Northern Michigan University President Brock Tessman has been appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to serve on the Michigan Education Trust (MET) Board of Directors. The MET is a qualified tuition program that provides tax exemption for the trust and tax exemption of earnings for contract participants who use MET funds to pay for qualified higher education expenses.
The MET Board of Directors is responsible for policy development, investment initiatives, program development, and implementation. It also serves as an advisory board for the Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP).
Tessman was chosen to represent presidents of state institutions of higher education appointed to the MET Board of Directors from nominees of the President's Council of State Colleges and Universities. His term runs from Feb. 10, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2027.
Tessman also serves as a board member for the Michigan Citizens Research Council, Innovate Marquette SmartZone, the Michigan College Access Network, the Michigan Association of State Universities, and InvestUP.
Prior to becoming the 17th president of NMU, Tessman was the deputy commissioner of higher education and was previously a professor of political science and dean of the Davidson Honors College at the University of Montana-Missoula.
He holds a bachelor's in international relations from Brown University, and both a master's in international affairs and a doctorate in political science from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Tessman is appointed to Tessman succeeds Dr. Philomena Mantella, whose term has expired.
The appointments announced today by the governor's office, including Tessman's, are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.