Lifelong Bronco

Born in Kalamazoo, WMU President-elect Kavalhuna followed in his parents’ footsteps by attending WMU. He lived on campus at Ackley Hall as a student, crossed the stage at Miller Auditorium to receive his diploma and later returned to teach and lead at the College of Aviation.

Diverse career experience

A former commercial airline captain, federal prosecutor, Michigan Supreme Court law clerk and current college president, Kavalhuna brings a combination of leadership, technical innovation and public service to higher education.

Proven higher education track record

Enrollment success: Kavalhuna reversed eight years of declining enrollment at Henry Ford College (HFC) by establishing a Strategic Enrollment Management team and overhauling recruitment with data analytics, resulting in enrollment growth and improved retention and graduation rates.

Financial management: He managed declining revenue when he took office at HFC in 2018, but the college has consistently maintained positive financial standing under his leadership. In fact, the institution successfully tripled its reserves with him at the helm and funded the college's two largest construction projects.

Success securing support

• A 2021 visit by U.S. Sec. of Education Miguel Cardona to HFC led to U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow successfully advancing a $3.1 million grant for a clean energy curriculum.
• In 2023, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer held her statewide Higher Education Summit at HFC, bringing all of Michigan’s higher education CEOs and board members to campus.
• In 2023, the state granted $10 million to HFC for its efforts focused on marginalized urban students.
• In 2024, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters directed a $2.9 million grant to HFC. That same year, Wayne County granted HFC $6 million to build a $90 million Student Success Center—the largest project in Henry Ford College’s history.

Public service and board leadership

Statewide appointments: Kavalhuna was appointed by multiple Michigan governors—Granholm, Snyder and Whitmer—to state boards in education, workforce development, rehabilitation services and aviation, including serving his fourth term on the Michigan Aeronautics Commission, a statewide board for all aviation infrastructure spending and rulemaking.

National leadership: His service extends nationally to include his role as a member of the Joyce Foundation Board of Directors. Based in Chicago, the foundation is a nonpartisan philanthropic organization that helps advance higher education as part of its mission.

Advocating for justice: As a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Kavalhuna managed more than 140 officers in a multiyear investigation and prosecution of 31 gang members.

Innovator and advocate

Job-guarantee pioneer: As HFC president, he delivered the state’s first job guarantee for college graduates at Corewell Health, the state’s largest employer.

Aviation industry connector: As executive director of flight operations at Western Michigan University, he forged job-guarantee partnerships between students and leading industry employers.

Championing sustainability: Kavalhuna oversaw a campuswide sustainability initiative at HFC that cut energy costs and built a curriculum to train future workers in green technologies.