(Shirley Stancato)
Other Major Endorsements: Seven Former WSU Board Members, Past President, US Association of Governing Boards
Shirley Stancato and her colleague Eva Garza Dewaelsche (de-WALSH), both candidates for Wayne State University’s Board of Governors, today welcomed the endorsement of Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Immediate Past President of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB).
I enthusiastically endorse Shirley Stancato and Eva Garza Dewaelsche for Wayne State University Board of Governors. These two women have proven track records of strong leadership and the progressive values to guide the direction of Wayne State University. Join me in voting for Shirley and Eva at the MDP convention,” said Gov. Whitmer.
Stancato and Dewaelsche were also thrilled today to receive the heartiest of endorsements from Richard Legon, Immediate Past President and CEO, The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB), the country’s premier membership organization that strengthens higher education governing boards and the strategic roles they serve within their institutions.
“As the past president of the national organization that supports and educates higher education governing boards, and as someone with almost 40 years of experience working directly with the governing boards of well over 500 colleges and universities, I am pleased to provide my endorsement to Shirley Stancato and Eva Dewaelsche as candidates for the Board of Governors of Wayne State University,” said Legon. “I have advised and consulted with the Wayne State Board and institutional leadership on a number of occasions in the recent past.
“It has become abundantly clear to me that the service of several members of the eight-person Board is compromised due to their own self-interest, conflict-of-interest, and a fundamental lack of awareness of their fiduciary responsibilities. At this tipping-point moment for higher education across the country, effective and collaborative governance will determine the future sustainability of most colleges and universities. I urge the delegates of the Michigan Democratic Party state nominating convention to recognize the need to refresh and renew the governance of one of the country’s most outstanding institutions, led by an internationally respected president, and to nominate two outstanding leaders, Eva Dewaelsche and Shirley Stancato, for seats on the Wayne State University Board of Governors.”
Additionally, seven former members of the Wayne State University Board Governors released a statement wholeheartedly endorsing Stancato and Dewaelsche while also denouncing the behavior of four members of the current board.
“ …Their behavior has attracted the scrutiny of the university’s major accrediting agency and drawn criticism from higher education experts, including the immediate past president of the Association of Governing Boards.
“Wayne State University cannot continue to be led by a divided board, particularly with members who don’t respect the boundaries of their governance role and have inappropriately inserted themselves into the university’s administrative functions. The university community needs and deserves change at the board level to break the logjam that threatens Wayne State’s future. Perhaps more than any other time in the history of the university, Michigan Democrats need to pay very close attention to the candidates we nominate to serve on the board of this venerable institution. That’s why we are proud to endorse two very talented leaders who are seeking the Michigan Democratic Party’s nomination:”
The endorsement letter was signed by Michael Einheuser, Denise Lewis, Annetta Miller, Eugene Driker, Paul Massaron, Gary Pollard and Kim Trent.
Other endorsements Stancato has received include:
- Michigan AFL-CIO
- United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW)
- Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights
- American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
- Former Mayor and Supreme Court Justice Dennis Archer
- 13th Congressional District Democratic Party Organization
- MEA Democratic Educators Caucus
- EMGAGE
- Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus