During the Ypsilanti City Council meeting May 19, 2026, Eastern Michigan University President Brendan Kelly shared his thoughts and ideas about the collaboration between the city of Ypsilanti and EMU.
"One of the most important things that we have [President Kelly and his wife Tressa Kelly] learned while we've been off living in other states for the last 22 years and serving as president at many other universities, is the fact that the quality of life inside whatever city that university is in is inextricably linked to that institution," Kelly said.
Kelly stated in his address that the city of Ypsilanti and EMU working together and finding ways to be in partnerships is essential for students and members of the community. Part of being at Eastern Michigan University is being in Ypsilanti, just like being in Ypsilanti is partly touching Eastern Michigan University, Kelly said.
Mayor Brown and President Kelly have previously discussed how they can enliven what is happening at EMU because of Ypsilanti and vice versa.
"We have had a lot of really great conversations," Brown said. "The two [EMU and Ypsilanti] working together in tandem are very, very important to me for the success of both the municipality and the institution."
Councilor Desiraé Simmons, Ward 3, said that she would love for the collaboration between Ypsilanti and EMU to become stronger. Simmons suggested that goals should be set that can be tracked over time in order for this to be successful. Kelly agreed to this, and said that setting these goals would have to be a structured conversation outside of formal council meetings.
Councilor Amber Fellows, Ward 3, spoke of the connection students can have to Ypsilanti.
"I'm really looking to break out of our silos," Fellows said. "Because I feel a lot of people talk about EMU and the city being quite separate. I'm interested in having students that live on or near campus to integrate into what the city has to offer, and hope that is a central piece of the strategic plan that seems to be in development."
While serving as president at other universities, Kelly has had many relationships with organizations outside those universities, he said. Kelly said he hopes that EMU can have a variety of relationships with Ypsilanti and with organizations the city may hold.
In addition to the partnership between Ypsilanti and EMU, Kelly explained that the relationship between EMU and the Ypsilanti public school district is also important. Many students at EMU are interested in becoming teachers, he said. The relationship between education students at EMU and the Ypsilanti school district can be helpful for observing classrooms and student teaching.
"You should be a resource to that school district just as much as the school districts in this region should be resources to us. There should always be a synergistic relationship," Kelly said. He added that he had lunch with the superintendent of Ypsilanti Community Schools two weeks ago and they discussed and agreed upon the same thing.
Mayor Brown expressed her optimism for what the future is going to look like between EMU and Ypsilanti now that Kelly is president.
"I think this is the start of a real partnership, a better partnership. I think that there were years and stories of ... that I've heard about good relationship between the city and the university, and I think that we are poised to have that and more as we move forward and we can support each other along the way," Brown said.
Mayor Brown agreed to serve on Kelly's strategic planning committee. She said she plans to go to Kelly with questions, feedback and further conversations that she can later bring up in discussion with the Ypsilanti City Council members.
