Staff and Contact Information
The university employs more than 3,300 full and part-time
employees who serve more than 28,000 students. With more
than 150,000 alumni and a changing legislature, the volume
of constituencies with which the president must interact is
considerably large. As such, key officers and staff assist
him as described in the following sections.
The president’s team is committed to a common strategic
vision, achieving a focused set of goals, and providing
leadership in a healthy and productive environment. The
president and his staff welcome suggestions, comments and
concerns about the university, but typically share the
information with the members of CMU's team who are best
equipped to examine and/or respond to specific inquiries.
For prompt assistance, it is best to direct student concerns
to the Student Ombuds Officer, who is part of the
president's office. Please contact
ombuds@cmich.edu
or access
www.cmich.edu/ombuds.
CMU Organizational Chart
http://www.hrs.cmich.edu/cmu-org-chart.htm
General Information
Office of the President
Central Michigan University
Warriner Hall, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
phone: (989) 774-3131
fax: (989) 774-3665
Individual Contact Information
Addresses to include the following:
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
Michael Rao, President
phone: (989) 774-3131
email:
president@cmich.edu
To advance CMU in areas crucial to its competitiveness with
regard to academic scholarships, state appropriations,
research funding, and student internships and job
placements, a significant portion of the president's role
focuses on external relations with the university's many
constituencies and supporters. His time is divided between
daily and weekly meetings around the state and the U.S. (and
periodically internationally where CMU maintains academic
partnerships) and meetings on the university's campus in
Mount Pleasant. The president's calendar is built by a team
that evaluates priorities and does its best to accommodate
the vast majority of requests for his presence and
leadership in meetings and events. The president's
administrative team, comprising the executive vice
president/provost, vice presidents, and other senior staff,
manages most day-to-day functions and matters on campus.
In cases in which the president is asked to appear at an
event, the completion of an event request form
(http://www.cmich.edu/president/forms/event-request-form.htm)
is requested in order to help staff evaluate how to
prioritize the event on the president's calendar. Completion
of an event request form is strongly recommended and greatly
appreciated by the president's office.
The president reviews the vast majority of paper, voice, and
electronic correspondence that he receives. While he
responds personally to most of this correspondence, because
the volume of communications is so far beyond what any one
person could handle, many items are reviewed and handled by
staff members who work closely with and represent the
president.
Executive Officers
Julia E. Wallace, Executive Vice President/Provost
Warriner Hall 112
phone: (989) 774-3931
email:
walla3je@cmich.edu
www.provost.cmich.edu
The Executive Vice President/Provost is the chief academic
and student affairs officer for the university. Executive
Vice President/Provost Wallace oversees the academic
colleges, libraries, and offices relating to student
affairs, technology and diversity.
Michael A. Leto, Vice President for
Development and Alumni Relations
Carlin Alumni House
phone: (989) 774-2382
email: leto1ma@cmich.edu
www.alumni-donors.cmich.edu
The vice president of development and alumni relations leads
the development and implementation of a comprehensive fund
raising program for the university, focusing on student
scholarships and faculty endowment. In addition to fund
development, Vice President Leto oversees the office of
alumni relations.
David A. Burdette, Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services
Warriner Hall 104
phone: (989) 774-3334
email:
burde1da@cmich.edu
www.cmich.edu/fas/
The vice president for finance and administrative services
leads the development of a balanced budget and is
responsible for the day-to-day management of the
university's financial and physical resources. Vice President Burdette also serves as
the university's treasurer and
oversees business affairs, human resources staff, facilities
management, general counsel, and other areas.
Kathleen M. Wilbur, Vice President
for Government Relations & Public Affairs
Bovee University Center 306
phone: (989) 774-3871
email:
wilbu1km@cmich.edu
www.cmich.edu/govrelations/
The vice president for governmental relations & public
affairs directs and manages the university's governmental
relations program including oversight of the Network for
Higher Education, a grassroots advocacy program. This
position also serves as the primary liaison with all elected
officials and groups, including city, county, state and
federal governments, and provides leadership and oversight
of the university's public broadcasting operations.
President's Division
David Heeke, Jr., Director of
Athletics
Rose Center 100
phone: (989) 774-3046
email:
heeke1dw@cmich.edu
http://www.cmuchippewas.com/
The athletic director leads a team of dedicated coaches,
trainers, and staff that keep CMU’s 16 athletic teams active
and successful in the Mid-American Conference. The director
is responsible for knowing, following, and implementing NCAA
rules and regulations, enabling CMU to keep its Division I-A
status in the conference. The athletics office is an active
fundraising unit for the university and is regularly visible
in the community and across the country as representatives
of CMU. The position is also responsible for overseeing
improvements and expansions to the university’s athletic
facilities.
Steven F. Smith, Interim Director of Public Relations and Marketing
West Hall 108
phone: (989)774-7328
email: smith1sf@cmich.edu
www.cmich.edu/public-relations/
The interim director
of public relations and marketing serves as the
university's senior communications officer, working with his
team to tell the university's story on and off campus
through publications, the news media, and other outlets. In
addition, the office is the home base for an integrated,
university wide marketing initiative. The office is
comprised of news services, publications, broadcast media
relations, public relations, sports information, photography
and videography, executive communications, advertising,
licensing, and marketing. This team advises university
faculty and staff about the most effective ways to send
messages to their audiences and help them develop and carry
out public relations and marketing plans that meet
university goals. All units in public relations and
marketing are devoted to developing, interpreting, and
communicating the university's image, mission, and goals for
many audiences.
www.cmich.edu/public-relations/
Michael J. Roethlisberger, Director
of Internal Audit
Warriner Hall 203
phone: (989) 774-2317
email:
roeth1mj@cmich.edu
www.ia.cmich.edu/
Internal Audit is an independent office that examines and
evaluates all activities of the university. The office
provides analyses, appraisals, recommendations, and counsel
concerning university financial and procedural policies. The
director also develops an annual audit plan and works with
external auditors to ensure the ongoing integrity,
efficiency, and effectiveness of financial and other
management control systems.
Staff in the Office of the President
Mary Jane Flanagan, Executive
Assistant to the President and Secretary to the Board of
Trustees
Warriner Hall 106
phone: (989) 774-3131
email:
flana1mj@cmich.edu
The executive assistant to the president manages and
provides leadership for the inner office functions of the
office of the president. The position is also responsible
for the supervision of commencement and board relations, and
ensures exceptional communication among members of the
senior administrative team consistent with a strategic focus
on accomplishing presidential goals. Events, scheduling and
logistics, correspondence, policy implementation, senior
staff team coordination, student and parent relations are
all overseen by the executive assistant, who supervises the
office team. The position is also responsible for the
supervision of the Affirmative Action function of the
university.
Tyrone Jordan, Executive Assistant
to the President/Metro Detroit
1650 Research Drive, Suite 300
Troy, Michigan 48083
phone: (248) 526-2627
email: jorda1t@cmich.edu
The executive assistant to the president for Metro Detroit
Outreach is responsible for bridging Central Michigan
University to Metro Detroit, where the university serves
more than 4,000 students through its
off-campus
programs (http://www.cel.cmich.edu/default.html).
The executive assistant initiates and enhances the formation
and maintenance of successful partnerships with
corporations; assists in fundraising for scholarships and
academic programs; initiates and leads the development of
strong and consistent relations with Detroit elected
officials; and advises the president and university on
matters that relate to community, corporate and government
relations in Metro Detroit.
Marykaye Murphy, Assistant to the
Board of Trustees
Warriner Hall 121
phone: (989) 774-7474
email:
murph1mk@cmich.edu
http://www.cmich.edu/trustees/
As an autonomous public university, CMU is governed by its
own eight-member board. The business of the board, including
regular meetings on a bi-monthly basis, committee meetings,
travel and involvement in a range of events and projects, is
coordinated by the Board of Trustees assistant.
Susan M. Rademacher, Student Ombuds
Officer
Warriner 114
phone: (989) 774-3010
email: ombuds@cmich.edu
www.cmich.edu/ombuds
A considerable volume of interest in the president's office
comes from students and parents who have unique or
individual situations that they feel require the assistance
of the president. Most of these matters are complicated and
require significant research and tracking tasks that are
time consuming and complex. Though the president would like
to review and resolve each of the situations that reach his
office, this would be impossible logistically. Additionally,
many of the president's responsibilities are focused at the
policy level and include a focus on the external
environment. As such, he relies on the assistance of an
ombuds officer, who works with the executive assistant.
Sharon L. Russell, Commencement
Coordinator
Warriner Hall 121
phone: (989) 774-7392
email:
russe1sl@cmich.edu
http://www.cmich.edu/graduation/
At CMU, the president's office coordinates up to six large
commencement ceremonies per year, in addition to a range of
events sponsored by the president's office. The commencement
coordinator ensures that thousands of names are included in
program booklets, arranges for speakers, marshals,
facilities, and handles events associated with commencement.
Please visit our
CMU Campus Directory for more information.
Please visit our Interactive
Campus Map for directions.
