ANN ARBOR, MI — The University of Michigan has found its new president: Kent Syverud, a UM graduate and current chancellor of Syracuse University. He will take over from interim President Domenico Grasso.
Syverud has been at Syracuse since January 2014. He plans to step down from that role at the end of the 2025-26 academic year, as reported by Syracuse.com. UM Regent Michael Behm expressed confidence in Syverud’s leadership, stating, “He’ll be terrific. He’s just who we’re looking for.”
Before joining Syracuse, Syverud was the dean of Washington University in St. Louis from 2006 to 2023 and also served eight years as dean at Vanderbilt Law School. At UM, he was faculty from 1987 to 1997 and became an associate dean in 1995. Notably, he was a witness in the famous Supreme Court case Grutter v. Bollinger, which supported the use of race in admissions to promote diversity.
The Grutter case ruled that admissions policies considering race didn’t breach the Constitution, provided all factors were weighed. This case reflects ongoing discussions about diversity in higher education, a topic that remains relevant today, especially after recent Supreme Court decisions regarding affirmative action.
Syverud holds a bachelor’s from Georgetown University and both a master’s and law degree from UM. After his academic pursuits, he clerked for not only U.S. District Judge Louis Oberdorfer but also for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
Syverud’s leadership comes at a time of change; this marks the fifth president within just a decade. The former president, Mark Schlissel, was dismissed due to a misconduct issue after serving for about seven years. Following Schlissel, Mary Sue Coleman returned briefly before Santa Ono took over. Ono’s tenure lasted just over two years, ending in May 2025.
As Syverud prepares to lead UM, experts suggest that understanding past dynamics can help current administrations navigate challenges in diversity and governance. In light of recent surveys, including one from Education Data, 68% of students believe that diversity enhances their educational experience. As UM looks ahead, Syverud’s familiarity with the university and his robust academic background position him as a potentially unifying force.
