Brian Manzullo

On Tuesday, Gov. Jennifer Granholm filled two vacant positions on Central Michigan University’s Board of Trustees.

John Hurd and Sarah Opperman were appointed to the board to replace outgoing trustees John Kulhavi and Jeff Caponigro, whose terms ended Dec. 31.

“It’s one of those serendipity things,” Hurd said of his appointment. “It’s funny how life turns out.”

Hurd said his career in higher education started almost by chance.

“I just sort of fell into it,” the Munith resident said. “I love teaching, I got to love education and then I got into administration.”

He most recently served as president of Cabrillo Community College, located in California, before moving back to Michigan.

Hurd said he met University President Michael Rao several years ago, while both were in leadership positions at schools in California.

The two kept in touch, Hurd said, and Rao suggested the trustee position to continue his career passion.

“I’m delighted to get back into higher education now, in a way that suits my lifestyle,” he said.

Caponigro said both new appointees have background and expertise that will be great assets to the Board.

Opperman, a 1981 CMU alumna, currently serves as vice president of government affairs and public policy for the Dow Chemical Company in Midland.

She is a 2006 inductee to the Journalism Department Hall of Fame, a former editor at Central Michigan Life, and was a member of the Student Media Board of Directors when it was formed in 1999.

She has extensive experience with governmental relations, public policy and corporate communications, Caponigro said. This will enhance the group’s already diverse perspective.

Kulhavi said the state’s economic condition will continue to present challenges for the Board to work with.

During his tenure, he said the group made several budget cuts, which brought the university around a corner and made way for improvements.

“That’s enabled us to make decisions to continue to try to grow the esteem of the university,” Kulhavi said.

He plans to stay active with the school’s development board, where he met Opperman on two occasions.

He noted her knowledge of business-related work.

“She seems like a very, very strong individual,” Kulhavi said.

Opperman said she sees how education runs hand-in-hand with attaining jobs.

Many people are choosing to transition to new career paths and go back to school, she said.

“A university like CMU really becomes more important in these challenging economic times,” Opperman said.

Hurd and Opperman’s appointments will stand unless the Michigan Senate votes to disapprove the appointments within 60 days. Their terms are scheduled to expire Dec. 31, 2016.

Caponigro said the board will certainly face challenges, but said he has faith in the quality of its eight current members.

“We’re all operating in and attempting to maintain the highest quality of education for students and faculty while still keeping CMU as affordable as possible,” he said. “I know CMU could not be in better hands with the board it has.”

university@cm-life.com

E-mail the author: Heidi Fenton