Feb. 5, 2025
Ferris State President Bill Pink a finalist for Crain’s Grand Rapids Newsmaker of the Year, citing innovative partnerships in health care
Ferris State University President Bill Pink is a finalist for Crain’s Grand Rapids Business Newsmaker of the Year Award, citing his partnership with BAMF Health to advance health care and innovative plans for a campus residence hall.
Pink is one of three finalists in the publication’s Higher Education category, one of 48 people or teams in 16 of the region’s major industries. Crain’s will select a winner in each category, and one overall Newsmaker of the Year at an event next month.
“Ferris State University formed a partnership in 2024 with BAMF Health to create a talent pipeline of people to work in the emerging field of theranostics,” the publication wrote.
“The Big Rapids university also will join Bedrock LLC’s new life sciences campus in downtown Detroit, where BAMF Health plans to develop and open a new clinic in 2027 to provide advanced cancer care.”
Crain’s also quoted a guest column penned by Pink and BAMF CEO Anthony Chang, a nominee in the Health Care category.
“This isn’t just about one company or one school — it’s about setting a blueprint for the future of Michigan,” Chang and Pink wrote in the Oct. 25, 2024 commentary. “This is our call to action: business leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, health care providers and policymakers — join us. Together, we can revolutionize not just Michigan, but the way the world approaches business, medicine and collaboration.”
Pink was also saluted for the university’s plans to build a $38 million residence hall near the end zone of its Top Taggart Field, home to the three-time national champion football team.
He joins Grand Valley State University President Philomena Mantella and Grand Rapids Community College President Charles Lepper as finalists in the category.
Pink was named Newsmaker of the Year in Higher Education for 2019 while he was president of Grand Rapids Community College.
The publication in 2024 named Pink one of Grand Rapids’ Notable Black Leaders and the Grand Rapids 200, which honored leaders in the public and private sectors.