YPSILANTI (AP) — The newest member of Eastern Michigan University’s Board of Regents was involved in the establishment of the Education Achievement Authority — an authority the EMU board later withdrew from.

Gov. Rick Snyder announced the appointment of his senior adviser and transformational manager Richard Baird to the EMU Board of Regents.

Baird, of Bath, was appointed to an eight-year term Friday while current EMU board member Michael Hawks was reappointed to another term on the governing board of the university.

Along with his role as a senior adviser and transformation manager for Snyder, Baird currently is treasurer for the Michigan Education Excellence Foundation and serves on the board for the American Center for Mobility. He has a bachelor’s degree in history, religion, and economics from Albion College and honorary doctorates from Albion College and Eastern Michigan University.

Baird replaces Regent Michael Morris, whose eight-year term ends Dec. 31.

“I am pleased to hear of the appointment of Richard Baird and the reappointment of Michael Hawks to our Board of Regents,” EMU President James Smith said in a news release. “They bring an impressive skill set and varied perspectives to the board — including a broad understanding of state government and higher education. I look forward to continue working with Mike and now Rich in crafting a strong and student-focused future at Eastern.

“I also want to extend the University’s heartfelt congratulations to Regent Mike Morris, who has served with great distinction during two separate and eventful terms on the Board, including serving as the Board’s chair.”

Hawks and Baird will serve eight-year terms expiring Dec. 31, 2026. Their appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Michigan Senate.

Baird is known within the Snyder administration as the “transformation manager” — acting as a talent recruiter, adviser and facilitator for the Republican governor and his team. Baird has been involved in key administration hires, the Education Achievement Authority and many other initiatives since Snyder became governor by winning the 2010 election.

Baird has been involved in education-related initiatives that some consider controversial under Snyder. He helped initially connect some members of the so-called “skunk works” education technology group, an initiative that was reshaped and taken over by Mike Flanagan.

Baird also was involved with the Education Achievement Authority, a state-run authority that has overseen some low-performing Detroit schools. The EAA was a partnership between the state, Detroit Public Schools and EMU to administer a number of schools that were taken by the state, removed from DPS, and put into the EAA, which is overseen by the state, with a majority of the board members appointed by the governor.

EMU’s Board of Regents withdrew from the agreement with DPS that led to the creation of the EAA in February 2016, before the board finalized dissolution from the EAA in June 2017.

Snyder’s Deputy Press Secretary Jordan Kennedy issued a statement regarding Baird’s appointment, noting all of the governor’s choices have professional background in the areas they are asked to serve.

“Gov. Snyder appoints people to boards and commissions who are qualified and have a professional background or a special interest in the various areas of responsibility,” Kennedy said. “If the Governor appoints someone to a position, he feels confident they will do a good job representing all Michiganders as a voice on a board or commission. He appreciates the commitment appointees are making and that so many people step forward to offer their names for consideration.”

EMU was unavailable for additional comment regarding Baird’s appointment and past history with the EAA.

Prior to dissolution, Eastern’s involvement with the EAA had been a source of controversy on campus for several years, receiving criticism for poor academic performance and declining enrollment.

The Board of Regents said in 2014 it would withdraw from the EAA partnership if a faculty review found it had not improved, but when that review was finished in December 2015, the regents chose to postpone voting on the issue until February 2016.

Two consecutive EMU Board of Regents meetings were shut down in late 2014 and March 2015 when protesters of the EAA rang out with chants of “Black Lives Matter” and “The EAA is killing us.”

Eastern signed on to be part of the interlocal agreement with the EAA on June 23, 2011, and voted at a December 2014 meeting to extend that partnership by at least one year, despite then-EMU President Susan Martin’s recommendation for the regents to vote to withdraw from the school’s agreement with the EAA.

Eastern severed ties with the EAA after a vote of no confidence in the regents by the EMU Faculty Senate in January 2016, alleging the regents violated the school’s code of ethics by continuing a partnership with the EAA. The EAA ceased to exist in June 2017.

In addition to education issues, Baird identified himself as the governor’s point man on Flint water issues.