From the mayor’s office to key administrative positions, Wayne State alumni are guiding Detroit’s future

When Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield took the oath as the city's 76th mayor, she outlined a bold, inclusive vision for Detroit's next chapter. As she solidifies the city's leadership team, many Wayne State University alumni have been tapped to help carry that vision forward as key members of her administration.

Some of these Warriors shared how their Wayne State experiences shaped their careers in public service, discussing their alma mater's place as a Detroit anchor institution and its pivotal role in the city's future.

Mary Sheffield | Mayor

Bachelors of Public Affairs, 2008

A trailblazer and lifelong Detroiter, Sheffield became the youngest person ever elected to the Detroit City Council in 2013 before becoming the youngest person elected president of the City Council nearly a decade later. In November 2025, she became the first woman ever elected mayor of the City of Detroit. Her work has included landmark policies and initiatives such as Inclusionary Housing, Property Tax Reform, Community Input Over Government Surveillance, Home Repair Grant Funding, the Neighborhood Beautification Program and much more.

As mayor, she is focused on revitalizing neighborhoods, expanding economic opportunity and ensuring access to essential services for all residents. Her administration is committed to ensuring Detroit's continued renaissance is inclusive, equitable and shaped by the community's voices.

"My administration will be rooted in service to others," Sheffield said as she took her oath of office in January. "Serving Detroiters and leading city employees effectively begins with meeting them where they are, listening and letting them know how much they are valued."

Todd A. Bettison | Chief of Police

B.S., Criminal Justice, 1996

"My connection to Wayne State began long before my career in public service. My mother earned undergraduate and graduate degrees there and would often bring me to campus with her as a child. When I think of Detroit, those early memories at Wayne State - a top-tier university in the heart of the city - always stand out to me.

Just as Detroit has evolved and grown, the university has, too. The campus is vibrant and beautiful, reflecting the energy and determination that define Detroit. So, when I think of the future for our city, I can't help but think about Wayne State's vital role in it.

The institution has always been here enhancing and educating our communities, conducting groundbreaking research that has improved the lives of Detroiters. That's why as chief, I will always support Wayne State and look for ways to partner and expand opportunities for the men and women of the Detroit Police Department. I am so proud of our partnership with the Mike Ilitch School of Business, where more than 100 members of our department are enrolled. Partnerships like this help strengthen not only our department but the future of Detroit."

Melia Howard |General Manager, Detroit Transportation Corporation (Detroit People Mover)

B.A., Geography, 2008

In January, Howard became the 8th manager in the Detroit Transportation Corporation's 38-year history after serving for two years as Detroit's deputy mayor. In her role, Howard oversees the operations of the Detroit People Mover, supporting Detroiters' transit needs with a focus on mobility, access and opportunity. She has also served as Detroit's director of community engagement and the Department of Neighborhoods Manager for District 5. In various roles, Howard has facilitated major development projects, managed community relationships and spearheaded the Saturdays in the D program.

Jade E. Mathis, Esq. | Director, Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity Department

B.A., Journalism, 2008

Mathis brings more than a decade of experience spanning law, public service, advocacy and community engagement to her role as CRIO director. Her work has been widely recognized, particularly in the areas of expungements and second-chance initiatives. Affectionately known as "The Expungement Guru," she has distinguished reputation for helping individuals clear criminal records and restore access to employment, housing and educational opportunities. Prior to joining CRIO, she worked with Detroit Project Clean Slate, advancing record-clearing efforts and economic mobility. Mathis also serves on the Michigan State Bar Board of Prisons and Corrections and the boards of United Against Violence and the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School.

Benita R. Miller | Director, Department of Human, Homeless and Family Services

B.A., Journalism, 1993

"Attending Wayne and majoring in journalism as part of the Journalism Institute for Minorities was amazing. That experience grounded me as a servant leader and piqued my curiosity about issues that affected me as a woman and Black Detroiter. I am a third-generation Warrior, and it was through Wayne State that I found a lifelong experience that has built my leadership capacities and inner circle of trusted friends and advisors.

I am so excited to support the leadership of a fellow Warrior, Mayor Mary Sheffield, and Wayne State will be a key partner for our department. Wayne State is especially important to Black Detroit through its ties to the labor movement and the ways in which it has helped to shape Black progress here, nationally and internationally. Wayne State has consistently been a vehicle that offers education and economic mobility opportunities to Black people and especially Black Detroiters. I am truly excited to partner with Wayne State to help Detroit continue to rise higher."

Marlo Rencher | Chief of Neighborhood Economic Development and Small Business

Ph.D., Anthropology, 2012

"As I became an anthropologist at Wayne State, I began to value curiosity and deep inquiry. I became much more centered on people and culture in general, and Detroit people and culture specifically. I began to question the status quo in ways that allowed me to both serve my community and be innovative. Being from Detroit and earning a doctorate from such a quintessentially Detroit institution uniquely prepared me to forward Mayor Sheffield's deeply Detroit-centered mission.

I've spoken with parents that are excited that their children are choosing Wayne State. The WSU student experience is a Detroit experience that helps to grow the next generation of young families and empowers those in the workforce to create better lives for themselves. As the city continues to rise and reinvent its future, its higher education institutions give Detroiters the tools they need for their success. Wayne State plays a critical role in realizing Mayor Sheffield's vision of education and collaboration. "

Joshua Roberson | Deputy Director, Department of Neighborhoods

B.S., Finance, 2025

"My time at Wayne State University was foundational to how I lead today. Wayne State is a true microcosm of Detroit: diverse, resilient, globally connected and deeply rooted in the community. Wayne State sharpened my analytical thinking and strengthened my understanding of economic systems, governance and institutional responsibility, preparing me to think at scale while staying grounded in the lived realities of residents.

Wayne State is one of Detroit's most important anchor institutions whose impact extends far beyond Midtown - it is a workforce engine, research leader and economic stabilizer for the city. Under the leadership of the City of Detroit and Mayor Mary Sheffield, the focus is clear: equitable growth, strong neighborhoods and sustainable opportunity. Wayne State is uniquely positioned to help advance that agenda. As Detroit attracts new industries and investment, Wayne State plays a central role in preparing talent and strengthening the city's intellectual and economic infrastructure.

Whether a student comes from Detroit's neighborhoods or from abroad, we want them to see Detroit as a place to build a future and rise higher. Wayne State is not simply located in Detroit - it is embedded in Detroit's trajectory."

Charles Simms | Fire Commissioner

B.S., Psychology, 1996 | M.Ed., Educational Psychology, 2015

"Wayne State didn't just give me a degree - it gave me a foundation. I was working my way up through the Detroit Fire Department at the same time I was sitting in classrooms on campus. Wayne State taught me how to think critically under pressure, how to communicate across differences and how to lead with both competence and humility. The faculty pushed us to understand not just our field, but the city around us - its history, its challenges and its people. That perspective is something I carried with me from the firehouse to the commissioner's office. Detroit raised me and Wayne State sharpened me.

Wayne State is Detroit. It's woven into the fabric of this city. When I think about the future we're building - a safer, stronger, more opportunity-rich Detroit - Wayne State has to be at the table. The university produces the nurses, doctors, lawyers, engineers, public servants and researchers who make this city run. We don't need institutions that study Detroit from a distance; we need partners who are in it with us. Wayne State has always been that, and I believe the best chapter of this partnership is still ahead. "

Tanya Stoudemire | Chief Financial officer

B.A., Economics, 1986 | J.D., 1994

Stoudemire was appointed as the city's first woman CFO by former Mayor Mike Duggan in 2025 and reappointed to the position by Mayor Sheffield when she took office. She has more than three decades of experience in city government, spending 15 years in Detroit's Budget Department and later the Office of the Chief Financial Officer. Stoudemire played an important role in guiding the office through the city's historic bankruptcy and the COVID-19 pandemic. As chief financial officer, she oversees an annual budget of around $3 billion, managing short- and long-term financing and ensuring a balanced budget.

To support more Warrior success stories like this, make a gift to Wayne State during our tenth annual Giving Day on April 9.