Thanks for the picks
In less than a month, Gov. Jennifer Granholm appointed new members to the CMU Board of Trustees.
And both individuals will offer a lot to the Board.
Sarah Opperman, one of the new Trustees, will bring the perspective of someone with diverse experience in the field of communication - especially in government relations, essential in securing state allocations for Central Michigan University.
Opperman, vice president of government affairs and public policy for the Dow Chemical Company in Midland, is a CMU alumna, a member of the Journalism Department Hall of Fame and a former Central Michigan Life editor.
She fills well the void left open by the departure of former Board Chairman Jeff Caponigro, a public relations guru whose term expired Dec. 31.
John Hurd, the second appointment, has considerable experience in educational leadership. Hurd recently served as president of Cabrillo Community College, located in California.
Though a community college is in many ways different from a university, he will provide an eye for fiscal prudence in education.
He is familiar with educational budgets. His experience should help him propose reasonable ways to keep costs low at CMU.
Especially impressive is the speed with which Granholm selected qualified Trustees. We had not expected appointments until April, at the earliest. Her efforts are appreciated.
As the university continues development on its medical school and looks to face further financial hardship, the newest Trustees should wisely guide the way.
