State Relations Officers

The MASU State Relations Committee is the most active among the association’s committees. Meeting bi-weekly when the Michigan Legislature is in session, the State Relations Officers (SROs) anticipate, execute and respond to an ever-evolving state budgetary and policy landscape. The SRO Committee provides acute attention to matters involving state higher education funding and fiscal policy, especially involving state university operating support, student financial aid, and campus capital outlay (building construction and renovation). The SROs analyze and communicate their institutions’ positions on dozens of bills introduced each year that affect the state universities and the students they serve; doing so individually and collectively in partnership with MASU staff. As the most ever-present state university advocates in Lansing, the SROs work with legislators and other state government leaders to promote policies and funding priorities that enable the universities to meet state needs and goals. Committee members also work with MASU to communicate with selected members of Congress regarding higher education matters, especially those pertaining to federal student financial aid.

As with all MASU committees, during their convenings, members of the SRO Committee provide insight on the implications of current state and federal policy issues and fiscal dynamics affecting the state’s public universities. Contemporary higher education issues and trends are examined through the lens of state relations officers, with strategic consideration given to such factors as college access and affordability, academic quality, institutional accountability, higher education and the public good, and public-private partnerships.

State Relations Officers

Central Michigan University
Toby Roth, Associate Vice President, Government & External Relations
Warriner 208
Mt. Pleasant , MI 48859
(989) 774-3871
rothj1t@cmich.edu

Megan Morris, Government Relations Associate
Warriner 208
48859
Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
(989) 774-4000
gill1mm@cmich.edu

Eastern Michigan University
Vicki Reaume, Vice President and Secretary to the Board of Regents
207 Welch Hall
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
(734) 487-2410
vreaume@emich.edu

Chad Wing, (Chair) Director, State Relations
207 Welch Hall
Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197
(734) 487-7048
cwing1@emich.edu

Ferris State University
Daniel Eichinger, Vice President-Governmental and External Affairs
1201 S. State Street
Big Rapids, MI 49307
(231) 349-0959
daneichinger@ferris.edu



Grand Valley State University
Stacie R. Behler, Vice President, Chief Public Affairs and Communications Officer, and Secretary to the Board of Trustees
17 Zumberge Library
Allendale, MI 49401
(616) 331-2190
behlers@gvsu.edu



Lake Superior State University
Scott Smith, Vice President of Advancement, Legislative and Alumni Affairs
650 W. Easterday Avenue
Lukenda Alumni House
Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
(906) 635-6210
ssmith58@lssu.edu



Michigan State University
Katie John, Interim Vice President for Government Relations
Office of Governmental Affairs - Hannah Administration Bldg., Rm. 484
426 Auditorium
East Lansing, MI 48824-1046
(517) 896-9911
Deboerk1@msu.edu



Michigan Technological University
Bill Kordenbrock, Vice President for Government Relations
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton, MI 49931
(906) 281-2653
billk@mtu.edu

Dr. John Lehman, Vice President for University Relations and Enrollment
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton, Michigan 49931
(906) 487-1832
jblehman@mtu.edu

Northern Michigan University
R. Gavin Leach, Vice President for Finance and Administration
1401 Presque Isle Avenue - 502 Cohodas Administration Center
Marquette, MI 49855
(906) 227-2200
gleach@nmu.edu

Deanna K. Hemmila, Executive Director of Government Relations
603 Cohodas Hall
Marquette, Michigan 49855
(906) 227-2637
dhemmila@nmu.edu

Oakland University
Rochelle Black, Vice President for Government and Community Relations
117 Wilson Hall
Rochester, MI 48309-4401
(248) 370-4630
black@oakland.edu

Bonnie Bochniak, State Relations Director
110 W. Michigan Avenue
Suite 600
Lansing, Michigan 48933
(517) 702-3368
bonniemaluchnik@oakland.edu

Saginaw Valley State University
John Kaczynski, Director, Governmental Affairs
SVSU Main Campus
Wickes Hall 346
University Center, MI 48710
(989) 964-7481
jlkaczyn@svsu.edu



University of Michigan
Chris Kolb, Vice President for Government Relations
1109 Geddes Avenue
2300 Ruthven Building
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1076
(734) 763-5554
kolbc@umich.edu

Rebecca DeVooght, Director, State Relations
1109 Geddes Avenue
2300 Ruthvan Building
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1076
(734) 763-5554
devooghr@umich.edu

Sean Hammond, Associate Director of State Relations
1109 Geddes Avenue
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1079
(734) 763-5554
seanhamm@umich.edu
University of Michigan - Dearborn
Ken Kettenbeil, Vice Chancellor for External Relations
4901 Evergreen Road
1161 Administration Building
Dearborn, MI 48128
(313) 593-5518
kketten@umich.edu

Steve Betz, Government Relations Director
4901 Evergreen Road
1161 Administration Building
Dearborn, Michigan 48128
(313) 583-6330
svbetz@umich.edu

University of Michigan - Flint
Position Vacant, Director of Government and Community Affairs
303 E. Kearsley Street
Flint, MI 48502
(810) 424-5448




Wayne State University
Patrick O. Lindsey, Vice President for Government and Community Affairs
4155 Faculty Administration Building
656 West Kirby
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 577-4228
patrick.lindsey@wayne.edu

Dave Greco, Director of State Affairs
4092 Faculty Administration Building
656 W. Kirby
Detroit, Michigan 48202
(517) 755-0266
greco@wayne.edu

Western Michigan University
Jeff Breneman, Vice President for Government Relations
1903 West Michigan Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5247
(269) 387-2072
jeff.breneman@wmich.edu

Fred Schaible, Assistant Vice President for Government Relations
1903 West Michigan Avenue
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008-5247
(269) 251-6560
fred.schaible@wmich.edu

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