John Engler served as Michigan’s 46th governor during three terms from 1991 to 2003. As governor, he enacted 32 tax cuts and provided the leadership that took state unemployment to record lows by helping create thousands of new jobs for Michigan residents.

After his governorship, Engler took the role of president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers in 2004. Starting in 2011, he began serving as president of the Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. corporations that produce trillions in annual revenues and employ millions of Americans. Engler was also named interim president of Michigan State University in East Lansing in 2018.

Prior to serving as governor, Engler served for 20 years in the Michigan Legislature, including as state Senate majority leader.

Born in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, in 1948, Engler graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science in agricultural economics. Later, he earned a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. He and his wife, Michelle, are parents of triplet daughters.

James J. Blanchard has devoted his life to public service and the law. Jim served as US Ambassador to Canada (1993-1996), following his service as Governor of Michigan (1983-1991) and as a Member of Congress (1975-1983). A Carleton University expert on US-Canada relations recognized Blanchard as one of the two best US ambassadors to Canada over a half century. In recognition of his outstanding service, Secretary of State Warren Christopher presented Blanchard with the Foreign Affairs Award for Public Service. In 1998, Blanchard authored “Behind the Embassy Door,” a book highlighting his experiences as ambassador.

As a member of the US Congress, Jim Blanchard was best known for authoring the Chrysler Loan Guarantee of 1980, which helped save thousands of jobs.

As Governor, Jim presided over the addition of 750,000 new Michigan jobs and created Michigan’s first Office of the Great Lakes. Most notably Jim Blanchard also created the Michigan Education Trust (MET), our nation’s first prepaid tuition guarantee program.

Jim Blanchard remains active in US-Canada relations and diplomatic affairs generally. He is co-chair of the Ambassadors Circle of the National Democratic Institute and co-chair of the executive committee of the Canada-US Law Institute. He chaired the Board and remains active with the Meridian International Center, the leading public diplomacy center in Washington. A lover of history, Jim Blanchard serves as president of the National Archives Foundation and is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Spy Museum.

Jim is currently senior counsel at the global law firm of DLA Piper and active with numerous diplomatic and non-profit organizations.

In 2015, Jim and his wife, Janet, founded the Blanchard Public Service Forum at MSU, which provides opportunities for the MSU community to see, hear, and learn from national and international leaders, diplomats, and writers.

Elected to the United States Congress, Michael D. Bishop served until 2018 and was appointed to influential committees including Ways and Means, Judiciary, and Higher Education. He played a pivotal role in passing significant legislation signed into law by Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump and represented the United States on the global stage, engaging with international leaders.

From 1998 to 2010, Michael was elected to and served in the Michigan State Legislature, including terms in both the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate. During his tenure in the Michigan Senate, he was elected by his peers to serve as Senate Majority Leader, enriching his leadership and influence in state politics.

Michael is the Founder and President of American General Counsel PLC, a firm known for its unique blend of legal, business, and political expertise, as well as an extensive network of decision-makers and business leaders. He also served as Co-President of iPSE-US, a national association representing independent professionals and the self-employed.

Following his congressional tenure, Michael continued his public service in the private sector, focusing his efforts on education and the promotion of bipartisan civility. He is an Aspen Rodel Fellow, a George Washington University GSPM Fellow, and a 2023 University of Southern California Dornsife Center Fellow. His commitment to governmental reform is further demonstrated through his involvement with the Princeton University Initiative on the Constitutional Powers of Congress and the Commission on the Continuity of Congress, where he has provided testimony before the U.S. Congress.

John Cherry became Michigan’s Lieutenant Governor in 2003 when he was elected along with Governor Jennifer Granholm. Before that he served the people of Michigan for more than 20 years as a State Representative and as State Senator. He was the Senate Democratic Floor Leader for six years and the Senate Democratic Leader for another six years.

John has also served as Chair of the National Lieutenant Governor’s Association and as chair of the Great Lakes Commission.

As Lt. Governor, Cherry chaired Michigan’s Higher Education Commission more popularly called The Cherry Commission. The Commission issued a report that has served as guide for the development of Higher Education in Michigan for much of the Twenty First Century.

In 2020, Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed John Cherry to the Saginaw Valley State University Board of Control. Currently, he serves as the Chair of the Flint Institute of Science and History which operates the Sloan Museum of Discovery and Longway Planetarium in Flint, Michigan’s Cultural Center.