughters, Roshaunda and Joronda.
The mission of the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance is to encourage, support and celebrate regional collaboration and initiatives that will improve the economic vitality and quality of life in the Great Lakes Bay Region. The Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance is comprised of 48 Board Members who represent Bay, Isabella, Midland and Saginaw counties. www.greatlakesbay.com
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