Several Opportunities Towards Higher Education of Macomb County
Leaders have seen the way of retaining its talent while still keeping on its business. In which, the landscape of higher educational learning is rapidly changing towards this Macomb County as the local leaders have already shifted their energy from already landing on a 4-year college university in order to attract several education opportunities towards its students.
Conceding that starting a university is out of reach because of the state’s budget crisis, leaders are working with state universities to provide education beyond associate’s degrees at Macomb Community College.
Just this year, aspiring doctors began medical school at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine at Macomb Community College. Students also started 4-year degrees in engineering, computer science and supply-chain management.
It all occurred under the 10-month-old leadership of Macomb County Board of Commissioners Chairman Paul Gieleghem. He pins the county’s economic future on higher education. The idea is to retain young talent, reeducate displaced workers and entice companies with the opportunity to work with students and faculty on research and high-tech projects.
Higher education is an essential component in repositioning your economy,” said Gieleghem, who received an associate’s degree in general business from Macomb Community College. “You can gain a competitive advantage when you have a college that is helping participate in and fund research in the area.”
The county is getting help in other ways, too.
Most recently, the Wayne State University School of Business Administration sent eight graduate student interns to the county building in Mt. Clemens to help new and existing businesses expand.
We all agree that the business school needs to do what it can to help diversify the local economy and get it moving again,” said Dave Williams, dean of the business school. “Now we’re looking at other opportunities to help Macomb County.”
For Tony Brune and Stephanie Fox, students at the new College of Osteopathic Medicine, getting doctorate degrees close to home is something neither of them ever thought possible. Now both plan to practice in the county when they graduate.
“It’s great that I have a chance to live here, learn here and eventually work where I’ve lived all my life,” said Fox, 22, of Mt. Clemens.

