New University of Michigan President Kent Syverud inherits a host of challenges

KentSyverud,themanchosenMondayasthenextleaderoftheUniversityofMichigan,knowsthejobwon’tbeeasy.Foronething,hesaid,U-MandotheruniversitiesareinafighttoretaintheUnitedStates’placeasaworldleaderinhighereducation. “ThesearechallengingtimesforMichigan,forhighereducationandthewholeworld,”Syverud,currentlychancellorandpresidentofSyracuseUniversity,saidMondayaftertheBoardofRegents,inaspecialmeeting,unanimouslyapprovedhishiring.“Wehaveachoiceinhowtorespond.Wecancurlupinaball…orwecandowhatMichiganhasalwaysdoneatitsbest:Wecanlead.” Hisvoicesometimesfilledwithemotion,SvyerudfurtheracknowledgedthechallengesaheadinavideointroductiononYouTube.“WhenIstartinJulyIwillneedyourhelp,”Syverudsaid.“Theuniversityhashadaroughpatchrecently.Iwillhavealotoflisteningandalotoflearningtodo.” SyverudwillbecomeU-M’sthirdpresidentinfiveyearsandthefirstU-Malumnustoserveaspresidentinnearlyacentury. Syverudwillbeginhispostatt