President of the University of Michigan

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President of the
University of Michigan
Domenico Grasso, 2024 (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Domenico Grasso (interim)
since May 8, 2025
University of Michigan
Reports to Board of Regents
Residence President's House
Appointer Board of Regents
Constituting instrument Constitution of Michigan
Formation1850 (1850)
First holder Henry Philip Tappan
Salary$1,014,000 [1]
Website president.umich.edu

The president of the University of Michigan is a constitutional officer who serves as the principal executive officer of the University of Michigan. The president is chosen by the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan, as provided for in the Constitution of the State of Michigan. Fifteen people—fourteen men and one woman—have held the office, in addition to several others who have held it in either an acting or interim capacity.

Contents

The University of Michigan's current interim president is Domenico Grasso, former chancellor of the Dearborn campus. Grasso was appointed by the Board of Regents on May 8, 2025. [2]

History

The office was created by the Michigan Constitution of 1850, which also specified that the president was to be appointed by the Regents of the University of Michigan and preside at their meetings, but without a vote. [3] The precise wording has evolved through subsequent state constitutions, and as of November 2018 the office is defined by Article VIII, section 5 of the Constitution of 1963: [4]

The regents of the University of Michigan and their successors in office shall constitute a body corporate known as the Regents of the University of Michigan; ... Each board shall, as often as necessary, elect a president of the institution under its supervision. He shall be the principal executive officer of the institution, be ex-officio a member of the board without the right to vote and preside at meetings of the board. ...

Between the establishment of the University of Michigan in 1837 and 1850, the Board of Regents ran the university directly; by law, they were supposed to appoint a chancellor to administer the university, but they never did, and a rotating roster of professors carried out the day-to-day administrative duties instead. [5]

While the modern office was created in 1850, the University of Michigan itself now traces its date of founding to 1817, when its precursor, the University of Michigania, was founded. The only president of that institution, Rev. John Monteith, appears in the list of presidents but is not officially considered to have been a president of the University of Michigan. [6]

List of presidents

The current interim president is Domenico Grasso, former chancellor of the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
Of the previous presidents: [7]

The following persons have served as president of the University of Michigan: [8] [9]

Presidents of the University of Michigan
No.PortraitNameTerm startTerm endRefs.
President of the University of Michigania (1817–1821)
– John Monteith.jpg Rev. John Monteith [a] 18171821
Board of Trustees of the University of Michigania (1821–1837) [b]
Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (1837–1852) [c]
Presidents of the University of Michigan (1852–present)
1 Henry Philip Tappan.jpg Henry Philip Tappan [d] September 1852June 25, 1863 [e] [10] [11] [12] [13]
2 Erastus Otis Haven.png Erastus Otis Haven June 25, 1863August 18, 1869 [f] [12] [14] [15] [16]
acting Henry Simmons Frieze History of UM.png Henry S. Frieze August 18, 1869July 31, 1871 [17]
3 James Burrill Angell.png James Burrill Angell August 1, 1871September 30, 1909 [g] [18]
acting Henry Simmons Frieze History of UM.png Henry S. Frieze1880 [h] 1882
1887 [i] 1888
acting Harry Burns Hutchins.png Harry Burns Hutchins [j] 1897 [k] 1898
interimOctober 1, 1909 [l] June 28, 1910 [19]
4June 28, 1910June 30, 1920 [20] [21]
5 Marion LeRoy Burton.png Marion LeRoy Burton July 1, 1920February 18, 1925 [m] [22] [23]
acting Alfred Henry Lloyd.png Alfred Henry Lloyd February 27, 1925September 30, 1925 [24]
6 Clarence Cook Little.jpg Clarence Cook Little October 1, 1925June 1929 [n] [25] [26]
7 Alexander G. Ruthven.png Alexander Grant Ruthven October 5, 1929August 31, 1951 [27] [28] [29]
8 Harlan Hatcher.png Harlan Hatcher September 1, 1951December 31, 1967 [30] [31]
9 Robben Wright Fleming January 1, 1968December 31, 1978 [o] [32] [33]
interim Allan F. Smith University of Georgia School of Law Commencement 1980 (cropped).jpg Allan Frederick Smith January 1, 1979December 31, 1979 [34]
10 HAROLD SHAPIRO.jpg Harold Tafler Shapiro January 1, 1980December 31, 1988 [p] [34] [35]
interim Robben Wright Fleming January 4, 1988August 31, 1988 [36]
11 James Duderstadt at NSB open session.jpg James Johnson Duderstadt September 1, 1988June 30, 1996 [q] [37] [38]
interim Homer Neal at Physics Today Roundtable.jpg Homer A. Neal July 1, 1996January 31, 1997 [39]
12 Lee Bollinger - Daniella Zalcman less noise.jpg Lee Bollinger February 1, 1997December 31, 2001 [r] [40] [41] [42]
interim B. Joseph White portrait.jpg B. Joseph White January 1, 2002July 31, 2002 [43]
13 Mary Sue Colman.jpg Mary Sue Coleman [s] August 1, 2002June 30, 2014 [44] [45]
14 Mark Schlissel University of Michigan (cropped).jpg Mark Schlissel July 1, 2014January 15, 2022 [t] [46] [47]
interim Mary Sue Colman.jpg Mary Sue Coleman January 15, 2022October 13, 2022 [47]
15 UBC President Santa Ono.jpg Santa Ono October 14, 2022May 6, 2025 [u] [48] [49]
interim Domenico Grasso 3.jpg Domenico Grasso May 8, 2025present [50]

Source: ( Bentley Historical Library 2004 )

Table notes:

  1. ↑ First and only president of the University of Michigania. No collegiate student was enrolled during his presidency.
  2. ↑ Operating under laws established by the Michigan Territorial governor and judges in 1821, a board of trustees consisting of 20 citizen-members plus the governor was formed to guide the University of Michigania. Still, no collegiate students were enrolled.
  3. ↑ Under laws establish by the new Michigan state constitution of 1835, a Board of Regents was convened to established the new University of Michigan. First students were enrolled at Ann Arbor in 1841.
  4. ↑ First president of the University of Michigan.
  5. ↑ Removed by regents.
  6. ↑ Resigned to head Northwestern University.
  7. ↑ Retired after 38 years in office (longest-serving president)
  8. ↑ While President Angell served as U.S. Minister to China
  9. ↑ While President Angell served on the commission negotiating the Bayard-Chamberlain Treaty
  10. ↑ Was the first student to receive a degree from James B. Angell at Michigan.
  11. ↑ While President Angell served as U.S. Minister to Turkey
  12. ↑ Following President Angell's retirement.
  13. ↑ Died in office
  14. ↑ Resigned to conduct research at Bar Harbor, Maine.
  15. ↑ Resigned to head the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
  16. ↑ Resigned to head Princeton University.
  17. ↑ Returned to the classroom.
  18. ↑ Resigned to head Columbia University.
  19. ↑ First female president
  20. ↑ Removed by regents for an alleged sexual affair with a subordinate.
  21. ↑ Resigned to head the University of Florida.

Notes

  1. ↑ "Regents laud Ono's performance in first year". record.umich.edu/. University of Michigan Record. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Domenico Grasso becomes interim president of University of Michigan". The University Record. March 1, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  3. ↑ State of Michigan 1850, Article 13, section 8
  4. ↑ State of Michigan 1963, Article VIII, section 5
  5. ↑ Hinsdale 1906 , p. 37
  6. ↑ Bentley Historical Library
  7. ↑ "Past Presidents". University of Michigan.
  8. ↑ "Presidents of the University of Michigan". Bentley Historical Library . University of Michigan.
  9. ↑ "Past Presidents". University of Michigan.
  10. ↑ "AUGUST MEETING, 1852". University of Michigan. August 12, 1852. p. 521. Whereupon, on motion of Hon. E. Farnsworth, Dr. Henry Philip Tappan of New York, was unanimously elected President of the University of Michigan.
  11. ↑ "Michigan University" . Detroit Free Press . September 17, 1852. p. 2. We believe the following to be the present officers of the University. Professor Tappan having accepted the Presidency, tendered him by the Board of Regents, we may look for an early and thorough organization of the institution. Professor T., we learn, will be here in a few weeks:
  12. 1 2 "THE BOARD REGENTS" . Detroit Free Press . June 27, 1863. p. 2.
  13. ↑ "JUNE MEETING, 1863". University of Michigan. June 25, 1863. p. 1054. Resolved, That Dr. Henry P. Tappan be and he is hereby removed from the offices and duties of President of the University of Michigan and Professor of Philosophy therein.
  14. ↑ "JUNE MEETING, 1863". University of Michigan. June 25, 1863. p. 1055. Resolved, That Rev. Erastus 0. Haven be and he is hereby declared unanimously elected President of the University of Michigan, and that the Secretary of this Board forthwith communicate to Dr. Haven notice of his election and also of his appointment as Professor of Rhetoric and English Literature.
  15. ↑ "Resignation of Dr. Haven as President of the University" . Detroit Free Press . June 25, 1869. p. 1.
  16. ↑ "JUNE MEETING, 1869". University of Michigan. June 29, 1869. p. 335. The President announced that he had concluded to tender his resignation of the office of President. He did this with great regret, so far as the University is concerned, and only because he was desirous of engaging in another enterprise. IIe was willing to remain and conduct the correspondence of the University, and prepare the annual report, and do such other work for a few weeks, as might be desired. On motion the resignation of the President was referred to a special Committee, consisting of Regents Johnson, Walker, and Sill.
  17. ↑ "SPECIAL MEETING". University of Michigan. August 18, 1869. p. 343. On motion the Board went into Executive Session, and after some time spent therein, on motion of Regent Willard, the Board proceeded to ballot for a President pro tempore of the University, with the following result: Prof. Frieze, received six; being the whole number of votes cast; whereupon Professor Henry S. Frieze was declared unanimously elected President pro tempore of the University of Michigan. On motion of Regent Gilbert, the President pro tempore and the Secretary were instructed to draw a University Warrant on the Treasurer, for President Haven's salary to Oct. 1, 1869.
  18. ↑ "Michigan Board of Regents" . Detroit Free Press . February 8, 1871. p. 1. The Board of Regents unanimously elected James B. Angell, of Vermont University, President of the University, with a salary of $4,500 per year, expenses to Ann Arbor, and house rent, his term of service to commence on the 1st of next August.
  19. ↑ "Dean Huthins Head of U. of M." . Detroit Free Press . August 5, 1909. p. 10. Dr. James Angell as president of the board of regents of the University of Michigan today made official announcement of the appointment of Dean Harry Hutchins of the law department as acting president of Michigan said he: The executive committee after conferring with the other members of the board of regents have appointed Dean Harry Hutchins acting president of the University of Michigan for the coming year from October 1.
  20. ↑ "Hutchin is President" . Detroit Free Press . June 29, 1910. p. 1.
  21. ↑ "Pres. Hutchins To Quit June 30 As U. of M. Head" . Detroit Free Press . March 13, 1919. p. 1.
  22. ↑ "BURTON HEADS U. OF M. JULY 1" . Detroit Free Press . December 31, 1919. p. 2.
  23. ↑ "BURTON DEATH PLUNGES STATE INTO SORROW" . Detroit Free Press . February 19, 1925. p. 1.
  24. ↑ "LLOYD IS NAMED ACTING 'U' HEAD" . Detroit Free Press . February 27, 1925. p. 1.
  25. ↑ "LITTLE TO TAKE POST OCTOBER 1" . Detroit Free Press . July 4, 1925. p. 2.
  26. ↑ "DR. LITTLE TO RESIGN; 'U' REGENTS WILL ACCEPT" . Detroit Free Press . January 21, 1929. p. 1.
  27. ↑ "RUTHVEN IS NAMED AS HEAD OF 'U': Regents Give To Him 'Powers, Duties' of President. APPOINTMENT IS TEMPORARY Board May Choose Little's Successor Friday" . Detroit Free Press . September 22, 1929. p. 1.
  28. ↑ "AFTER THEY NAMED RUTHVEN" . Detroit Free Press . October 5, 1929. p. 1.
  29. ↑ "AN ERA ENDS" . Detroit Free Press . August 10, 1951. p. 12.
  30. ↑ "OSU Vice President Named Head of U-M" . Detroit Free Press . May 22, 1951. p. 17. Dr. Harlan Henthorne Hatcher, 52-year-old vice president of Ohio State University, has been selected as the eighth president of the University of Michigan. The action ended more than a year's search by the Board of Regents for a man qualified to replace Dr. Alexander G. Ruthven. Dr. Ruthven's retirement is scheduled to begin July 1. However, he will remain until Dr. Hatcher assumes his post Sept. 1.
  31. ↑ Olmsted, Fred (April 16, 1967). "U-M's Retiring Harlan Hatcher Gives Some Answers" . Detroit Free Press . p. 21. These and other questions were put to Dr. Harlan H. Hatcher, who will retire as president of the University of Michigan at the end of this, the school's sesquicentennial year. Dr. Hatcher, eighth president of the University, will be succeeded Jan. 1 by Robben F. Fleming, chancellor of the Madison campus of the University of Wisconsin.
  32. ↑ Owens, Patrick J. (March 29, 1967). "New President Selected by U-M" . Detroit Free Press . p. 2.
  33. ↑ Grant, William (September 15, 1978). "Fleming to leave U-M Jan. 1" . Detroit Free Press . p. 1.
  34. 1 2 "U-M names new president SHAPIRO" . Detroit Free Press . July 28, 1979. p. 11. Effective Jan. 1, 1980, the presidential appointment means a salary for Shapiro, making him the highest paid public official in Michigan. THE UNIVERSITY'S 10th president since 1817, the Canadian-born Shapiro succeeds Robben Fleming, who left the post last December to become chief executive of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in Washington, D.C. Allan F. Smith, former dean of the U-M Law School, has served as interim president since Fleming's departure. Fleming had been president since 1968.
  35. ↑ Smigielski, Lydia (December 5, 1987). "MSU braces for big crowd at graduation" . Detroit Free Press . p. 18. University of Michigan President Harold Shapiro, who will resign Jan. 1 to head Princeton University, will address the undergraduates at 10 a.m.
  36. ↑ "U-M names interim president" . Detroit Free Press . September 18, 1987. p. 6.
  37. ↑ "New Michigan president promises action on race" . Detroit Free Press . June 11, 1988. p. 11. Shapiro left U-M in December to become president of Princeton University. Duderstadt will assume the presidency of the university, one of the most prestigious in the nation, on Sept. 1, taking over from interim President Robben Fleming, who also was president in 1968-79.
  38. ↑ George, Maryanne; McDirmid, Hugh; Davis, Matthew G. (September 29, 1995). "Duderstadt steps down, denies ouster" . Detroit Free Press . p. 1.
  39. ↑ "Racial tension puts chill on U-M climate" . Detroit Free Press . May 20, 1996. p. 3.
  40. ↑ "Bollinger will be 12th president of the U-M". The University Record. University of Michigan. November 19, 1996.
  41. ↑ Hoover, Rusty (February 2, 1997). "Bollinger takes over as new U-M president" . Detroit Free Press . p. 11.
  42. ↑ Green, Rachel (December 10, 2001). ""U" bids farewell to Bollinger". The Michigan Daily .
  43. ↑ "B. Joseph White named interim president". University of Michigan. October 19, 2001.
  44. ↑ "University of Michigan taps its 1st woman president" . Chicago Tribune . August 20, 2021.
  45. ↑ Woodhouse, Kellie (April 18, 2013). "University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman to retire in 2014". The Ann Arbor News . Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  46. ↑ "Mark S. Schlissel named 14th president of the University of Michigan". University of Michigan. January 24, 2014.
  47. 1 2 Fitzgerald, Rick (January 15, 2022). "Regents remove Schlissel as president; Coleman appointed interim president". The University Record. University of Michigan.
  48. ↑ "Regents appoint Santa J. Ono as University of Michigan's next president". University of Michigan. July 13, 2022.
  49. ↑ Stark, Ian (May 5, 2025). "President of University of Michigan leaving post for same role at University of Florida". MSN.
  50. ↑ Mastony, Colleen (May 8, 2025). "Domenico Grasso becomes interim president of University of Michigan". The University Record. Retrieved May 8, 2025.

References

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