The University of Michigan Board of Regents has selected a provost and vice chancellor at Vanderbilt University as its 17th president.
Regents will hold a special meeting on September 1 at 11 a.m. to formally approve Cybele Raver's appointment, which will take effect December 1.
"Cybele has been one of the most transformative leaders in higher education at one of the most innovative universities in higher education at Vanderbilt," Board President Mark Bernstein told WWJ's Tony Ortiz shortly after the announcement Tuesday morning. "She's taken a relatively traditional pathway toward the presidency at the University of Michigan," adding Raver worked at NYU, University of Chicago, Cornell and did her PhD at Yale.
Raver is a nationally recognized leader in higher education with a strong reputation in developmental social science and university strategy, according to a statement from the University released Tuesday morning. She has advanced Vanderbilt's research enterprise, with the university surpassing $1 billion in annual research expenditures; recruited eight new deans; launched the College of Connected Computing, the university's first new college in over 40 years; and expanded Vanderbilt's academic footprint to New York City; San Francisco; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and West Palm Beach, Florida.
"Dr. Raver has a proven record of building strong teams, expanding research excellence and strengthening every institution she has served," said Michael Behm, chair of the U-M Board of Regents, in a statement. "She understands what it takes to lead a complex, world-class university and she shares our unwavering belief that Michigan has been, is now and must remain the best university in the country. We are confident she is the right leader for this moment and we look forward to the board's formal vote."
"It is an extraordinary honor to be considered as the University of Michigan's 17th president at this pivotal moment in higher education," Raver said. "Michigan's scale and impact across research, education, economic growth and public service are unmatched, and I'm eager to build on its remarkable legacy. I look forward to working alongside faculty, staff, students and alumni to lead Michigan forward with clarity and confidence."
Raver's selection follows a national search that began in May led by the university's Presidential Search Committee, with the assistance of leading executive search firm Spencer Stuart. The Detroit Free Press reported that former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan was among the candidates.
Bernstein wouldn't comment on specific candidates only telling Ortiz "the field of candidates that we considered during this search was the strongest field of candidates I've seen in my 13 years on the Board of Regents. We had candidates from, of course, higher education, from non traditional backgrounds and from all over the world interested in this position."
Current President Domenico Grasso will continue in his role through the end of November and will work with Raver on the transition. He has been leading the university since Kent Syverud, the university's first pick for the president job, stepped away after being diagnosed with brain cancer.
