A personal note as your president-elect
April 24, 2025
Hello Broncos!
Yesterday was a big day in the life of Western Michigan University, as the Board of Trustees appointed just the 10th president in our University's 122-year history—and I could not be more excited or humbled to step into that role.
In July, I will join the WMU team once again. In my public comments, I talked about teamwork and some of my ideas for our future together. If you missed them, you can catch them below.
The most natural question about a new leader is, “What kind of person are they?” Well, being a Bronco is core to who I am.
My first memories of WMU begin around age 6, when my dad took me to Lawson to watch the Bronco hockey team. Fast forward, and I am a WMU graduate. I still get chills thinking about shaking President Floyd's hand on the stage of Miller Auditorium. It’s a family tradition. Both my parents are WMU alumni. My wife, Courtney, her siblings, my aunts, my uncles, my cousins and my cousins’ children all attended this great institution. My own children, who are 10 and 12, already know I hope they’ll one day join me here. It’s my intention to still be with you when they fulfill that dream!
This place is special to me. I was born at Bronson to two educators—living examples of public education’s transformational power. My dad emigrated from Brazil with little more than his family and a drive for a better life. He spent his career as an elementary teacher in Battle Creek Public Schools. My mother also came from meager beginnings and lifted herself up to become a public school teacher, ultimately leading Calhoun County's early childhood program. I spread my dad’s ashes in a lake north of Kalamazoo in 2018, and my mom will be coming home with me to Kalamazoo.
Western set me up for a meaningful career. Following graduation from the College of Aviation, I was an airline pilot and captain and later a federal prosecutor. These careers offered opportunities to lead under pressure. One of my best experiences was leading our own world-class flight operations and teaching AVS 3190, Aviation Law. When I left WMU, I was on a mission to hone exceptional leadership skills. As the president of Henry Ford College (HFC) in Dearborn, Michigan, I serve more than 11,000 students that comprise one of our region’s most diverse student bodies. That is a point of pride for me. Like WMU, HFC sees a bright future in students’ hard work, which leads to the American dream.
This is a pinch-me, homecoming moment. I am excited to get to work in July, and my priority is to learn more about you and your work. While we have a shared heritage of learning and working at WMU, that will not dampen my commitment to listening to our needs now. I know that a bright future is only possible with leaders who actively listen to your lived experiences so that we can build a shared focus.
As I return, I’m not coming in with assumptions. I’m coming in with questions, open ears and deep respect. I’ll be launching a listening tour to understand the stories and aspirations that will shape our next chapter. I want to hear what matters to you most. Your voice will help shape our shared future.
All of us in higher education face significant challenges. As a sitting president, I understand how teamwork is the path through challenges like COVID and the last three tumultuous months. I understand that we are facing unprecedented times. But I also know your strength—the power of Bronco Nation. I know that together this strength will help us stand on our historic foundation as the platform to build a bright future. In overcoming our challenges, we will answer today’s critics with compelling solutions to tomorrow’s problems. We will win the competition for enrollment and scarce resources, and we will continue providing life-changing education and research that generations of Broncos, like my family, know WMU provides.
Together, we will work to win the future. I can’t wait to get started.
Go Broncos!
Russ