New University of Michigan President Kent Syverud inherits a host of challenges

The University of Michigan Board of Regents unanimously approved Kent Syverud as the institution’s 16th president on Monday, selecting a leader who acknowledges the significant challenges facing both the university and higher education nationwide.

Syverud, currently chancellor and president of Syracuse University, will begin his five-year term on July 1 with a base salary of $2 million and potential performance bonuses of up to 30%. He will replace interim President Domenico Grasso, who has served since May following the departure of Santo Ono after less than three years in office.

“These are challenging times for Michigan, for higher education and the whole world,” Syverud said after his appointment. “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.”

In a video introduction, Syverud spoke candidly about the difficulties ahead. “When I start in July I will need your help,” he said, his voice filled with emotion. “The university has had a rough patch recently. I will have a lot of listening and a lot of learning to do.”

The 69-year-old Syverud becomes U-M’s third president in five years and the first alumnus to lead the institution in nearly a century. His appointment comes at a critical juncture for the university, which faces challenges including federal funding cuts, athletic department controversies, student affordability concerns, and the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence in education.

Board chair Mark Bernstein emphasized the importance of this leadership transition: “For our university and our society, American higher education faces more challenges now than at any point since World War II. Given our position in the nation and the state, it is imperative for us to have a leader who is prepared to meet these challenges.”

Speaking to Bridge Michigan after the meeting, Syverud identified what he considers the most pressing issue: “The people of the United States understand and support higher education in times where doubts have been formed in many minds. We’ve become an incredibly successful country, in part because of having the best higher education system in the world… I’m worried we may be losing that for a whole host of reasons and we have to do our part to turn that around.”

Among the immediate challenges Syverud will face is the impact of federal funding cuts. U-M reported $2.16 billion in research spending across its three campuses for fiscal year 2025, including $1.2 billion in federal funds. However, funding for 189 U-M grants has been slashed since President Donald Trump began his second term, according to Arthur Lupia, U-M’s vice president for research and innovation.

The university is also navigating significant issues in its athletic department, including the recent firing of head football coach Sherrone Moore for an inappropriate relationship with a staff member, and an NCAA investigation into an illegal scouting scandal that resulted in substantial penalties.

Syverud has committed to strengthening U-M’s satellite campuses in Flint and Dearborn, which have historically been viewed as “extra campuses.” He stated, “My belief is that University of Michigan is a great university with three main campuses, not with one. And I want to understand Flint and Dearborn well, and I don’t want to perform on that. I want to make it true.”

Student affordability remains another critical concern. U-M’s Ann Arbor campus currently charges $18,346 in tuition and fees for in-state undergraduates, making it the second-highest among Michigan’s 15 public universities according to the Michigan Association of State Universities.

Regent Paul Brown highlighted the need to address both cost control and accessibility: “We lose a huge part of really capable students… because of that knowledge gap and resources gap in their communities. We’ve got to figure out how to solve that.”

Syverud’s deep connections to U-M date back to 1978, when he arrived via Greyhound bus with a single suitcase and studied on scholarship. He earned degrees in law and economics from the university, later taught at its law school, and met his wife, Dr. Ruth Chen, on campus. Chen is an environmental toxicologist and Syracuse University professor.

Regent Sarah Hubbard expressed confidence in the new president: “His experience and values position him well to lead Michigan into its next chapter.”