Michael Fisher
On Thursday, Feb. 2, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the appointment of three new Ferris State University Board of Trustees members, including an alumnus and a former faculty member.
The appointments, effective immediately, are Ferris alumnus Michael Fisher, of Lansing, an associate general counsel for the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan; retired former faculty member Michael Ryan, of Big Rapids; and Vivian TerMaat, of Ada, the chief executive officer for Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore in Grand Rapids, to the Board of Trustees.
Ferris President Bill Pink is pleased to welcome the three new trustees as everyone collectively works to move the university forward.
Michael Ryan
“I thank Gov. Whitmer for identifying these three individuals,” Pink said. “I am encouraged and excited about the future of our great university, and I look forward to working with these new board members who will definitely help advance the work of Ferris State.”
Fisher earned his Juris Doctor degree from the Georgetown University Law Center, his Master of Public Administration from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology from Ferris. Fisher’s term runs through Dec. 31, 2030, as he succeeds Rupesh Srivastava, whose term expired.
Ryan, who retired in 2017 after 40 years as a Ferris faculty member, holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology from SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine, a Master of Science in Biology from Duquesne University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from St. Vincent College. Ryan, a professor in Biological Sciences, served as president of the Ferris Faculty Association and was a member of the Michigan Education Association Board of Directors, the Michigan Association for Higher Education Board of Directors and several Ferris committees.
Vivian TerMaat
TerMaat received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Western Michigan University and her master’s degree in Management from Aquinas College. Before her work with the Girl Scouts, TerMaat was chief advancement officer for Wedgwood Christian Services. She has been active in West Michigan as a part of the Grand Rapids Economic Club, the Association of Fundraising Executives, Inforum West Michigan, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce and the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. A certified fundraising executive, TerMaat’s succeeds Ana Ramirez-Saenz, and her term runs through Dec. 31, 2030.
These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.