Melanie Foster
Party Affiliation – Republican
Years on Board – 1991-92, 2004-present
Profession – CEO and president of commercial landscape companies for about 25 years. Manages a personal real estate portfolio.
Goals: “First and foremost is tuition … (so it) remains accessible and affordable. It’s always a challenge since state funding has decreased 27 percent over the last decade. We have increased scholarships at five times of the tuition increases to compensate. And I think we should overwhelmingly favor in-state students.”
What are you proud to say you have done while you have been on the board? “I did not support the mandatory health care policy. It added $1,500 to students’ tuition and families couldn’t afford it. I have been very visible and I have attended more events than most of my colleagues. I’ve missed (only) one board meeting in almost eight years.”

Joel Ferguson
Party Affiliation – Democrat
Years on Board – 1986-present
Profession – Founder of several companies including two television stations, a development company and several banks.
Goals: “Continue to maintain our tuition rates, and of course maintain the quality of education.”
Biggest challenge facing the MSU Board of Trustees: “Keep lobbying (the Legislature) in making higher education a priority, and (give MSU an equal) share of appropriation.”
What are you proud to say you have done while you have been on the board? “I’m proud everyone is on the same page and we maintained the quality of the university. We have not changed who Michigan State is.”

The Challengers:

Jeff Sakwa
Party Affiliation – Republican
Profession – Has owned his own real estate business for almost 30 years
Goals: “Lowering tuition costs, making (MSU) affordable. Make sure our research (is) creating more jobs, I think MSU is a great university and I want to make it greater.”
What’s the biggest challenge facing the MSU Board of Trustees? “Controlling cost. Absolutely controlling cost. In the worst of times we are raising tuition and I think it’s wrong.”

Brian Mosallam
Party Affiliation – Democrat
Profession – Financial adviser
Goals: “Number one is making tuition affordable for working families. At the rate tuition is growing it will (soon) be unaffordable. The two questions I always hear from my clients (are) ‘Will I have enough to save for retirement?’ and ‘how much will college cost for my students?’ With over 5,000 clients, over 95 percent are nowhere near saving enough for (future) college (costs).”
What’s the biggest challenge facing the MSU Board of Trustees? “Without question the biggest challenge is managing the rising cost of college. Understanding the economy and the revenue streams … so we’re not wasting any of our money. Making sure every dollar is spent wisely, that’s going to be the trick coming up in the next decade.”