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Saginaw Valley State University

March 22, 2022

SVSU to host local mayors in roundtable and reception

Madame Mayor: Local Governance in the Great Lakes Bay Region

Saginaw Valley State University will host the mayors of the Great Lakes Bay Region’s four major cities for a discussion on local governance. “Madame Mayor: Local Governance in the Great Lakes Bay Region” will take place on Wednesday, March 30 from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. in the Curtiss Hall banquet rooms on SVSU’s main campus. The event is free and open to the community.

The event features four mayors, all women: Brenda Moore of Saginaw, Maureen Donker of Midland, Kathleen Newsham of Bay City, and Mary Anne Ackerman of Frankenmuth. It will be moderated by Dr. Pamela Pugh, vice president of the Michigan State Board of Education.

“We wanted to showcase during Women’s History Month the historic occasion of all major city mayors in the Great Lakes Bay Region being women,” said Kevin Lorentz II, assistant professor of political science at SVSU. “This civic forum is also an opportunity for our students to hear from their local leaders, particularly their accomplishments, challenges and advice to young persons when it comes to serving in local elected office.”

John Kaczynski, executive director of Governmental and Community Affairs at SVSU, said, “We have held events like this over the past 15 years in which elected officials are invited to campus to provide public policy updates, but also to encourage another generation of civic leaders in the Great Lakes Bay Region.”

The roundtable discussion, featuring audience question and answer, will be held from 4:30-5:30 p.m. A networking reception follows from 5:30-7:00 p.m.

“SVSU has always been extremely supportive of blending classroom learning with community engagement,” Lorentz said, “and being able to meet one-on-one and listen to local elected officials is one way that we can fulfill that mission.” 

This program is sponsored by The Henry Marsh Institute for Public Policy, College Democrats of SVSU, College Republicans of SVSU, and Pi Sigma Alpha at SVSU. Register for the event here.