Karen Aldridge-Eason was named by Governor Granholm to the newly created
cabinet level position of Foundation Liaison. She is on loan to the State from he position as the Flint Area Program Director
for the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. She works with the Governor, Executive staff,
state officials, foundations and the business community to help increase strategic partnerships and collaborations
between state government and foundations.
Ms. Aldridge-Eason's career began as the principal-manager of a Baptist mission school in
Liberia, West Africa. Upon returning to the US, she worked as a legislative assistant in the Michigan
State Senate. She served as a senior budget analyst and deputy budget director for the
Michigan Department of Commerce. From 1988 to 1992 she was budget director for the city of Flint,
then returned to the Michigan Department of Management and Budget as director of the Office of
Health and Human Services. In 1994, Ms. Aldridge-Eason joined the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation,
headquartered in Flint, her hometown.
She has a masters degree in public administration from Western Michigan University and a
bachelor of arts degree in Education from the University of Michigan.
Ms. Aldridge-Eason has served on numerous boards and committees at local, state, and national levels.
Currently, she is a member of the board of directors of the Michigan Public Health Institute and the
board of trustees of the Genesys Health System/Genesys Regional Medical Center.
