University of Michigan's Next President Diagnosed with Brain Cancer

Kent Syverud will not take the job due to his recent cancer diagnosis.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 3:10pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of a university campus quad, with students walking through pools of warm, golden light, creating a dreamlike, impressionistic composition that evokes a sense of contemplation and resilience.The University of Michigan community must now navigate an unexpected leadership transition with resilience and compassion.Ann Arbor Today

The University of Michigan announced that Kent Syverud, the chancellor at Syracuse University who was hired as the university's next president in January, will not be able to take the job due to a recent brain cancer diagnosis. Syverud said he is currently undergoing treatment at the University of Michigan and will instead serve as a professor at the law school and as an advisor to the Board of Regents.

Why it matters

This is a significant setback for the University of Michigan, which was looking forward to Syverud's leadership. The university will now have to restart its search for a new president, adding uncertainty and disruption to the institution's transition. Syverud's diagnosis also highlights the challenges faced by leaders in higher education, who must balance their professional responsibilities with personal health concerns.

The details

Kent Syverud, who was hired as the next president of the University of Michigan in January, announced on Wednesday that he will not be able to take the job due to a recent brain cancer diagnosis. Syverud, who is currently the chancellor at Syracuse University, said he received the diagnosis after not feeling well last week. He is currently undergoing treatment at the University of Michigan and will instead serve as a professor at the law school and as an advisor to the Board of Regents.

  • Syverud was hired as the next president of the University of Michigan in January 2026.
  • Syverud announced his brain cancer diagnosis on April 15, 2026.

The players

Kent Syverud

The chancellor at Syracuse University who was hired as the next president of the University of Michigan in January 2026, but will not be able to take the job due to a recent brain cancer diagnosis.

Domenico Grasso

The interim president of the University of Michigan who will continue in the role while the university's governing board searches for a new leader.

Santa Ono

The previous president of the University of Michigan who was in line to become the head of the University of Florida in 2025, but the move was voted down by the Florida Board of Governors due to criticism of his support for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I am currently undergoing treatment at the University of Michigan. ... I am aware that I am one of many, many people who face a diagnosis like this — people who show up each day with courage. I take inspiration from all of them.”

— Kent Syverud, Chancellor, Syracuse University

What’s next

The University of Michigan's Board of Regents will now need to restart the search for a new president, adding uncertainty and disruption to the institution's leadership transition.

The takeaway

Syverud's diagnosis highlights the personal health challenges that leaders in higher education can face, and the impact that can have on the institutions they serve. The University of Michigan must now navigate this unexpected transition, underscoring the importance of resilience and adaptability in academic leadership.