ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ

Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025

Dear Members of the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Community:

Earlier today, Chancellor Kent Syverud announced his decision to conclude his tenure as chancellor and president of ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ in June 2026. While the Board of Trustees would welcome his continued leadership, we respect his decision and expect, in typical Kent Syverud fashion, he will spend the year ahead advancing bold priorities with relentless energy and unmatched commitment.

Leading a university today is not for the faint of heart. It requires a steel spine, resilience, sound judgment and a deep sense of purpose. These roles demand the ability to manage complex operations, respond to a vast array of constituencies and uphold core values amid significant scrutiny. ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ has benefited tremendously from Chancellor Syverud’s steady and principled leadership throughout his 12-year tenure. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I extend our gratitude to him for his extraordinary service.

Under Chancellor Syverud’s leadership, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ has made significant and lasting progress. Efforts to foster a university that is welcoming to all continue with resolve. Demand for admission has reached historic levels. Faculty achievement continues to grow across disciplines. Our research enterprise has expanded, and our support for veterans and military-connected students remains a national model. Our campus, which is hardly recognizable from just a decade ago, has been physically transformed in ways that will serve generations to come.

Chancellor Syverud has also made a series of pivotal decisions that will shape ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ’s future: forging a strategic partnership with Micron, modernizing digital infrastructure through collaboration with JMA Wireless, growing the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families and launching innovative academic programs to advance teaching, research and student success.

In the coming weeks, the Board will share information about the search for ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ’s next chancellor. That process will reflect our commitment to shared governance and include engagement with and input from faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the University.

For now, I invite our entire community to join me in thanking Chancellor Syverud for his transformational leadership, and Dr. Ruth Chen for her lasting contributions as a scholar and ambassador of ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ.

Sincerely,

Jeff Scruggs
Chairman, Board of Trustees