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Lawrence Tech Elects Business Leaders Bell, Hurshe, Steudle As Trustees – mitechnews.com


SOUTHFIELD—Three business leaders have been elected to Lawrence Technological University’s Board of Trustees. The new trustees are Donna Bell, global director, Technology and Feature Strategy & Planning Enterprise and Product Line Management at Ford Motor Company; Joseph Hurshe, chief operating officer at Ascension Michigan, and president, Ascension Providence Hospital; and Kirk T. Steudle, senior vice president of Econolite Systems.

LTU trustees establish strategic direction, help formulate and approve major institutional policies, and hire the university’s executive team. They serve without compensation.

At Ford, Donna Bell establishes and communicates customer driven strategies that increase corporate growth in areas such as connectivity, artificial intelligence (AI), driver assist technology, and robotics.

Donna Bell. LTU photo.

Bell has held a number of positions with growing responsibility, including serving as chief of staff to Ford’s chief technology officer, where she improved research processes, managed strategic university alliances, and enhanced Ford’s STEM strategy. She led strategic partnerships and external relationships, including Ford’s involvement in US CAR (U.S. Council for Automotive Research).

From 2014-17, she was Ford’s electrical Global Product Development Quality manager. She collaborated to ensure designs delivered revenue generating customer experiences. Through her leadership, quality improved by more than 35 percent. Bell also led the electrical organization achieving best in class quality for Lincoln vehicles multiple times, and Ford being recognized by the 2017 JD Power Initial Quality Study for overall quality improvement.

Bell holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from LTU, master’s degrees in electronics and computer control systems and in engineering management, and a PhD in industrial and systems engineering, all from Wayne State University. She served three years as president of Lawrence Tech’s Alumni Association, is a member of the College of Engineering Advisory Board, and in 2019 received the University’s highest honor for graduates, the Alumni Achievement Award. Most recently, Bell was inducted into the College of Engineering’s Hall of Fame.

Bell also received the 2019 Outstanding Technical Contributions award from the National Society of Black Engineers Professional Development Conference, and was selected as the 2018 Women of Color in STEM, Technologist of the Year, by the Career Communications Group. She is active in numerous other organizations that increase opportunities for women and underrepresented minorities.

Joseph Hurshe. LTU photo.

Joseph Hurshe, a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, is responsible for the daily operations of 15 Ascension hospitals and multiple ambulatory and medical centers throughout Michigan with over 3,600 licensed beds, 27,000 associates, and 6,300 physicians serving a population of 6 million. Hurshe is actively involved in community outreach initiatives and philanthropic endeavors that are growth and development oriented.

Hurshe joined the Ascension family in 2010 where he served as chief operating officer, and most recently as president and CEO of Ascension Providence Hospital Novi and Southfield campuses. Prior to Ascension, he was the system vice president of operations for Centegra Health System near Chicago, and worked for the State University of New York and University Hospital, located in Syracuse, throughout his 25 years in healthcare leadership.

Hurshe earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University, and a master’s in health administration and management from Webster University in St. Louis. He is a graduate of the distinguished Ascension Health Leadership Academy.

Kirk Steudle. LTU photo.

At Econolite Systems, Kirk Steudle concentrates on excellence in intelligent transportation system design, deployment, operations, and maintenance, including at Econolite subsidiary, CAVita.

Steudle retired from State of Michigan service in October 2018 after a 31-year career and served as director of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) from 2006-18, one of the longest tenures nationally. He also served as the interim president and CEO of the American Center for Mobility from August 2018 until March 2019.

Steudle is focused on integrating technology into transportation, is a noted expert in surface transportation, and a nationally recognized leader in the development of connected vehicle technology.  He served as chair for the Intelligent Transportation Society (ITS) of America Board of Directors in 2015 and was inducted into the ITS World Congress Hall of Fame in 2016.

Steudle chaired the Transportation Research Board executive committee in 2014 and served as the 2011-12 president to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).  He received the highest distinction awards from both organizations in 2018.  He currently serves as the vice chair of the Engineering Society of Detroit Board of Directors.

Steudle earned his bachelor’s degree in construction engineering at Lawrence Tech. He also serves on LTU’s College of Engineering Advisory Board and was inducted into the College’s Hall of Fame in 2012. He received the University’s highest honor, the Alumni Achievement Award, in 2008.

“Dr. Bell, Mr. Hurshe, and Mr. Steudle bring very strong credentials to our Board of Trustees as accomplished business leaders,” said Virinder K. Moudgil, Lawrence Tech’s president and CEO. “They represent fields where we have, or expect to have, a growing number of successful alumni. We are delighted to receive their counsel and leadership as trustees.”



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