Whitmer appoints Chatman to Michigan Public School Employees’ Retirement Board

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has appointed Dr. Patricia Chatman, Dean of the HFC School of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Professional Development (BEPD) to the Michigan Public School Employees’ Retirement Board (MPSERS).

MPSERS is responsible for the oversight of retirement, survivor, and disability benefits to employees in public school districts, intermediate school districts, community colleges, and certain universities. There are approximately 1,000 current HFC employees in MPSERS.

As of 2016, the net assets of MPSERS were valued at approximately $48.3 billion. The assets are invested by the Michigan Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of Investments. In fiscal year 2016, MPSERS paid retirement pensions totaling $4.7 billion.

Chatman, who is one of four appointees, will serve a four-year term expiring March 30, 2024. Chatman succeeds Ann Kroneman, whose term expired March 30 of this year. These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

“I am honored to serve and am grateful for the faith placed in me by my colleagues,” said Chatman, of Clinton Township.

Chatman’s background

An alumna of Pontiac Central High School, Chatman earned her bachelor’s degree in human resource development with a specialization in training and development from Oakland University. She went on to earn her master’s degree in public policy and administration from Central Michigan University (CMU). She earned her doctorate in public policy and administration from Walden University in Minneapolis.

Chatman has more than 25 years of experience in training and development. She also worked in the non-profit sector. She began her career working for the State of Ohio Department of Health and Human Services before moving on to United Cerebral Palsy of Metropolitan Detroit, where she was an advocate for three years.

Chatman then worked in employment and training for Family & Neighborhood Services in Westland, MI. In 1994, she founded Choices Supported Employment with locations in Southfield and Detroit, which focused on workforce and professional development for untapped and underserved populations.

In 2004, Chatman moved on to serve as director of Detroit Career Center at Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit for 11 years. She has published and shared her scholarship at national conferences, including the United States Department of Labor Workforce Innovations Conference, the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB), and Automation Alley. She is the owner of Walker Chatman Publishing, Chatman Virtual Book Tours, and The Avid Readers Blog. She wrote and published Knowing is Not Enough, The Indie Author’s Guide to Self-Publishing, and Front Paige.

Chatman joined HFC in 2015 as the Director of Workforce and Professional Development. She served in this position for several years before being appointed to her current position as dean of BEPD. Chatman also serves as an instructor at HFC and Oakland, her alma mater.

“I am grateful that Dr. Chatman has been appointed to serve on the MPSERS board,” said HFC President Russ Kavalhuna. “This appointment is very important to the College, as it oversees the retirement funds of thousands of HFC employees and retirees.”