- Wayne State University President Kimberly Andrews Espy has resigned
- The Board of Governors is expected to meet Wednesday to consider next steps
- She was the first female president of Michigan’s third-largest university
DETROIT — Wayne State University President Kimberly Andrews Espy has resigned, and the Board of Governors is expected to discuss next steps Wednesday, a source with firsthand knowledge of the situation told Bridge Michigan.
Late Tuesday, the university announced a special meeting of the WSU board to discuss “leadership plans currently underway.” The Detroit News first reported the resignation.
Espy, 62, is WSU’s first female president and has served at the helm for two years at the third-largest university in Michigan.
Educated as a neuropsychologist, Espy became the Detroit university’s 13th president in August 2023 after working nearly three decades in higher education as an administrator, professor and researcher. She joined WSU after serving as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at the University of Texas in San Antonio.
She came to WSU on a five-year contract, the first year of which included total compensation of nearly $1 million.
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Her base salary in her first year was $690,000 with an additional 3% each year, along with $222,000 in deferred compensation and supplemental retirement income.
If the board accepts her resignation, it would mean that there is one less woman leading institutions of higher education.
Nationally, 2 of 3 college presidents are men, according to the American College President: 2023 Edition, the ninth study of higher education leaders by the American Council on Education.
But there are even fewer in Michigan. There are four women leading private universities in Michigan, according to the Michigan Independent Colleges & Universities. Among the state’s public universities, there are three without Espy.
Bridge reported Epsy’s impending departure last week. During her tenure, overall enrollment increased 1.1%, from 23,702 students in fall 2023 to 23,964 in fall 2024, according to enrollment reports from the Michigan Association of State Universities.
Enrollment for this fall has not yet been released.
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