Diane Giannola is a molecular biologist, project manager and former member of the Ann Arbor City Planning Commission. On Nov. 4, 2015 – the day after the general election – she pulled petitions to run in 2016 for Ann Arbor City Council in Ward 4. That seat is currently held by Democrat Graydon Krapohl.

Diane Giannola at a May 6, 2014 meeting of the Ann Arbor planning commission. (Photo courtesy of The Ann Arbor Chronicle.)Giannola was first appointed to the planning commission in July 2009. She was reappointed by the city council in 2012 for a term ending June 30, 2015. However, she resigned in September 2014 and was replaced by Sarah Mills to fill the remainder of that term.

She also served on the city's Historic District Commission from 2007 to 2010. She was nominated to both the HDC and planning commission by John Hieftje, who was mayor at that time.

Giannola is active in Democratic Party politics and has generally supported candidates who are aligned with Hieftje and current mayor Christopher Taylor.

In May 2014, the Ann Arbor Chronicle identified Giannola as the publisher of the anonymous weblog Middle of the Left.

Professionally, Giannola is a manager for the University of Michigan's Venture Accelerator. She previously has worked as testing lab manager for MC3 Inc. and as a project manager/molecular biologist at the University of Michigan's Translational Research Lab. She was also a project manager at Asterand, and a senior associate scientist at Pfizer and Rubicon Genomics.

She has a bachelors degree in microbiology from the University of Michigan, an ABA in business administration from the University of Pennsylvania, and a masters in business administration from Madonna University.

Timeline: Diane Giannola

  • July 9, 2016. Refuses to participate in a candidate's forum hosted by the Ann Arbor Democratic Party. In an Ann Arbor News story, quoted thus: "The Ann Arbor Democratic Party is a corrupt organization with leadership that are currently drunk with power, I refuse to sanction their behavior so will not be participating in this year's candidate forum or in any other activity until the local leadership has changed."
  • Nov. 4, 2015: Pulls petitions to run in 2016 for Ann Arbor City Council in Ward 4. That seat is currently held by Democrat Graydon Krapohl.
  • November 2014: Begins job as a manager for the University of Michigan's Venture Accelerator, which supports startups that use UM technology.
  • Oct. 10, 2014: Ann Arbor City Planning Commission passes a resolution of appreciation for Giannola's service on the commission.
  • September 2014: Resigns from the Ann Arbor City Planning Commission.
  • May 2013-November 2014: Works as testing lab manager for MC3 Inc.
  • September 2013: Launches Middle of the Left, an anonymous blog focused on political commentary and local politics. In her first post, she writes: "Currently, there is a lot of ridiculousness that is being passed off as policy making at our city council meetings. For those of us that pay attention to these things, it is incomprehensible how this happens week after week.  This blog hopefully will show the elected officials exactly how their ideas appear to the public."
  • July 2012: Is re-appointed to the Ann Arbor City Planning Commission for a term running through June 2015.
  • July 2009: Is appointed to the Ann Arbor City Planning Commission, replacing Craig Borum, for a term through July 2012. She's nominated by mayor John Hieftje and confirmed by the city council.
  • March 2008-December 2012: Works at the University of Michigan's Translational Research Lab.
  • 2007-2010: Serves on the Ann Arbor Historic District Commission. Is nominated in November 2007 by mayor John Hieftje for a term running through November 2010, and confirmed by the city council.
  • 2007: Earns MS in business administration from Madonna University.
  • May 2007-March 2008: Works as a project manager at Asterand.
  • 2005: Earns graduate certificate in quality assurance/regulatory affairs from Temple University.
  • December 2003-June 2005: Works as senior associate scientist at Pfizer.
  • 2002-2003: Works as senior associate scientist for Rubicon Genomics.
  • 1999: Earns ABA degree from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.
  • 1994-2002: Works as division research manager and operations manager at the University of Pennsylvania.
  • 1989: Earns bachelor's degree in microbiology from the University of Michigan.
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