Detroit — Wayne State University’s Board of Governors is looking to remove President Kimberly Andrews Espy, just two years after she took office. Reports indicate that both the board and some senior faculty members are unhappy with her leadership style.
One key issue appears to be communication. Espy recently placed the dean of the School of Medicine, Dr. Wael Sakr, on paid leave without prior notice to the board. As a result, board members expressed frustration over not being informed about such decisions, which are crucial for how the university operates, according to James Finkelstein, a public policy professor at George Mason University. He pointed out that while the board doesn’t need to approve personnel decisions, it’s essential they are kept in the loop.
In addition to management concerns, there is also a desire from the board for more community engagement from Espy. Interestingly, although she resides in Wayne State’s Max Jacob House, she voted in Texas in the 2024 presidential election, which raised some eyebrows about her ties to the state she leads.
The board declined to comment on Espy’s situation, and the university has not made her available for interviews. Recently, she did appear at key events, including a groundbreaking for a major health sciences research facility, but did not address any tensions with the board. Her expected exit would mark her as the second university leader to leave in six months, amidst a broader trend of instability among university presidents. The University of Michigan has also seen significant leadership changes, with its former president departing amid disputes with the board.
When Espy took the presidency in August 2023, her five-year contract included a strong salary and benefits package, amounting to nearly $1 million annually. Previous president M. Roy Wilson, who served for a decade, faced similar challenges with board relations, underscoring a recurring issue within Michigan’s public universities.
In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in university leaders being forced out or resigning after short terms, a phenomenon many researchers, like Judith Wilde, attribute to boards behaving like co-presidents. This rise in “failed presidencies” is alarming as it can lead to instability at institutions that need consistent leadership. Wilde pointed out that the practice of secret searches for university presidents often results in a disconnect between the administration and the faculty, which can breed distrust.
Whether or not Espy’s departure becomes official, her situation highlights broader challenges facing higher education leadership today and raises questions about governance at universities across the nation.
For further insights on the evolving landscape of university presidencies, the latest data from the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) can offer valuable statistics on faculty and administration relations.
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