Ann Arbor Times

The Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents has elected Nate Ford as chair and Marques Thomey as vice chair. The decision was made during the board meeting on December 5, 2024. Both will serve two-year terms starting in January 2025.

Nate Ford previously served as vice chair under Chad Newton, who is the current board chair and CEO of the Wayne County Airport Authority. Newton will continue to serve as a board member after being appointed in March 2021.

Ford joined the EMU Board in December 2020 following his appointment by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. He is an associate vice president and group director for program/construction management at HNTB Corporation, which specializes in infrastructure design projects nationally and internationally. His responsibilities include overseeing improvements on I-375 and modernizations on I-94 in Detroit. Before this role, he was the director of Detroit's Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department under Mayor Dave Bing.

Marques Thomey was appointed to the EMU Board by Governor Whitmer in February 2023. He serves as director of business development and real estate at the Wayne County Airport Authority. Thomey's previous roles include City of Plymouth commissioner from 2018 to 2021 and a term as president of the Eastern Michigan University Alumni Association Board of Directors from 2011 to 2017.

The meeting also marked the final session for two regents completing their eight-year terms: Eunice Jeffries, who became the first African American woman to chair the board in 2021, and Alexander Simpson, both appointed by former Governor Rick Snyder in 2016.

Eastern Michigan University was founded in 1849 and is recognized for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. It offers more than 300 majors through various colleges including Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; along with its graduate school.