On Monday, Gov. Rick Snyder announced the appointment of Harvey Hollins, III of Van Buren Township as director of the Michigan Office of Urban and Metropolitan Initiatives.
His appointment is effective Sept. 1.
Hollins currently serves as Wayne State University’s vice president for government and community affairs.
He will serve as a principal adviser to the governor on matters related to urban and regional economic initiatives that contribute to job growth.
He will be based in Detroit, but also will establish offices in Grand Rapids and the Flint-Saginaw area. An advisory board will be established to facilitate the office’s work.
While at Wayne State, Hollins advised university officials on key legislative, policy and community issues. In 2006, he was among the lead staff in the creation of Michigan’s University Research Corridor.
Prior to joining WSU in 2004, Hollins was the Michigan government affairs representative for the American Association of Retired Persons. He also served as a fiscal analyst for the Michigan House of Representatives.
A South Haven native, Hollins graduated with honors from Otsego High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Kalamazoo College where he received the Catherine A. Smith Award for human Rights and a master’s degree from the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.
Hollins and his wife have three daughters.