Eastern Michigan University (EMU) has officially welcomed Dr. Brendan B. Kelly as its 24th president, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the 177鈥憏ear鈥憃ld institution. Kelly, a two鈥憈ime EMU graduate and nationally recognized higher education leader, assumes the presidency following his service as president-elect beginning March 1. His appointment follows the retirement of President James Smith after听nearly a听decade of service.听
Kelly arrives with a distinguished record of leadership across multiple universities, including service as president of the Arkansas State University System, president of the University of West Georgia, appointment as interim president of the University of South Carolina, and chancellor of University of South Carolina Upstate. His career has been defined by student-centered innovation, financial stewardship, and community partnership-building.听
In remarks on his first day, Kelly emphasized the urgency, optimism and forward momentum that will define his presidency.听
“This work is personal to me,” Kelly said. “Eastern Michigan University shaped my life 鈥� first as a student, then as a scholar, and now as a leader. Today is not just听a beginning;听it’s听a call to action. We听don’t听have a minute to waste. Our students are counting on us, our communities are counting on us, and the state of Michigan is counting on听us.鈥�听
Kelly听earned both his bachelor’s degree in public relations and听master’s听degree in communication from EMU before completing his Ph.D. in political communication and rhetoric at Wayne State University.听听