“It’s a tremendous honor and privilege,” Singel said.

Singel added the board’s job is to evaluate the decisions of the SLSDC.

“Our responsibility is to review policies and report them to the administrator,” she said.

Singel said the Saint Lawrence Seaway creates 27,000 jobs for Michigan and that it brings in an extra $1.8 billion in profits for the state.

After being sworn in, Singel said she sat in on the first meeting of the SLSDC, and then attended an event at the White House where she got to meet Obama and first lady Michelle Obama.
“It was thrilling to meet the president,” she said. “There were a lot of people there, but I got to shake hands with him and introduce myself.”

The board is required to meet every 90 days, and Singel said the next meeting has not been scheduled, but will take place via conference call.

Joan Howarth, Dean of the College of Law, said the nomination is a great reflection of Singel’s hard work and commitment.

“President Obama’s nomination, followed by the U.S. Senate’s unanimous consent is well-deserved recognition of Professor Singel’s extensive record of public service and dedication to research on major policy issues,” she said in a press release.

Bill Adams, associate director of public affairs for the Department of Transportation, said the purpose of the SLSDC is to keep a portion of the Saint Lawrence Seaway running smoothly.

“The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation is a wholly owned government corporation created by statute to construct, operate and maintain that part of the Saint Lawrence Seaway between the Port of Montreal and Lake Erie, within the territorial limits of the United States,” Adams said in an email.

Adams added that the members of the board serve until the president decides their term is up.

“The members of the advisory board are appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate,” he said.