Gov. Jennifer Granholm has appointed two individuals to the Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents.
Michael Hawks and Erane Washington-Kendrick will begin their eight-year terms Jan. 5, 2011.
Washington-Kendrick and Hawks will fill the seats of Philip Incarnati and Gary Hawks.
Hawks is eager to begin his new job.
“I am very excited about this,” Hawks said. “I think I can do a lot at Eastern.”
Hawks is the son of outgoing Regent Gary Hawks. He is a graduate of EMU and received an undergraduate degree in business administration. Hawks participated in football.
Hawks received his master’s degree in higher education administration from Michigan State University.
He is the director of Governmental Consultant Services, Inc., a legislative consulting firm in Lansing. Hawks has been a board member with the company since 1999, and before that he served as a legislative consultant for nine years.
He served as the chief of staff for the Majority Floor Leader for the Michigan House of Representatives. He was also on the public affairs staff of the Speaker of the House.
“I look forward to returning to Eastern,” Hawks said. “I loved the time I spent there. I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else.”
Washington-Kendrick is the founder of the Law Firm of Erane C. Washington-Kendrick, PLLC. The firm is based in Ann Arbor, and she handles legal matters such as estate, business, complex litigation and securities.
She served as a judicial attorney in the Washtenaw Circuit Court, and for seven years she was an assistant public defender, also for Washtenaw County.
She graduated from the University of Michigan Law School and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from James Madison College at Michigan State.
Washington-Kendrick also serves as vice-chair of the Michigan Board of State Canvassers. She is also a member of the State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly.
In a statement, President Susan Martin said she looks forward to working with the new regents.
“They bring a broad background of experience and perspective and will help provide leadership that will guide Eastern’s growth and success for years to come,” she said.
