The Skillman Foundation

Gov. Rick Snyder announced the appointment of Punita Dani Thurman of Novi to the PreK-12 Literacy Commission.

Housed within the Michigan Department of Education, the 13-member commission advises and assists in matters relating to the assessment, professional development, education programming, socioeconomic challenges, best practices, collaboration, parental engagement and teaching of literacy.

“Punita has been involved in education for many years, and I am confident she will provide great insight to this commission,” Snyder said.

Thurman is a program director for the Skillman Foundation in Detroit, where she previously worked as a senior program officer of education. She is a trustee and the Strategy Committee chair for the Novi Educational Foundation, serves on the Leadership Team Planning Committee for the Council of Michigan Foundations P-20 Education Affinity Group and is the VOICE parent organization president and Superintendent’s Inter-School Council Representative for Village Oaks Elementary School in Novi. Thurman holds a bachelor’s degree in management information systems and finance from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in management and organizations from Duke University in North Carolina. She serves as the nominee of the Minority Leader of the Michigan House of Representatives and will fill a vacancy.

Thurman will serve the remainder of a two-year term expiring Oct. 31, 2018.