Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo has appointed Russ Kavalhuna as president. He comes to WMU after serving as Henry Ford College in Dearborn.
“I will always treasure my time as the president of Henry Ford College,” Kavalhuna says. “I love this college because my teammates and our students inspire me.
“It has been a true honor to work in public education here in Dearborn, to lift and change lives for the better. Henry Ford College will always be special to me because I witnessed my teammates accomplish so much, together. I am committed to working with the Board of Trustees, the cabinet and other campus leaders, and our community to ensure a smooth transition.”
While at HFC, Kavalhuna worked with colleagues and community and civic leaders to secure $90 million for the development of the new Southeast Michigan Student Success Center (SEMSSC). This included a $10 million grant from the state and $6 million from Wayne County. The college’s largest-ever infrastructure project, the SEMSSC will transform the HFC student experience as a new front door both to the college and to regional education leaders.
Kavalhuna also led the acquisition of nearly $7 million in state funding for renovations to the HFC Technology Building, where students learn to repair electric vehicles and build sustainable housing. He also delivered a $23 million campus transformation that pays for itself in energy savings and cuts the carbon footprint in half, while also partnering with industry to train workers in similar projects across the nation, which garnered a $3 million federal investment.
