Michigan Virtual University Adds New Board Members

LANSING, Mich., Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ — The Michigan Virtual University (MVU), a private, not-for-profit Michigan corporation established in 1998 to deliver online education and training opportunities in Michigan, has added five new members to its 23 member Board of Directors. The MVU Board includes representation from business, industry, education and state government organizations.

Jamey Fitzpatrick, MVU’s President, announced the appointment of the new Board members following the MVU Board of Directors meeting in Lansing on September 29, 2005. “The revised MVU Strategic Plan, adopted in March 2005 called for additional representation from K-12 education groups and organizations. I am very pleased that these five highly respected education leaders have agreed to join the MVU Board,” Fitzpatrick said in announcing the new appointees. Fitzpatrick added that “each of these individuals bring a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to providing high quality educational opportunities for Michigan’s K-12 public and nonpublic schools.”

Joining the MVU Board is:

* James Ballard, Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals

Mr. Ballard provides leadership for a statewide membership organization serving more than 2,000 principals and assistant principals in middle schools, high schools and vocational centers.

* Gerald Dawkins, Ed.D., Superintendent of the Saginaw Public Schools

Dr. Dawkins has executive responsibility for an urban school district with an annual budget of $125 million, serving 13,000 students and 2,000 employees in Saginaw County.

* Barbara Markle, Ph.D., Assistant Dean and Director of K-12 Outreach in the College of Education at Michigan State University

Dr. Markle is responsible for state, national and international dissemination of academic education research and practice that informs the work of educational leaders, policy makers and practitioners.

* Glen Walstra, Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Nonpublic Schools

Mr. Walstra provides leadership for an organization serving Catholic schools of the seven dioceses in Michigan, Michigan Christian Schools International, and the Michigan District of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod Schools.

* Chris Wigent, Superintendent of the Calhoun Intermediate School District

Mr. Wigent has executive responsibility for a regional education leadership and service agency that provides support for 28,000 students and 8,400 employees in twelve K-12 school districts, one K-8 district and four public school academies in Calhoun County.

MVU operates the Michigan Virtual High School (MVHS), the second largest virtual high school in the nation. The MVU works in partnership with Michigan’s K-12 schools to provide online courses, classroom resources, career services and professional development programs for Michigan students, teachers, administrators and school district support personnel.

http://www.mivu.org/

Michigan Virtual University

CONTACT: Erin Strang of Michigan Virtual University, +1-517-324-5373

Web site: http://www.mivu.org/