Ann Arbor Times

Eastern Michigan University’s College of Business will host its second annual Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Justice speaker series featuring EMU alumnus Michael Pugh. Pugh is the president, chief executive officer, and a board director of Local Initiatives Support Corporation. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 2, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Student Center, room 310, at 900 Oakwood St. in Ypsilanti.

Pugh will share his story of advancing through some of the nation’s largest financial institutions and his experience leading community investment programs that have scaled opportunities for millions of people.

“The ability to lead on questions of equity is not just about your field of study or profession or job title,” said Pugh. “It’s about how you interact with the people in your world. It’s about leveraging your skills to enable others to reach their full potential. Real leaders recognize opportunities to be transformative—even if only for one person, in one moment.”

The College of Business speaker series aims to positively impact equity and justice. It is sponsored by Joyce Jenereaux, a 1986 EMU College of Business alumna and member of the college’s Dean Executive Advisory Board. The series has previously featured influential business professionals such as Kirk Mayes, former CEO of Forgotten Harvest and founder of KBM Ventures LLC.

Pugh's presentation will address critical topics including the nation's affordable housing crisis and small business development. He hopes his message will empower listeners to positively impact diversity, equity, and inclusion issues as they engage with diverse communities.

The event is LBC-credit approved and admission is free for students. For more information, contact Cheryl Kernander at ckernand@emich.edu.

About Michael Pugh

Michael Pugh became chief executive officer of LISC in October 2023. With over 30 years in banking focused on expanding access to capital for underserved families, businesses, and communities, he led Carver Federal Savings Bank as CEO for over a decade. Earlier roles included senior vice president positions at Citizens Financial Group and Capital One North America.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern Michigan University serves more than 13,000 students across various undergraduate and graduate programs through its multiple colleges including Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school.