Mary C. Lukens

Appointed: March 19, 2001 by Governor John Engler

Ms. Lukens, a native of Detroit, Michigan, has spent her professional career in the areas of public opinion and marketing research, and government affairs.  From 1969 to 1974 she held several positions in Michigan Governor William Milliken’s Administration.  She also was active in his 1970 re-election campaign and served as Deputy Campaign Manager for his 1974 re-election.

Following the years in Lansing, she began working with Robert Teeter, President, Market Opinion Research, where she became Manager of the Political Division.  MOR, one of the largest marketing research and consulting firms in the country, conducted opinion surveys and analysis for Republican presidential, gubernatorial, senate and congressional campaigns in virtually every state in the U.S.  Under its Canadian subsidiary, Canadian Opinion Research, it also was involved with federal and provincial elections across Canada.    

In 1989, Ms. Lukens and Mr. Teeter established the Coldwater Corporation in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  The firm, where Ms. Lukens was Vice President, worked with corporate clients in the areas of strategic planning, communications and public issues.  Also, along with Hart Research in Washington, D.C., the firm initiated and conducted the national polling program for NBC News and The Wall Street Journal through 2004.  Ms. Lukens arranged for this national polling database to become available to students and faculty at Northern Michigan University for teaching and research purposes.    

Ms. Lukens first came to know NMU and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a student.  When she was asked “What does it mean to serve on the NMU Board of Trustee?” she replied “When I was a student at Northern, I learned a great deal both inside and outside the classroom.  Northern is a very special public treasure and I hope my service as a Trustee will help to continue and enhance its heritage”.