DEARBORN — The Board of Trustees of Henry Ford College announced during a public meeting on April 10 the appointment of David Knezek, chief operating officer at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, as the college’s next president, succeeding interim president Dr. Lori Gonko.

Knezek, a former Michigan state senator representing the Dearborn area, becomes the seventh president of the college, which serves approximately 12,000 to 16,000 students annually.

Selection process and board vote

Knezek’s appointment follows a nationwide search that reviewed more than 120 candidates. He advanced to a final pool of five candidates after Gonko withdrew her candidacy upon being selected to lead Macomb Community College.

The Dearborn Board of Education — which oversees Henry Ford College and the Dearborn Public Schools — voted 6–0 to approve Knezek’s appointment, with Trustee Amer Zahr abstaining.

Jamal Aljahmi, president of the Dearborn Board of Education and chair of the presidential search advisory committee, said he looks forward to working with Knezek following contract negotiations, describing him as “fully qualified” for the role.

He added that Knezek brings “an exceptional record of executive leadership, public service and community involvement.”

Aljahmi noted that the 24-member advisory committee devoted extensive time over three months to evaluate candidates with integrity and diligence.

Executive and public service record

As COO of the MDHHS — the state’s largest department, with approximately 16,000 employees and a $39 billion budget — Knezek oversaw major operational reforms, including launching the department’s first artificial intelligence platform. The initiative improved employee productivity by 20 percent and increased completed service applications by 60 percent.

Knezek has also served since 2020 on the Wayne County Commission, representing District 8, which includes more than 115,000 residents in Dearborn Heights, Garden City and Inkster.

During his tenure, he secured major public investments in western Wayne County, including $10 million in flood mitigation funding along the Ecorse Creek. While serving in the State Senate, he also helped secure $30 million in funding for the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Knezek’s vision

Knezek said he is honored to lead Henry Ford College.

“Henry Ford College has long been a vital institution for the people of Dearborn and surrounding communities I have been proud to serve,” he said. “My nontraditional academic journey has strengthened my belief in the transformative power of higher education and the role community colleges play in expanding economic opportunity and workforce development.”

He added that he looks forward to working with faculty, staff and students “to build on the college’s legacy and advance its mission for years to come.”

Background: David Knezek

Knezek served in the State Senate from 2015 to 2018 and in the State House of Representatives from 2013 to 2014, helping pass 139 bills.

His legislative record includes bipartisan measures supporting veterans’ employment preferences, protections for service animals assisting veterans with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries, extending statutes of limitations in sexual assault cases and school safety legislation that led to the creation of the Office of School Safety within the Michigan State Police.

He also served as legislative affairs director at the Michigan Department of Attorney General.

A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Knezek was honorably discharged in 2012 after receiving more than 25 awards and commendations.

He holds an MBA from the Ross School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in political science with honors from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Knezek serves on the board of Special Olympics Michigan and is a lifetime member of the NAACP Detroit branch. His recognitions include the David M. Campbell Leadership Award from the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan and the University of Michigan-Dearborn Alumni of the Year Award.

Legal concerns shadowed the search

The presidential search process drew legal scrutiny in recent months.

A lawsuit filed in Wayne County Circuit Court by activist Robert Davis alleged that the Board of Trustees and its expanded advisory committee conducted key deliberations behind closed doors, in potential violation of Michigan’s Open Meetings Act.

The complaint sought to halt the process, reopen applications and require full compliance with transparency laws. It also requested a declaratory judgment affirming violations, an injunction to stop the appointment process and financial damages covering legal costs.

A recent court hearing denied the request for an injunction, prompting Davis to appeal the decision to the Michigan Court of Appeals.