Western Michigan University (WMU) is all set for a change in leadership as Russ Kavalhuna steps in as the institution's 10th president on July 1. WMU's Board of Trustees appointed Kavalhuna on Wednesday, a decision borne from what the board describes as an "unmatched blend of public service, higher education leadership and a results-oriented approach to education." Kavalhuna, currently at the helm of Henry Ford College (HFC) in Dearborn, is commended for steering the college to significant growth in both enrollment and student retention, as The Detroit News reports.
The WMU Board of Trustees Chair, Shelly Edgerton, expressed confidence in Kavalhuna's prospective tenure, heralding his principled and agile nature, qualities that come to the fore in a period characterized as the greatest disruption higher education has seen in a generation, a disruption that requires transformative presidencies which the board believes Kavalhuna signifies because he's an appropriate match for the times and equipped with a vision keen to foster a continuance of this transformative phase that aligns with Kavalhuna's career inclinations that have always swayed towards the meaningful over the facile, the Detroit Free Press adds.
A WMU alumnus himself, Kavalhuna's presidential appointment renews his long-standing association with the university; his journey spans across roles from a student to executive director of flight operations at WMU’s College of Aviation, and even a federal prosecutor, experiences that have shaped a multifaceted leadership style. Kavalhuna said, per The Detroit News, "I am deeply grateful, humbled and honored to serve as the next president of Western Michigan University," highlighting the personal resonance the position holds for him, having started his academic and professional journey at WMU. Earning an annual salary of $525,000 throughout a five-year contract, his role will focus heavily on ensuring the university remains a bastion for student outcomes and community contribution alike.
