Governor of Wayne State University
What does this office do?
- Setting tuition at state universities
- Approving university budgets
- Picking university presidents
Affects: Government Efficiency, Government Spending Reduction, Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties,
Candidates:
Libertarian
Alex Avery is a Grand Rapids-born truck driver and longtime Libertarian Party candidate. He says he would bring independent judgment and careful stewardship to the board, and more diverse viewpoints to how the university is run.
Republican
Andy Anuzis is principal of Lincoln-King High School in Detroit, a former president of the Cornerstone Schools network, and a former chief of staff in the Michigan House and in Congress. His top priorities are college affordability and preparing students for careers.
Republican
Christa Murphy is a technology executive who has led strategy work at Meta, Samsung and General Motors and has served on the Vibe Credit Union board for over 15 years. Her priorities are tighter university budgets and preparing students for jobs in Michigan's growing industries.
Libertarian
Jami Van Alstine is an information technology infrastructure administrator with over 20 years in the field and a part-time historical archaeologist who studied at Wayne State. She says she would focus on accountability and on listening to students, faculty, staff and taxpayers.
U.S. Taxpayers
As of October 2026, we found no public information about Jeff McDonald's job, background, or goals.
Natural Law
As of October 2026, we found no public information about Kathleen Oakford's job, background, or goals.
Green
As of October 2026, we found no public information about Paul M. Ragan's job, background, or goals.
Democratic
Richard Mack is a union-side labor and civil rights attorney with 28 years of practice who served on the elected Detroit Charter Commission from 2019 to 2021. His priorities are making the university more affordable and paying faculty and staff fairly.
Records: Civil Rights 1 for, Government Spending Reduction 1 against
Democratic
Shereef Akeel is a civil and human rights attorney in Oakland County who has led major discrimination cases and holds a law degree, an MBA and a CPA license. His priorities are lower tuition and student debt, and more open oversight of university spending and contracts.
Records: Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties 3 for, Civil Rights 1 for
Working Class
Suzanne Roehrig is a longtime teacher and librarian with a Wayne State graduate degree who started college as a single mother. Her priorities are relieving student loan debt and fully funding college as a right open to all.
Source: mi-boe.entellitrak.com