Eastern Michigan University President Brendan Kelly kicked off his first Board of Regents meeting as president April 16, 2026.
During his report, he highlighted recent accomplishments, including the launch of a direct-admission partnership between EMU and Ann Arbor Public Schools. The partnership will guarantee EMU admission to AAPS seniors with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher who are on track to graduate, as well as offering them a waived application fee and consideration for merit-based scholarships. The partnership will help make higher education more accessible in the area, Kelly said.
The university will also begin its strategic planning process, with a completion goal by the end of 2026, Kelly said. Kelly will organize a strategic planning steering team to guide the priorities in the plan.
Continued plans for improved student satisfaction
In an interview with The Echo, Kelly said his team is continuing to evaluate improvements for parking on campus, after the announcement of three changes to campus parking on his first day as president was made. The changes included lifting overnight parking restrictions, waiving spring and summer semester parking permits for 2026 and opening the Ford Reserved Lot to commuters and residents.
"In terms of parking, those were the first three changes. They're not the last three changes," Kelly told The Echo.
He confirmed that his team is re-evaluating the cost of parking, which currently averages above comparable universities.
"I think what you will see in the next year is going to look different than what we have right now," Kelly said. Beyond parking, Kelly said his team is examining ways to enhance the student experience across the board by reviewing every student service offered at EMU and identifying areas for improvement.
Leadership changes at EMU
On April 14, Kelly announced leadership changes involving two top-level administrators at EMU, Provost Rhonda Longworth and Chief of Staff Leigh Greden. Longworth will move back to faculty status on May 1, 2026, a move Kelly said was mutually agreed upon between him and Longworth. In his announcement, he identified David Schecter, former president of East Georgia State College, as interim provost. Schecter was present at the April 16 Regents meeting.
Eastern Michigan University administrators attend the April 16, 2026, Board of Regents meeting in Welch Hall. From left, Walter Kraft, vice president for communications, David Schecter, interim provost, and Michael Valdes, chief financial officer and treasurer to the board.
"Dr. Schecter has been both a provost before and a president before, and right now, EMU is at a moment where when we have people who have been in other places, served other institutions around the country and can bring that experience here, it is only going to help us navigate what is really a changing environment in higher education," Kelly said to The Echo.
During the open communications portion of the meeting, Kathleen Stacey addressed the regents. Stacey is a professor of communication and has been an EMU employee for more than 30 years. She said she has served in various roles, from director of the Office of Academic Service Learning to interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as current interim vice president and chief human resources officer. She spoke of Longworth's contributions to EMU.
Stacey listed lessons and insights she learned from Longworth over the years, such as the importance of looking to policies and processes to inform answers, thorough documentation and the value of assessing a situation from multiple perspectives before making decisions.
"What I have appreciated about working with Provost Longworth is her deep knowledge and understanding of EMU," Stacey said. "She is a walking encyclopedia of EMU."
Stacey also mentioned Longworth's creativity, patience and deep care for EMU students, staff and faculty, as well as Longworth's ability to stay calm in crisis and to spread knowledge.
"She is always an educator," Stacey said.
Members of the Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents, EMU President Brendan Kelly and Secretary to the Board Vicki Reaume at a regular meeting, April 16, 2026, in Welch Hall.
Board of Regents business
During the Board of Regents meeting, the regents approved an application for a new Class C liquor license under MLC 436.1513 for the EMU Student Center. A recent statutory change has made it possible for EMU to apply for a liquor license for the Student Center, which is now designated by the Michigan Legislature as a conference center, according to meeting materials. State law allows for the sale of alcohol at universities and colleges only at regularly scheduled conference center activities and other limited conditions, such as at approved sporting events and other circumstances as defined by the law.
At the meeting, the regents also named former EMU President James Smith as an honorary degree recipient at the 2026 commencement ceremony. He will be presented with an honorary doctoral degree in Humane Letters on May 2.
The board also issued a resolution recognizing outgoing Student Body President Jack Booth. Booth, who has served in Student Government since his freshman year at EMU, will graduate this spring summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business management. During his time at EMU, he worked on the Presidential Search Advisory Committee, was a Presidential Scholar and a member of the Honors College.
During the open communication portion of the meeting, Nina Freeman and Eva Orlich Rojas, the recently elected incoming Student Government president and vice president, addressed the board, introducing themselves and outlining key goals of their administration.
