Governor Whitmer appoints WMU alumni to Michigan boards and commissions
Michigan Board of Behavior Analysts
Christina J. Vestevich, of Bloomfield Hills, is the chief clinical officer and founder of Gateway Pediatric Therapy, LLC and is adjunct faculty at Oakland University. She holds a bachelor of arts in psychology and a master of arts in behavior analysis from WMU. Vestevich is appointed to represent behavior analysts engaged in providing clinical services for a term commencing January 1, 2021 and expiring December 31, 2024.
Michigan Board of Cosmetology
Gabriella Abel, of Okemos, is a communications strategist with Byrum & Fisk Advocacy Communications. She holds a bachelor of arts in public relations from WMU. Abel is reappointed to represent the general public for a term commencing January 1, 2021 and expiring December 31, 2024.
Michigan Public School Employees’ Retirement System Board
James Pearson, of Highland, is a retired public school teacher of nearly 40 years. Pearson taught in elementary, middle, and high schools but spent much of his career at Milford High School where he taught world history, international relations, and other subjects. He holds a bachelor of arts in secondary education from WMU and a master of arts in elementary education from the University of Michigan. Pearson is appointed to represent a member who retired from a classroom teacher position for a term commencing December 18, 2020 and expiring March 30, 2022.
Michigan Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery
Ben Rimes, of St. Joseph, is the director of technology for Coloma Community Schools. He holds a bachelor of science in education from WMU and a master of arts in education from the University of Michigan-Flint. Rimes is appointed to represent the general public for a term commencing January 1, 2021 and expiring December 31, 2024.
Michigan Board of Speech Language Pathology
Anthony M. Barnes, of Kalamazoo, is a special education teacher at Kalamazoo Public Schools. He holds a bachelor of science in special education and a master of arts in special education administration from WMU. Barnes is appointed to represent the general public for a term commencing January 1, 2021 and expiring December 31, 2024.
State Historical Records Advisory Board
Cynthia A. Ghering, of East Lansing, is the recently retired director of university archives and historical collections for Michigan State University. She holds a bachelor of arts in English from WMU, and a master of science in information archives and records management from the University of Michigan. Ghering is reappointed for a term commencing January 1, 2021 and expiring December 31, 2024.
About the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences represents the academic heart and liberal arts core of WMU and provides a broad range of academic programs for students. With 25 departments and 100+ programs, students will become well prepared for a range of careers in the humanities, social sciences and STEM fields.
The mission of the college is to ignite and sustain a passion for learning and discovery in the humanities, social sciences and sciences, to help students, staff and faculty succeed in life and contribute to the betterment of our communities, from local to global.
To learn more about WMU’s College of Arts and Sciences, visit https://wmich.edu/arts-sciences.