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Wayne State board chair Kim Trent resigning to join Gov. Whitmer's administration

Posted at 12:17 PM, Dec 12, 2019
and last updated 2019-12-12 12:17:04-05

DETROIT (WXYZ) — Wayne State University Board Chair Kim Trent is resigning to join Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's administration, the governor's office announced on Thursday. Whitmer appointed Shirley Stancato to replace Trent.

Trent will join the Labor Economic Opportunity leaders in January, according to the governor.

“It’s imperative to have someone on the board who will focus on addressing the problems that are currently facing Wayne State, we must put the students first. I believe that Shirley will work with the board through civil and respectful discourse, to ensure that Wayne State University is focused on providing a high quality education to each student,” Whitmer in a news release. “Shirley is bringing an impressive leadership and advocacy background to the board, which is what Wayne State University needs to be even more successful.”

Trent is leaving the board amid an internal fight over Wayne State President M. Roy Wilson. Last month, four board members voted to oust Wilson, but Trent said that the members "illegitimately called for a vote on the president's dismissal."

Stancato is the former president and CEO of New Detroit Inc., which was a coalition focused on racial understanding and racial equality in the metro area. She retired in December of last year.

She is a graduate of Cass Tech and earned a bachelor's and master's degree from Wayne State. She will serve the remainder of Trent's term, which expires on Jan. 1, 2021.

The board is currently split 4-4 over the university, and have been feuding for months over the president.