YPSILANTI, Mich. – A Flint native and two-time alum of Eastern Michigan University has been selected as the university’s next president.
The university announced that Dr. Brendan Kelly will serve as EMU’s president when the current president, Dr. James Smith, steps down from the role. Kelly will begin as president on May 4, 2026.
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“I am deeply honored to serve as the next president of Eastern Michigan University,” Kelly said. “This work is personal to me. Ypsilanti and EMU are where many of the seeds for success were sown in my life -- not only as a student but later as a scholar and leader. I could not be more honored than to provide the same opportunities to current and future students at EMU.”
The Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents elected Kelly as the university’s 24th president during a special meeting on Dec. 10, 2025.
“Dr. Kelly brings vision, resilience and a collaborative spirit. We are confident he will guide Eastern with clarity and courage as higher education navigates one of its most transformative eras,” said EMU Board of Regents Chair Nate Ford.
Kelly has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University and a Ph.D. from Wayne State University, according to a news release from the university.
He has served as the president of Arkansas State University since 2024.
Before that, from 2020-2024, Kelly was the president of the University of West Georgia.
Kelly was also appointed interim president of the University of South Carolina in 2019 and was the chancellor of the University of South Carolina Upstate from 2017-2020.
Early on in his career, Kelly spent 14 years at the University of West Florida, as a professor and then director of the School of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts and then the vice president of university advancement.
Before his time in Florida, he was EMU’s assistant director of forensics and lecturer in the communication department.
“I spent my formative years in this state, and I’ve seen first-hand how Eastern Michigan University lifts individuals, families and entire communities,” Kelly said. “That’s why I consider it the greatest honor of my career to serve as Eastern’s chief advocate. I believe deeply in the mission of this university and of the transformative impact of higher education, and I will fight every day to tell our story, elevate and strengthen our impact and continually earn the public’s trust.”
His wife, Dr. Tressa Kelly, is also a two-time EMU alum and longtime educator.