The Oakland University Board of Trustees (BOT) has made many changes during the fall semester of the 2015-16 school year. With a new chief operating officer position being filled by former BOT member Scott Kunselman, a replacement was needed.

Bobby Schostak, OU alumnus, was appointed to serve on the university’s BOT by Governor Rick Snyder.  Schostak served as the chairman of the state GOP (Republican Party) from 2011-14.

“Bobby has years of executive leadership experience and is well prepared to help lead Oakland University and prepare its graduates for the 21^st century workforce,” Snyder said in a press release.

According to OU’s Communications and Marketing Department, Schostak started a multi-disciplined consulting firm in 2015 called the Templar Baker Group, LLC.  He has been active in the commercial real estate business since 1976.  

He is also the co-chief executive officer of Schostak Brothers & Co., which owns more than 150 restaurants under a partnership known as Team Schostak Family Restaurants, including Applebee’s and Olga’s Kitchen.

Today, he serves on the American Heart Association Board, the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit Board of Governors and the Detroit Board of Realtors.

Schostak earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and communications from the university.  Due to the time of Schostak being appointed, he will serve the remainder of an eight-year term, which expires Aug. 11, 2020.

The BOT is made up of eight members who are appointed by the governor to serve eight-year terms.  The job of the board is to provide general supervision of the university, including control and direction of all expenditures of the institution’s funds.

For more information about the BOT and upcoming meetings, visit oakland.edu/bot.