Dr. Denise Williams Mallett

Dr. Denise W. Mallett serves as Chair of the Central Michigan University Board of Trustees, providing governance leadership in support of the university’s mission, strategic priorities, and presidential leadership. She was appointed to the Board by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on February 2, 2023, for a term expiring December 31, 2030.

Dr. Mallett brings more than two decades of executive leadership experience across higher education and the nonprofit sector, with deep expertise in institutional strategy, student success, organizational culture, and leadership development. Her career has included senior-level responsibility for enrollment, student affairs, international programs, wellness, and equity-centered initiatives, positioning her to contribute meaningfully to board-level oversight and decision-making.

She is a founding partner of Marygrove Consulting, where she works with colleges, universities, and mission-driven organizations to strengthen leadership capacity, guide strategic initiatives, and support institutional sustainability. Her work emphasizes data-informed decision-making, stakeholder engagement, and values-aligned leadership.

Dr. Mallett is also a leadership coach and author whose work explores the intersection of leadership, faith, and community. Her leadership philosophy, shaped by both scholarship and lived experience, centers on ethical governance, purpose-driven leadership, and the belief that strong institutions are built through collective responsibility and trust.

She holds a Master of Arts in Human Resources, an Educational Specialist degree in Administration and Supervision, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. She completed post-doctoral fellowship training through the University of Michigan’s National Forum on Higher Education for the Public Good, New Leadership Academy.

Dr. Mallett’s service as Chair reflects her commitment to the public purpose of higher education, thoughtful governance, and building institutions that thrive through principled leadership and community connection.