President’s day

The University of Michigan Board of Regents  has named Domenico Grasso, PhD ’87, as the University’s interim president, effective immediately.

“President Grasso is widely admired for his visionary work leading University of Michigan-Dearborn, where he has held the role of chancellor since 2018,” the Board of Regents wrote in a message to the Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses and Michigan Medicine. “We have full confidence that President Grasso will provide steady leadership during this critical time of transition.”

The Regents cited several significant successes at the Dearborn campus as examples of Grasso’s effective leadership, including the transition to a need-based financial aid model, the increase of its four-year graduation rate by 16%, and the tripling of external research funding that allowed the campus to achieve R2 status.

He oversaw two years of record first-year student enrollment, obtained Rackham Graduate School sanctioning for all doctoral programs, and created the university’s first strategic plan.

“Being asked to serve as the interim president of the University of Michigan is a profound honor,” said Grasso, who, in addition to his chancellorship and his position as an executive officer of the Ann Arbor campus, is a professor of public policy and sustainable engineering at UM-Dearborn. “I offer my gratitude to the board and my promise to the community to meet this opportunity with energy, integrity, and dedication to our shared mission.”

Grasso will lead the University during the search for the next president. He has expressed his desire to serve in the interim role only and said he will not apply for the permanent presidency. Gabriella Scarlatta, the provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs at U-M Dearborn, will become interim chancellor of the institution.

Accepting the challenge

Prior to joining UM-Dearborn, President Grasso was provost and chief academic officer at the University of Delaware. Earlier, he held posts as Smith College’s Rosemary Bradford Hewlett Professor and founding director of the Picker Engineering Program — the first engineering program at a women’s college and one of the few at a liberal arts college in the U.S. He also served as dean of the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences and vice president for research at the University of Vermont.

Grasso earned his PhD in environmental engineering from Michigan and has published extensively in the areas of environmental science and engineering. In addition, he has held several high-profile advisory posts, including fellow on NATO’s Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society, technical expert to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, vice chair of the Science Advisory Board for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and president of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors.

Grasso is a U.S. Army veteran who has spent over 10 years on both active and reserve status. He resigned his commission at the rank of Major after receiving citations and awards, including the Army Commendation Medal and Army Parachutist Badge.

Grasso’s wife, Susan Hull Grasso, is also an accomplished engineer and Michigan alumna. Together, they have four adult children. He and Susan enjoy reading, cycling, hiking, skiing, and spending time outdoors with their dogs.

In the coming weeks, the Board of Regents will launch a search for the next University of Michigan president. Information about the search will be shared soon. Former president Santa J. Ono announced May 4 that he had been named the sole finalist for the presidency of the University of Florida.