Sam Hosey Jr. Joins ELi’s Board of Directors

The East Lansing Info (ELi) Board of Directors is excited to announce that Sam Hosey Jr. has joined the Board. The Board has also regretfully accepted the resignation of Merem Frierson, who has had to depart due to moving out of state.

The ELi Board of Directors has fiduciary responsibility over the nonprofit corporation that operates East Lansing Info, a public service, citizen-reporting news organization dedicated to providing nonpartisan news and information about East Lansing.

“While we're sorry to lose long-time East Lansing stalwart Merem Frierson,” says ELi Board Member Michael Lawrence, “it's great to welcome to the Board another one of East Lansing’s leading voices, Sam Hosey.”

A native of East Lansing and graduate of East Lansing High School, Sam brings valuable professional experience and a long record of public service. He currently works as a Business Systems Analyst at AFGroup, with 20 years’ experience as an IT professional in areas including multi-million-dollar software development projects, project management, and system administration. Sam earned a bachelor’s degree from Northwood University in Business Administration/Management after earning his Associates Degree from Lansing Community College.

Remarkably given his current line of work, Sam also comes to ELi with serious journalistic chops. He worked as a freelance sports writer and as a radio and television personality covering high school, Michigan State, and Big Ten sports for over a decade. Sam’s work in sports culminated with him serving as Sports Director for Life In Lansing.

Sam’s reporting and analysis appeared in the Lansing State Journal, Detroit News, on WLNS TV-6, and elsewhere. Passionate about supporting young people, Sam volunteers as a youth basketball coach, mentors young people, and is an ardent advocate for youth education. He serves on the board of the Edja Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping orphaned girls in Uganda who have been sexually assaulted and infected with HIV.

A classically-trained pianist, Sam has performed at Common Ground, the Loft, and NAACP fund-raising events. Those experiences have lead him to start his own production company Play It Again Sam Productions, LLC. Sam currently plays at local churches and other special events. Sam and his wife have five sons, three of whom are currently enrolled in East Lansing Public Schools (ELPS).

“The Board was thrilled when Sam accepted our invitation,” says Alice Dreger, ELi’s Board President and Publisher. “His professional and personal experience, his commitment to the public service, and his leadership in local affairs makes him a true asset to this organization. We are deeply honored that he’s made time in his very busy life to volunteer as a leader for ELi.”

Sam says that his goal in joining the ELi board is “to promote unbiased journalism and fact-based information being shared in the community.” He says, “I think it’s of the utmost importance that we know what’s happening in our city and community. I think ELi does a great job of filling that niche, and I really just want to help wherever I can in that, because it’s such a valuable service to our community.”

The entire Board is sad to see Merem Frierson leave the area and the organization, but of course wishes her the best in her new journeys. Merem was known to many East Lansing children and parents for her long-time service as a teacher and administrator in East Lansing Public Schools – and in fact was Sam Hosey Jr.’s homeroom teacher many years ago.

In her formal letter of resignation, Frierson wrote, “It has been a pleasure being part of ELi and the dedication to providing thoughtful communication to the citizens of East Lansing. I am proud of the continued accomplishments and the direction the organization is undertaking. I have no doubt ELi and the board foundation will continue to be a valuable resource to the citizens of East Lansing, Michigan.”

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