Governor Gretchen Whitmer has selected Suzanna Shkreli to serve as commissioner at the Michigan Lottery
(February 23, 2024) – Suzanna Shkreli will serve as commissioner of the Lottery as a member of Governor Whitmer’s cabinet, beginning March 1. She currently serves as the Director of Juvenile Justice Reform at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. In that role, Shkreli focuses on addressing the systemic and persistent issues with the juvenile justice system and implementation of recommendations made by the Juvenile Justice Task Force. Through her efforts, nearly 100 additional placements were secured over the past year for juvenile justice youth and the State of Michigan is set to receive $850,000 in federal grant funding from the Office of Juvenile Justice Detention and Prevention (OJJDP) to help Michigan move forward in reform efforts. She also currently serves as a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect where she chairs the training subcommittee on child fatality protocol development.
Prior to joining MDHHS, Shkreli served as Michigan’s Children’s Ombudsman and worked as deputy legal counsel in the Executive Office of the Governor. Before joining state government, she served as an assistant prosecuting attorney with the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office. Shkreli is a graduate of Oakland University and Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
"Under Governor Whitmer’s leadership, Michigan Lottery continues to deliver record results for our children’s education across the state – with more than $1.3 billion from the Lottery going to schools last year. I’m thankful to Governor Whitmer for the opportunity to serve in this new role and I look forward to working with the entire Lottery team to continue this success."
“It is a tremendous honor to continue the longstanding work of the Michigan Lottery,” said incoming Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli. “I look forward to working closely with local vendors and retailers who are vital to the success of the program. Under Governor Whitmer’s leadership, Michigan Lottery continues to deliver record results for our children’s education across the state – with more than $1.3 billion from the Lottery going to schools last year. I’m thankful to Governor Whitmer for the opportunity to serve in this new role and I look forward to working with the entire Lottery team to continue this success.”
This appointment is subject to advice and consent of the Senate. The current acting commissioner of the Lottery, Jessica Weare, has accepted a new position within state government. An announcement will be made in the coming month.