OC alumnus Bill Pink named the next president of Ferris State University

Pink, previously the president of GRCC, will step into a new role this year.

When leaders at Ferris State University sought the next president to lead their university, they turned to Oklahoma Christian University Education alumnus Bill Pink. Just a few weeks ago, he was selected to be FSU’s next president. Previously, he served as president of Grand Rapids Community College since 2017, and he also has previous leadership experience with the American Association of Community Colleges.

Pink will succeed FSU President David L. Eisler. The Board of Trustees will officially vote on the next president on May 6. After this confirmation, Pink will become Ferris’ 19th President.

Pink shared his excitement about this new opportunity and how OC still impacts him to this day.

“I am very excited about this opportunity,” he said. “Ferris State has been in Michigan for over 130 years and has played such a strong role in higher education. The move is bittersweet, as I have enjoyed my time at Grand Rapids Community College. The partnership between GRCC and FSU is solid, and we will work to continue growing that relationship as well as with other community colleges in Michigan and across the nation.

“OC is still a big part of who I am today. The university has remained a focus of mine from afar, in making sure the people there who mean so much to me are still thriving. If they are, that means they are still positively impacting the lives of so many students.”

Along with Pink, two other OC alumni have recently served as college presidents. English alumna Allison Garrett at Emporia State University and now the Oklahoma State Board of Regents, and Journalism alumna Lana Reynolds at Seminole State College.