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Gov. Snyder Appoints Health Exec. To MSU Board of Trustees

Nancy Schlichting is one of three new MSU trustees. She was appointed by former Governor Rick Snyder in December.
Office of Governor Rick Snyder
Nancy Schlichting, MSU trustee appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder on December 21, 2018

Gov. Rick Snyder appointed Nancy Schlichting, a former CEO of the Henry Ford Health System, to the Michigan State University Board of Trustees. 

Schlichting will replace George Perles, who resigned in late November.

According to a press release from Gov. Snyder's office on December 21, Schlichting graduated from Duke University with a degree in Public Policy Studies. She earned her MBA from Cornell University. 

Schlichting will serve the remainder of Perles, 8-year term, which ends in January 2023.

George Perles
Credit Michigan State University
George Perles, former MSU Trustee

84-year-old George Perles cited family as well as health challenges in his resignation letter to the university on November 29. 

The resignation also comes more than two months after news broke of a lawsuit alleging Perles covered up a rape allegation involving a university field hockey player and former sports doctor Larry Nassar in 1992. Perles was MSU Athletics Director that year. He has denied that allegation.

In a statement from MSU's Board of Trustees, Chair Brian Breslin praised Schlichting's appointment.

"Schlichting's experience leading a major health system through dramatic financial turnaround and achieving national recognition for initiatives in patient safety, customer service and diversity, make her a great addition to the board," said Breslin.

The Detroit News reports that the transition team for President Donald J. Trump interviewed Schlichting for secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

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