On his 90th day in office, Eastern Michigan University President Brendan Kelly spoke at the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners' July 1 meeting.
He began with the appreciation that he and his wife, Tressa, have for EMU and the surrounding community.
“Well, we have had the privilege of serving other universities as president," he said. "We have tested out the rest of America, folks. This is the best place to live."
Kelly explained that he knows the value of a partnership between a university and its surrounding community.
“If there’s not wide partnership, then everybody loses, and when there is wide partnership, everyone has a chance to win," he said.
Kelly said to the board members that he would like to periodically visit their meetings to give updates on progress at the university to help build that partnership.
“Our reason for being here is to service every single student at Eastern Michigan University. If you want to know what my priority is as the president of this institution, it is them," Kelly said. "It is the experience that they have and it is the quality of life that they are able to live as a result.”
He then opened the floor to the board, and Commissioner Annie Somerville, who represents Ypsilanti, was the first to respond. She explained that as an EMU alumna herself, she was happy to see Kelly focusing on the students and taking care of the faculty.
Commissioner Caroline Sanders, District 4, told Kelly, “I appreciate and applaud the fact that my sleuthing of all of your professional experience consistently pulled up the fact that you put students first. I am always going to be a lifelong student.”
Sanders told Kelly that she appreciates him wanting EMU to have a relationship with Washtenaw County, because the students live, spend their money and are members of the community too.
Commissioner Crystal Lyte, District 2, wrapped up the conversation by thanking Kelly for returning to EMU and helping to make it even better.
