Eastern Michigan University Regents Francine Parker and Floyd Clack finished their last Board of Regents meeting Friday afternoon. Parker and Clack’s official terms will end Dec. 31, 2014.
In the final resolution for both Parker and Clack, the board praised Parker for her “extraordinary commitment of time, energy and passion,” to the university. The board also praised Clack for his expertise in education, noting he was “a driving force behind recruitment and student programming at Eastern.”
Parker was appointed for a regular, eight-year term by Governor Jennifer Granholm in 2007. The last two years of Parker’s term she was the chairperson of the Board of Regents.
Parker currently serves on the board’s Personnel and Compensation Committee and is vice chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee. Parker brought more than 40 years of health care experience to the board. She retired as President and CEO of Health Alliance Plan in 2008 and is currently the executive director of the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust. She serves on numerous local and national boards.
“I am proud and gratified by the striking changes and improvements that have occurred on campus during this time,” Parker said in a statement, “The improvements at Eastern were the direct result of the extraordinary efforts of our faculty, administration, staff and our students.”
Through a great deal of financial support from Parker, EMU opened the Francine Parker Advising Center in the EMU Student Center in 2013. The drop-in advising center is modeled after modern technology retail centers. This allows advisors to respond quickly to student questions as well as giving advisors the ability to show students all of the online resources available to them.
Clack was appointed to an interim term in 2005 to fill a vacancy on the board, and then reappointed by Granholm in 2007.
During his tenure, Clack served as a member of the EMU Joint Oversight Committee, as vice chair of the Student Affairs Committee, as vice chair of the Athletic Affairs Committee and as Secretary of the Eagle Administrative Services Board.
“It's been my distinct privilege to represent the people of Michigan on the governing board of EMU for these past 10 years,” Clack said in a statement. “I am proud of the fact we as a board have remained focused on our students. Eastern remains a welcoming university that cares about student success first and foremost.”
Clack earned his master's degree in guidance and counseling from EMU and served as a guidance counselor and teacher in the Flint Community Schools. Clack’s extensive community service includes his serving as a member of the Flint City Council, as a member of the Genesee County Board of Commissioners and as president of the Flint NAACP. He also served seven terms as a Michigan State Representative.
Although the regular meeting ended in chaos of protesters demonstrating against the EAA, several people went up to Parker and Clack and expressed their gratitude for their service on the board. Parker went around and shook hands with many of the protesters against the EAA. Parker and Clack were the only regents at the meeting that voted to end EMU’s relationship with the EAA.
Parker was overcome with emotion following her last meeting as Chair and as regent.
“This is a bittersweet experience for me,” Parker said, “This is a great place to be and there is a lot of wonderful work being done at this university.”
