ANN ARBOR, Mich. (WXYZ) — Kent Syverud has been named the 16th President of the University of Michigan, the school's board of regents announced in a special meeting to elect him.
Watch Whitney Burney's video report:
The Regents unanimously voted to name him President in a meeting on Monday afternoon.
"We know this is going to be the last job of his career," said Regent Jordan Acker. "The key here is integrity, honesty, understanding process, doing the right thing, and being future and forward thinking. What worked in 1985 might not work now, and that’s okay, and we’re going to get to what’s next, but you can only do that when you have a president like Kent Syverud."
Watch Syverud address the board after being unanimously elected
“During the search process, we learned that President-Elect Syverud is a fearless listener,” Regents Vice Chair Michael J. Behm said. “He’s extremely talented at imagining and implementing goals for the future, and a gifted collaborator with students, faculty, and statewide stakeholders. These qualities will benefit all Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint.”
Syverud, a University of Michigan alum, has been working as chancellor and president at the University of Syracuse since 2013. In August of last year, he announced his intention to step down from his roles at Syracuse, effective in June 2026. He also currently serves as the chair of the Atlantic Coast Conference Board of Directors.
“I believe Michigan has been, is now, and must remain the best public research university anywhere,” Syverud said in a press release. “That has been my experience. This university gave me everything I have become...these are challenging times for Michigan, for higher education, and the world. We have a choice in how to respond. We can curl up in a ball … or, we can do what Michigan has always done at its best: We can lead. We can lead not by arrogantly lecturing others, but by modeling each day in small ways and in big ones, the values, the ideas, and innovation, and the civil engagement that this world so badly needs. I want to help us do that, always remembering our special obligation to the people of the state of Michigan … who created this institution and who merit our priority.”
Syverud has previously worked as the dean of the law schools at Vanderbilt University (1997-2005) and Washington University (2005-2013).
After earning a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Georgetown, Syverud went to grad school at the University of Michigan, earning a Juris Doctor degree magna cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School in 1981, and a master's degree in economics from the University of Michigan two years later. After graduating law school, he clerked for U.S. District Judge Louis F. Oberdorfer and Sandra Day O'Connor, after she became the first woman named to the Supreme Court bench.
Monday, the president-elect hit the ground running, visiting U-M Flint. He says it's important to him to spend time with students on all three campuses.
Students say they're interested to see where Syverud takes the institution.
"I think overall the university has been very disorganized, and it’s kind of left it up to the colleges to make their own decisions," said Ben Kuntzsch, who just graduated from U-M and now lives in Ann Arbor. "I know Syracuse is a great university, so I, hopefully, could expect great things. I would hope for more unity amongst the colleges."
"I think just cleaning up the mess and keeping us in line here," said freshman student Jay Nowak when asked what he'd like to see from the university's next leader. "I’d like to say maybe focus on the football leadership but other than that just kind of keeping what’s going, going."
"I think it’s a good opportunity to start fresh. I mean the current president, the interim is doing a pretty good job but I think you need someone who represents the university values," said sophomore student Ignacio Uriel. "I’ve heard a lot of things about the DEI program, and there are a lot of concerns about it. So maybe the next president should focus on that since there’s a lot of students here and there’s a very diverse group of people."
Syverud says he plans to spend lots of time getting to know the faculty and students to determine what should be top priority on the list of issues to tackle.
"Job one is to come back, as much as I can consistent with my job at Syracuse, and to spend a lot of in-depth time with students, with staff, with professionals of Michigan medicine on all three campuses," said Syverud. "It is to understand Michigan now, not the Michigan of rosy memories when I lived here. I’ve been involved with Michigan as an alumnus and a friend since I left, but not at the level I need to do this job."
We're told that Syverud will receive a base salary of $2 million annually, which can increase at the discretion of the Board of Regents. He will also receive regular university benefits, supplemental contributions to a retirement plan, housing in the President's House, an expense allowance, and the use of an automobile and a driver, as is standard for a university president, per university policies.
