The president-elect of the University of Michigan was diagnosed with brain cancer and will not be serving as the university’s 16th president, the university announced Wednesday morning.
Kent Syverud, the chancellor of Syracuse University, said in a statement he was diagnosed last week with a form of brain cancer after seeking care from the university’s health specialists. He is receiving care at Michigan Medicine currently, he said.
“I am where I need to be and I am in excellent hands,” said Syverud, 69. “I am deeply grateful to the outstanding teams at University of Michigan Medicine and (Syracuse’s) Crouse Hospital and for their extraordinary care. I also want to thank the Michigan Board of Regents and Syracuse University Board of Trustees for the support and compassion they have extended to me and my family.”
Board of Regents Chair Mark Bernstein said in a statement that Domenicio Grasso would continue to serve as the university’s interim president.
“The board plans to re-engage a search process as soon as possible,” Bernstein said. “We will share details about this in the coming days. 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 previously said there were three other finalists for the role before Syverud was tapped.
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UM Regent Sarah Hubbard said she was keeping Syverud in her thoughts and prayers.
Faculty Senate Chair Derek Peterson said the news was “profoundly horrible.”
“We’ve developed a good working relationship,” Peterson said. “I was looking forward to him taking up the job.
Once able, Syverud is expected to begin as a professor in the university’s law school, where he taught decades ago. He said he looked forward to rejoining the faculty.
“I’m hoping his treatments go well, and he’s restored to health and that he’s able to teach,” Peterson said. “He was a very good, very popular law professor when he was here the first time.”
In a tweet, Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz said he was thinking of Syverud amid the news of his cancer diagnosis.
“Thinking of my friend & colleague Kent Syverud & his family during this difficult time,” Guskiewicz wrote on X. “His leadership & optimism have inspired many, & I had hoped we’d have the opportunity to work together again here in MI. All of us at MSU are wishing him strength, healing & a full recovery.”
Syverud served as the chancellor of Syracuse University for 12 years before the regents elected him to serve as UM’s next president in January. He and his wife, Ruth Chen, have deep ties to the university, and he attended as a student, taught in the Michigan Law School and served as an associate dean of academic affairs.
The university declined to comment further on the diagnosis or transition plans, Assistant Vice President of Public Affairs and Internal Communications Paul Corliss said in a text.
