U-M President-elect Kent Syverud announces cancer diagnosis, will not take office

U-M President-elect Kent Syverud will not serve after being diagnosed with cancer
Syverud had been expected to take the helm at U-M on May 11
Interim President Domenico Grasso will continue to serve while the U-M Board of Regents begins another search

University of Michigan President-elect Kent Syverud has been diagnosed with a form of brain cancer and will not serve in his role, according to a Wednesday university announcement.

In a letter to the U-M community, Syverud wrote that he sought care at a Syracuse, New York, hospital after not feeling well then came to U-M for further evaluation. He said he has been diagnosed with a form of brain cancer and is undergoing treatment at U-M.

“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,” Syverud wrote. “I take inspiration from all of them. I want you to know that I am ready to meet this challenge.”

U-M regents appointed Syverud, who served as chancellor and president of Syracuse University, as the school’s 16th president in January following the departure of former President Santa Ono. He was expected to start on May 11 with a five-year contract.

In a video, Board of Regents Chair Mark Bernstein said that the board will re-engage a search process and interim President Domenico Grasso will continue to serve as president until the university hires a president.

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“We have no doubt that outstanding candidates will seek an opportunity to lead our great university because, as Kent said earlier this year, “Michigan has been, is now, and must remain the best public research university anywhere,” Bernstein said.

Many expressed well wishes for Syverud, whose upcoming tenure was recently celebrated as a homecoming for the U-M alum. He earned two graduate degrees at the university and also taught in the law school there and met and married his wife, environmental toxicologist Ruth Chen.

“Very sad news we’re sharing today,” Regent Sarah Hubbard posted on X. “My thoughts and prayers are with Kent Syverud and his family.”

Bernstein added that Syverud, 69, will serve as a law professor at the University of Michigan Law School and a special adviser to the board.

“We want him to have every opportunity to serve our university, even under these difficult circumstances,” Bernstein said.

Syverud said he was “deeply moved by” the opportunity.

“My wife Ruth and I look forward with great anticipation to rejoining this remarkable community,” Syverud said.

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