University of Michigan Names Interim President
Dear students, faculty and staff,
The University of Michigan Board of Regents has named Domenico Grasso (PhD ‘87) as the university’s interim president, effective immediately. President Grasso will serve in this capacity during the search for the next president of the university, an effort that will be completed within the year.
President Grasso is widely admired for his visionary work leading the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where he has held the role of chancellor since 2018. During his tenure, the university transitioned to a need-based financial aid model, increased its four-year graduation rate by 16% and, in tripling external research funding, achieved R2 status. He also served as an executive officer at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor and became a trusted advisor to leaders across our three campuses.
We have full confidence that President Grasso will provide steady leadership during this critical time of transition, and we will affirm our appointment of him during our next board meeting May 15, which is scheduled to take place in Dearborn. He has expressed his desire to serve in this interim role only and will not apply for the permanent presidency.
Prior to joining UM-Dearborn, President Grasso was provost and chief academic officer at the University of Delaware and, earlier, he held leadership positions at the University of Connecticut, Smith College and University of Vermont. He earned his Ph.D. in environmental engineering from the University of Michigan.
Gabriella Scarlatta, the provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs at UM-Dearborn, will become interim chancellor of the institution.
In the coming weeks, the Board of Regents will launch a search for our next president and we are laying the groundwork for that effort. We will share updates with you soon and, in the meantime, we ask that you join us in congratulating President Grasso on his new role.
With sincere appreciation,
Members of the University of Michigan Board of Regents
Katherine White, chair
Mark J. Bernstein, vice chair
Jordan B. Acker
Michael J. Behm
Paul W. Brown
Sarah Hubbard
Denise Ilitch
Carl J. Meyers