Kent Syverud, ’81, chancellor and president of Syracuse University, has been named the 16th president of the University of Michigan—the first U-M alumnus in nearly a century to be appointed president.
The Board of Regents voted unanimously to appoint Syverud during a special session on January 12.
Syverud returns to lead U-M following a robust legal and higher education career. He spent the last 12 years as chancellor and president at Syracuse University, where his incumbency produced record enrollment, academic and research breakthroughs, and a significant influence on the economic health of upstate New York.
“I do believe Michigan has been, is now, and must remain the best public research university anywhere,” Syverud said. “That has been my experience of Michigan. This university gave me everything I have become.”
After graduating from Michigan Law, Syverud spent several years practicing in the public and private sectors, including clerking for the late US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
After practicing law, he returned to U-M in 1987 and spent a decade serving on the Law School’s faculty, ultimately as a professor and the associate dean for academic affairs.
“When Kent was on our faculty, he was a legendary teacher, a distinguished scholar, and a thoughtful, generous colleague,” said Professor Kyle Logue, who took over teaching the insurance law course from Syverud when Syverud left Michigan. “Since then, he’s become one of the nation’s most accomplished university leaders. What hasn’t changed is his intelligence, his integrity, and his deep commitment to Michigan. I’m looking forward to welcoming him back.”
Prior to leading Syracuse University, Syverud was dean of the law schools at Washington University in St. Louis and Vanderbilt University.
In addition to earning his JD from Michigan Law, Syverud earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a master’s in economics from U-M.
“These are challenging times for Michigan, for higher education, and, indeed, for the whole world,” Syverud said. “We at the University have a choice on how to respond. We can curl up in a ball…or we can do what Michigan has always done when it’s 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 and the ideas and the innovation and the civil engagement that this world so badly needs.
“I want to help us to do that, and I want to help us do that while always remembering our special obligation to the people of the state of Michigan—all the people of the state of Michigan, who created this institution and who merit our priority.”
Syverud’s five-year term will begin by July 1. He succeeds President Domenico Grasso, who has been serving on an interim basis since the departure of former president Santa J. Ono in May 2025.
Grasso is one of several U-M alumni who have served as president in an interim capacity. The last alumnus to be appointed president was Alexander G. Ruthven in 1929.
The Board of Regents voted unanimously to appoint Syverud during a special session on January 12.
Syverud returns to lead U-M following a robust legal and higher education career. He spent the last 12 years as chancellor and president at Syracuse University, where his incumbency produced record enrollment, academic and research breakthroughs, and a significant influence on the economic health of upstate New York.
“I do believe Michigan has been, is now, and must remain the best public research university anywhere,” Syverud said. “That has been my experience of Michigan. This university gave me everything I have become.”
After graduating from Michigan Law, Syverud spent several years practicing in the public and private sectors, including clerking for the late US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
After practicing law, he returned to U-M in 1987 and spent a decade serving on the Law School’s faculty, ultimately as a professor and the associate dean for academic affairs.
“When Kent was on our faculty, he was a legendary teacher, a distinguished scholar, and a thoughtful, generous colleague,” said Professor Kyle Logue, who took over teaching the insurance law course from Syverud when Syverud left Michigan. “Since then, he’s become one of the nation’s most accomplished university leaders. What hasn’t changed is his intelligence, his integrity, and his deep commitment to Michigan. I’m looking forward to welcoming him back.”
Prior to leading Syracuse University, Syverud was dean of the law schools at Washington University in St. Louis and Vanderbilt University.
In addition to earning his JD from Michigan Law, Syverud earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a master’s in economics from U-M.
“These are challenging times for Michigan, for higher education, and, indeed, for the whole world,” Syverud said. “We at the University have a choice on how to respond. We can curl up in a ball…or we can do what Michigan has always done when it’s 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 and the ideas and the innovation and the civil engagement that this world so badly needs.
“I want to help us to do that, and I want to help us do that while always remembering our special obligation to the people of the state of Michigan—all the people of the state of Michigan, who created this institution and who merit our priority.”
Syverud’s five-year term will begin by July 1. He succeeds President Domenico Grasso, who has been serving on an interim basis since the departure of former president Santa J. Ono in May 2025.
Grasso is one of several U-M alumni who have served as president in an interim capacity. The last alumnus to be appointed president was Alexander G. Ruthven in 1929.
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