University of Michigan Prepares to Elect New President in Anticipated Meeting
The University of Michigan is on the brink of a significant leadership change as the Board of Regents has planned a special meeting to appoint the next president of the university. This decision comes after a period of interim leadership following the departure of the previous president.
Since May 2025, Domenico Grasso, an esteemed professor with a background in public policy and engineering, has been fulfilling the role of interim president. Grasso, who previously served as the chancellor of the University of Michigan-Dearborn, stepped in after Santa Ono’s resignation. Ono left to pursue the presidency at the University of Florida, a move he announced in May 2025.
The Board of Regents shared in a message to the community that this election marks a “historic moment” for the institution. However, the board has not publicly disclosed the candidate selected for the vote. Reports from MLive and Michigan Public contributor John U. Bacon suggest that Kent Syverud, current Chancellor and President of Syracuse University, is the only nominee for the role.
Kent Syverud, an alumnus of the University of Michigan with a master’s in economics and a law degree, has been at the helm of Syracuse University since 2014 and previously contributed to the UM law faculty.
The decisive meeting will take place at 1 p.m. on Monday, January 12, at University Hall. Interested individuals can watch the proceedings via a livestream available here.
Editor’s note: The University of Michigan holds Michigan Public’s broadcast license.
