Wayne State University's Board of Governors (BOG) will welcome new member Tina Abbott and incumbent Annetta Miller to their eight-member board this month. Both Democratic candidates, vying for two seats on the university's governing board, were the top vote-getters during the Nov. 2 statewide election. Swearing-in ceremonies were held this month officially marking the beginning of the new governors' eight-year terms.

Abbott, a state employee, has maintained a high level of involvement with labor unions and in state and local politics. Currently secretary treasurer of the Michigan AFL-CIO, she has worked with labor unions statewide serving in various capacities including chief for the steward with the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the Michigan State Employees Association (MSEA). Abbott's political experience extends to the state level serving as interim chair of the Michigan Democratic Party.

Abbott's association with Wayne State includes earning a certificate from the university's labor studies program through the College of Urban, Labor and Metropolitan Affairs (CULMA). She also holds an associate's degree from Wayne County Community College.

Miller, a longtime member of Michigan's State Board of Education from 1970-1995, served as the board's treasurer, vice president, secretary and co-president. Among many past political ties, she served on the Oakland County Democratic Executive Committee, as a candidate for a congressional seat, a regular delegate to Democratic state conventions since 1968 and a delegate to the 1972 Democratic National Convention.

Miller's list of volunteer affiliations and offices is numerous including ties to Wayne State. She served on the Friends of WDET-FM Board of Directors from 1975-1978 and the advisory board of CULMA's Center for Peace and Conflict Studies. Miller holds a bachelor's degree at Wayne State and Registered Nurse (RN), Jewish Hospital, School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Penn.

The Board of Governors elects the president of the University, has general supervision of Wayne State University and the control and direction of all expenditures from university funds. It enacts bylaws and regulations for the conduct of its business and for the governance of the university. It sets tuition and policy for other fees and charges, determines the compensation to be paid for service; confers degrees and sets the policy for management of gifts, grants, bequests, agreements and contracts, and leases or disposes of property.

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 12 schools and colleges to more than 33,000 students in metropolitan Detroit.