UM's Next President Must Champion Equity and Justice

Interim leader Domenico Grasso to guide university after Kent Syverud's cancer diagnosis

Apr. 20, 2026 at 12:00am

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An abstract, impressionistic photograph showing blurred, indistinct figures of students walking across a college campus, with warm, soft pools of light and color creating a dreamlike, atmospheric scene.As the University of Michigan searches for a new president, the campus community hopes the next leader will champion equity, diversity and inclusion as top priorities.Ann Arbor Today

The University of Michigan is searching for a new president after Kent Syverud, who was set to take over the role, was diagnosed with brain cancer and will not be able to serve. In the interim, Domenico Grasso will lead the university as it looks to find a permanent replacement focused on advancing equity and justice on campus.

Why it matters

The University of Michigan is a prestigious public research institution that plays a crucial role in the state. Its next president will be tasked with addressing longstanding issues around diversity, inclusion and accessibility that have persisted on the Ann Arbor campus.

The details

Syverud, the former chancellor of Syracuse University, was announced as the next UM president in February 2026 but stepped down shortly after due to his brain cancer diagnosis. Grasso, the university's provost, will serve as interim president while the search for a permanent replacement is conducted. The new president will be expected to make equity, diversity and justice top priorities after years of student activism and calls for reform.

  • In February 2026, Kent Syverud was announced as the next president of the University of Michigan.
  • In April 2026, Syverud stepped down due to a brain cancer diagnosis.

The players

Kent Syverud

The former chancellor of Syracuse University who was set to become the next president of the University of Michigan before stepping down due to a brain cancer diagnosis.

Domenico Grasso

The University of Michigan's provost, who will serve as interim president while the search for a permanent replacement is conducted.

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What they’re saying

“The University of Michigan needs a leader who will make equity, diversity and inclusion top priorities from day one.”

— Amara Omeokwe, UM student activist

“This is a critical moment for the university to chart a new path forward and regain the trust of the campus community.”

— Fatima Malik, UM faculty member

What’s next

The university's Board of Regents will launch a nationwide search for a new president, with the goal of having a permanent replacement in place by the start of the 2027 academic year.

The takeaway

The University of Michigan's next president will face immense pressure to address longstanding issues of equity, diversity and inclusion on campus and chart a new, more just and inclusive vision for the prestigious public research institution.