Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti has named Brendan Kelly, a two-time EMU alumnus, to be the school’s 24th president, succeeding James Smith when he retires next spring.
Kelly currently is president of the Arkansas State University System and will join EMU on March 1, 2026 as president-elect, before beginning official duties as president.
As president of the ASU System since 2024, Kelly has led the multi-institution system through enrollment growth initiatives, strengthened financial stability, and strengthened community ties across Arkansas.
Prior to his appointment at ASU, Kelly was president of the University of West Georgia, interim president of the University of South Carolina, and chancellor of the University of South Carolina Upstate.
“I am deeply honored to serve as the next president of Eastern Michigan University,” Kelly says. “This work is personal to me. Ypsilanti and EMU are where many of the seeds for success were sown in my life — not only as a student but later as a scholar and leader. I could not be more honored than to provide the same opportunities to current and future students at EMU.
“I spent my formative years in this state, and I’ve seen first-hand how Eastern Michigan University lifts individuals, families and entire communities. That’s why I consider it the greatest honor of my career to serve as Eastern’s chief advocate. I believe deeply in the mission of this university and of the transformative impact of higher education, and I will fight every day to tell our story, elevate and strengthen our impact and continually earn the public’s trust.”
Kelly earned his bachelor’s degree in public relations with a minor in philosophy and his master’s degree in communication from EMU before completing his Ph.D. in political communication and rhetoric at Wayne State University.
