Shirley Stancato is the Vice Chair of Wayne State University’s Board of Governors. She is a seasoned executive, a prominent civic leader, a race relations expert, and a social justice advocate. For almost 20 years, Stancato was president and chief executive officer of New Detroit Inc., the Detroit Region’s leadership coalition devoted solely to race relations, serving as an essential forum for discussion and advocacy for racial equity.
Stancato serves on the boards of Fifth Third Bank of Eastern Michigan, Teach for America Detroit, The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the Detroit Zoological Commission, among others.
Stancato’s recent honors include the Champion of Justice Award from the Michigan Delegation of the Congressional Black Caucus and City Year Detroit’s Idealist in Action Award. Additionally, she has been recognized as a Woman of Achievement by the Anti-Defamation League, Regional Power Broker by Crain’s Detroit Business, and Michiganian of the Year by The Detroit News.
Stancato earned both a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Arts in Industrial Relations from Wayne State University, along with an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Michigan.