Kent Syverud Steps Down as University of Michigan President Due to Brain Cancer

The University of Michigan announced Wednesday, April 15, that Kent Syverud will no longer assume the presidency. The notice came in a university-wide statement from the Board of Regents.

Immediate leadership

Domenico Grasso will remain interim president until a successor is named. The Board said it does not yet know who will take the role.

Health update and treatment

Kent Syverud has stepped back from the planned University of Michigan presidency after a diagnosis of brain cancer. He first sought care at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse.

Syverud traveled to the University of Michigan for further evaluation. He is undergoing treatment there and said he feels he is in excellent hands.

He plans to continue as a law school professor and to serve as a special advisor to the Board of Regents. Syverud said he approaches treatment with optimism and determination.

Career and contract details

The Regents selected Syverud during a special meeting in Ann Arbor on Jan. 12. His presidential appointment was to run from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2031.

His employment contract set an annual base salary of $2 million. Syverud previously served as chancellor of Syracuse University.

He was dean and a university professor at Washington University in St. Louis from 2006 to 2013. Before that, he spent eight years as dean at Vanderbilt Law School.

Syverud taught on the University of Michigan Law School faculty from 1987 to 1997. He earned tenure in 1992 and became associate dean for academic affairs in 1995.

Regents’ response and next steps

The Board said its first priority is supporting Syverud and his family. Regents pledged to marshal every available resource to assist him.

University leaders said they will restart the presidential search as soon as possible. The Board expressed confidence that strong candidates will seek the position.

University spokespeople did not expect to provide further comments on Wednesday. Filmogaz.com will follow developments and report updates as available.