Michael Flanagan is the state superintendent of public instruction. He directs the
Michigan Department of Education; chairs the State Board of Education; and advises the State Board of Education, the Governor and the state legislature regarding public education in Michigan. Prior to his current position, Flanagan serves at the superintendent of the Wayne Regional Education Service Agency, which serves nearly 500,000 children in more than three dozen diverse communities in Wayne County. He is the past chairperson of the Education Alliance of Michigan, a nonprofit coalition of leading parent, business and education associations. He is also the past president of the National County Superintendents Association.
Carol Goss is the president and chief executive officer of the Skillman Foundation, a private, independent foundation whose mission is to improve the lives of children by improving their homes, schools and neighborhoods. Prior to joining the Skillman Foundation as senior program officer in 1998, Goss served as program officer at The Stuart Foundation in San Francisco, California, and as program director at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Michigan. In addition to her 18 years of experience in philanthropy, Goss’ professional career includes nearly 20 years of experience in the human services field as a social worker, social work supervisor and agency administrator with the Detroit Department of Public Welfare, Oakland County Family and Children’s Services, and The Children’s Home Society in Oakland, California.
Nancy M. Schlichting is president and chief executive officer of the
Henry Ford Health System. Schlichting previously served as executive vice president and chief operating officer for the system and was responsible for its hospitals, community care services, hospital joint ventures, physician practice development, and integrated support services. In addition, she served as the president and chief executive officer of Henry Ford Hospital and was responsible for the operation of the Detroit Campus, which includes the hospital and the ambulatory services. Schlichting serves on numerous community, professional and corporate boards including: the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, Greater Detroit Area Health Council, City Year, C.A.T.C.H., Fifth Third Bank of Eastern Michigan, Mayor’s Time, and Gilda’s Club.
