Oakland University President George W. Hynd announced the appointment of Scott G. Kunselman to the newly created position of chief operating officer (COO). In this role, Kunselman will perform those duties customarily performed by a COO including coordinating and facilitating leadership of university operations except academic affairs across campus. The establishment of this position represents a further step forward toward empowering the creative energies that helped form our strategic plan and achieving what we expect from a preeminent university.
“Scott is joining a superb and talented leadership team as a member of the President’s Cabinet,” stated President George Hynd. “His sharp logical mind will be a valued asset to me and all of his new colleagues.”
“It has been a pleasure to serve Oakland University through my Board of Trustees position,” said Scott Kunselman. “I am thrilled to be able to continue my service in an even more direct way as COO and hope that my career experiences thus far will be of benefit to the University’s operations and plans. The potential for OU seems limitless and I am dedicated to support the strategic goals and aspirations as laid out by President Hynd.”
Scott Kunselman most recently was Senior Vice President - Vehicle Safety and Regulatory Compliance, FCA - North America, from August 2014 through his retirement. Previously he was Senior Vice President – Purchasing and Supplier Quality, Chrysler Group LLC from April 2012 through August 2014. He was responsible for all purchasing and supplier quality activities, including both product-related components and indirect suppliers and services. Previously, he held the position of Senior Vice President – Engineering from June 2009 through April, 2012.
Since first joining the former Chrysler Corporation in 1985 as a Product Engineer, he has held many leadership positions within the company, including vice president, chief engineer, director and senior manager positions.
Kunselman earned a Master of Business Administration degree (1993) and a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering (1987) from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University (1985) where he rekindled the local student chapter of Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).
He has been a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) since 1984. He was the Chairman of the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) frpm 2=12-14, a member of the Board of Directors of the Michigan Science Center and was appointed by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to the Oakland University Board of Trustees in August, 2012.
In 2008 Scott joined the board of directors of the Michigan Science Center (former Detroit Science Center) where he has been an active supporter of STEM activities. He has also served on the board of directors of the FCA Foundation (former Chrysler Foundation) since 2009 where he directed the annual support for STEM.
Scott is married to Denise Kunselman, his wife of 26 years, who is a Michigan native and alumna of Oakland University’s school of business. She also holds an MBA from the University of Detroit. They have four children and currently reside in White Lake Township, MI where they are also raising two dogs. Oldest son, Adam, is a junior film major at Columbia College Chicago. Older daughter, Emily, is a newly enrolled freshman at the University of California San Diego studying Marine Biology. Daughter Abbey is a sophomore at the International Academy (IA) high school and son Jay is in middle school.
Scott was born (Kittanning, Pa) and raised in western Pennsylvania, the oldest of three boys. “I was naturally drawn to study Engineering based on my interest in how things work and a tendency toward building and tinkering.” Kunselman said, “This was likely influenced by my father who taught high school shop classes and loved cars; this gave me a great deal of exposure to ‘hands on’ experience at a young age.”
He went on to receive a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 1985 where his own interest in the automotive world was enhanced by re-kindling the local student chapter of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), serving as the student vice president, and building the school’s first Formula SAE car. He continues today as a long standing member and executive participant of the SAE, speaking at events such as the annual Automotive Leadership Conference. Other pursuits while in undergraduate life included intramural sports and Greek life where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity and competed all four years as a “pusher” in the school’s annual buggy races as part of Spring Carnival.
The family loves participating in outdoor activities together and with each being an accomplished skier, they have enjoyed several trips to western US ski destinations. Hiking and backpacking have also been popular and the family has had a chance to experience and enjoy several national parks such as Yosemite (a favorite!), The Grand Canyon, The Channel Islands, and The Sleeping Bear Dunes. They enjoy a second home in Leelanau County and try to get fun and relaxation time there whenever possible. Scott enjoys all types of outdoor activities and the pursuit of staying fit by running, mountain biking, cross country skiing, and even splitting fire wood! Recent hobbies have included the purchase and initial restoration of old trucks with son Jay’s assistance.