The Wayne State University Board of Governors is expected to vote on the university’s next president at a Tuesday afternoon board meeting.
The university has been searching for a president since mid-September 2025, when Kimberly Andrews Espy resigned, citing “personal reasons.” Her resignation came after board members were reportedly unhappy with her leadership, including her decision to place the popular medical school dean on leave without what some board members considered a sufficient explanation.
The meeting is officially to “consider formal action regarding presidential leadership,” according to the agenda. University Associate Vice President of Communications Matt Lockwood confirmed a vote is expected to take place.
The meeting will occur at the McGregor Memorial Conference Center, located at 495 Gilmour Mall, at 4 p.m.
Since Espy’s resignation, WSU Law School Dean Richard Bierschbach has been leading the university as the interim president. It’s unclear whether Bierschbach is a candidate for the permanent presidency.
Espy’s resignation came after two years in the position and a week after two sources told The Detroit News that friction between the president and the board had grown over the past year. Part of the friction was rooted in the bipartisan board’s growing displeasure with aspects of her management of the university, including concerns about her communication over the recent placement of the dean of the School of Medicine on paid leave in August.
Espy’s departure followed the prominent breakdown of relations between the University of Michigan’s board and Santa Ono, who left the Ann Arbor university amid pressure from some of its Democratic regents to take a bolder stance against President Donald Trump. In January, the UM board selected Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud to become president on July 1.
satwood@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Wayne State board set to vote on next president Tuesday
Reporting by Sarah Atwood, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
