Brianna T. Scott, a Muskegon attorney and chair of the Michigan State University Board of Trustees, is seeking reelection as a Democrat in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
Michigan voters will choose two trustees for eight-year terms. Scott is one of 10 candidates listed by the Michigan Department of State.
Scott responded to the Rochester Register candidate questionnaire. Unless otherwise noted, the information and responses below come from that questionnaire.
Asked why she is running, Scott emphasized institutional stability, administrative transparency, student safety and financial accountability.
She said she wants “to build upon our progress in restoring stability, demand administration transparency, and foster unwavering integrity across campus.”
Her priorities include affordability, mental health services, academic research and fair wages for faculty and staff.
Candidate information
Party: Democratic.
Education: Scott reported earning a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business and a law degree from Wayne State University.
She said her undergraduate activities included serving as chapter president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and participating in other campus organizations.
Occupation: Scott is an attorney and the founder and principal of Brianna T. Scott & Associates, PLLC, in Muskegon.
She described beginning her legal career as Muskegon County’s first full-time Black assistant prosecutor before establishing her private practice.
Family: Scott said she is a mother and described her family and West Michigan community as important sources of support.
Family in politics or government: Scott said no family member works in politics or government.
Experience and public service
Scott was elected to the MSU Board of Trustees in November 2018. She currently serves as chair, according to the university’s trustee roster.
She said her legal practice and public service have prepared her to evaluate complex issues, oversee finances and hold university leaders accountable.
Scott also reported serving on a Michigan Attorney Disciplinary Board panel and holding leadership positions with nonprofit and civic organizations.
Her community service includes serving as Rotary International District 6290 governor in 2024–2025 and as president of the Muskegon Heights Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Asked about accomplishments, Scott cited founding and managing her law firm, her prosecutorial experience and her community leadership.
She reported receiving the Athena of the Lakeshore Award in 2019, the Greater Muskegon Woman’s Club Woman of Accomplishment recognition in 2021 and the Muskegon Young Black Professionals’ Living Legend Award in 2022.
On the issues
Affordability and access: Scott identified maintaining affordability and access, rebuilding institutional trust and ensuring campus safety as major challenges facing MSU.
She supports improving operations, expanding philanthropic partnerships and pursuing state investment to help manage financial pressures without sacrificing academic quality or student services.
She said the university should not rely simply on tuition increases to address budget gaps.
Student success and equity: Scott supports closing graduation gaps and recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty.
“We must also focus on closing the graduation gap for students of color while actively recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty that reflects our student population,” she said.
Campus safety and well-being: Scott said she would prioritize campus safety, expanded mental health resources and greater administrative transparency.
She described student support and institutional trust as central to the university’s mission.
Faculty, staff and facilities: Scott supports fair wages, competitive benefits and investments in academic programs and research.
She said planned investment in campus infrastructure can help prevent costly deferred maintenance and keep facilities safe and accessible.
What sets her apart: Scott cited her legal and executive experience alongside her perspective as a parent and former nontraditional student.
“As a Black woman, single mother, and former non-traditional MSU student, I understand firsthand the real-world obstacles many of our students navigate,” she said.
She said that experience informs her approach to affordability, family responsibilities and university oversight.
Endorsements
The Michigan AFL-CIO announced its endorsement of Scott in April.
Her campaign website also lists support from AFSCME Michigan.
About the race
The other candidates are Democrat Kelly Tebay Zemke; Republicans Julie Maday and Roger Victory; Libertarians Daniel R. Patterson and Will Tyler White; U.S. Taxpayers candidates Janet Sanger and John Sanger; Green Party candidate John Anthony La Pietra; and Working Class candidate Yaz Ozbek, according to the official state candidate list.
Advice that guides her
Scott said her father taught her to treat others with respect and empathy and to give back to her community.
She said those principles guide her approach to listening to students, faculty and staff and serving as a steward of public trust.
This profile draws primarily on Brianna T. Scott’s responses to the Rochester Register candidate questionnaire, with additional information from official election records, Michigan State University, union statements and campaign materials. Responses have been excerpted and paraphrased; direct quotations retain her wording. Statements about her experience and accomplishments are attributed to her.
