Western Michigan University seeks a bold, innovative, and visionary leader who embodies an entrepreneurial spirit and an unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion to be its next President. The next President will hold a foundational understanding of—and deep respect for—shared governance and faculty engagement and a demonstrated record of engaging with and advancing external communities while possessing deep personal and professional integrity to lead the University to become a top-tier university in Michigan for student success.
There is an undeniable momentum at Western Michigan University. In a little more than a year, WMU has set new institutional records for first-year retention and six-year graduation rates, and opened a newly renovated Dunbar Hall—its most heavily used classroom building— and a vibrant new student center and dining facility. It set a new high watermark for total research awards at $59.6 million and earned the distinction as the winningest athletic program in the Mid American Conference as the Learfield Director’s Cup 2024 winner. The University’s award-winning College of Aviation received the first shipment of its new fleet of 32 Cirrus Generation 7 training aircraft—the latest equipment available. WMU also awarded new venture grants to 22 faculty to create new and innovative experience-driven learning opportunities. It’s no wonder Western was recognized by TIME magazine as a top 100 Best College for Future Leaders based on the leadership positions of alumni—one of only three institutions in Michigan.
The University’s ambitions are being accelerated by the $550 million Empowering Futures Gift, which remains the largest single gift for a public university in American history. This phenomenal generosity is the cornerstone of a $1.25 billion comprehensive fundraising campaign that will enter its public phase under the leadership of the new President.
WMU was founded as a Normal School in 1903 with broad support from the community. Today, it is a student-centered research university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with just under 18,000 students, comprising 13,860 undergraduates and 3,745 graduate students. WMU is Michigan’s fifth-largest University, attracting a diverse and culturally rich student body from across the United States and nearly 100 other countries. Approximately 35% of students identify among historically underrepresented populations or as international, and 26% of undergraduates are from outside Michigan.
Western Michigan University offers more than 150 undergraduate majors in eight degree-granting colleges. The Graduate College supports more than 160 graduate and advanced academic programs, while WMUx offers professional development programs through its online and lifelong education units. Through formal affiliation, the University is home to the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine. Western’s Strategic Plan covers a span of 10 years and is framed around seven key priority areas: Academic Excellence; Community Building; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Internationalization; Research and Creative Scholarship; Sustainability and Well-being. The University has the state’s third-largest college-affiliated endowment, which totaled $757 million in fiscal year 2024.
The next President will join Western Michigan University in a moment of exciting advancement and growth. Firmly rooted in its service to society, Western Michigan University seeks a leader who can help the institution implement an agenda that is intellectually exciting, entrepreneurial, focused on civic engagement and student-centric; builds community and ownership; thinks strategically about the future of enrollment and curriculum; and promotes and supports faculty and student research. The next President will support, engage and lead all members of the University’s diverse community—including students; faculty; staff; leadership; alumni; friends; trustees; local community members; and business, educational and governmental partners—in an ongoing and transformative dialogue about continuous service and growth, as the University faces regional and national challenges ahead. The next President will hold an earned doctorate, other terminal degree or equivalent experience in public service, business, technology, entrepreneurship or related field.
Jim Sirianni, TaJuan Wilson, Susan VanGilder, and Mark Halligan of Storbeck Search|DSG have been exclusively retained for this search. To express interest, please submit a compelling letter of candidacy that responds to the Opportunities and Challenges for the President and a CV/resume through the linked Talent Profile. Inquiries and nominations should be directed to WMUPresident@storbecksearch.com All applications, inquiries, discussions, and nominations will be considered strictly confidential.
For more information on Western Michigan University, please visit: https://wmich.edu/
For a more detailed description of the opportunity, please visit: https://www.dsgco.com/search/21710-western-michigan-university-president/
Western Michigan University, an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, complies with applicable federal and state laws and University policies prohibiting discrimination and harassment. Western Michigan University prohibits discrimination or harassment that violates the law or that limits opportunities of admission, employment or education based on the protected classes of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, protected disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, height, weight, or marital status. Retaliation against any person or group who makes a good faith complaint or participates in a grievance, investigation or related processes is prohibited by law and policy. Related policies and information on how to report can be found at https://wmich.edu/equity/nondiscriminationnotice.
