The University of Michigan is set to name Kent D. Syverud as its next president, with the Board of Regents convening a special vote this week. Syracuse’s longtime leader will replace interim president Domenico Grasso and succeed a rapid string of leaders that has left the institution led by its fifth president since 2022. Syverud, a law-trained administrator and UM alum, brings legal and economic expertise and a lengthy record of institutional fundraising and governance. The selection follows a fast-moving governance process; regent Michael Behm publicly backed Syverud’s style and collaborative approach. The choice matters for UM’s policy stance on diversity debates, research priorities and relations with state policymakers after recent high-profile departures. Trustees and campus leaders will now focus on transition planning, regional relationships, and Syverud’s stated priorities for restoring campus stability and external partnerships.