Board of Trustees appointee resigns due to employment opportunity out of state

Oakland University Board of Trustees appointee Alisha Cieslak has informed President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz that she has resigned from her appointment to the Board prior to the commencement of her term that was set to begin on August 12, 2026. Cieslak’s announcement comes as the result of an unplanned job opportunity that will require her to relocate out of state.

Moving out of Michigan means that Cieslak no longer meets the residency requirement for trustee service. Therefore, Brian Calley, the OU Board of Trustees member who was scheduled to rotate off the Board, has agreed to continue serving to fulfill state law and university bylaws until Gov. Gretchen Whitmer makes a future appointment to the Board. The governor's Appointments Office is aware of the situation and will discuss options for a new appointee in the coming weeks.

Cieslak told President Pescovitz in her letter of resignation, “I was truly looking forward to collaborating with you to champion Oakland University’s mission, and I regret any inconvenience this sudden transition may cause. I want to thank you for your warm welcome and for the brief but meaningful time I spent with your team…It has been an immense honor to be appointed to serve the people of Michigan and the Oakland University community. I have no doubt that under your continued stewardship, OU will reach even greater heights. I wish you, the Board, and the University every success moving forward.”