Russ Kavalhuna, a former federal prosecutor, state supreme court law clerk, and commercial pilot, says leading WMU is his dream job.
“I love Western Michigan University. And that's because I'm from Western Michigan University. My family is from Western Michigan University. My life is better as a result of Western Michigan University.”
Kavalhuna went to Marshall High School and studied aviation at Western. His parents and his wife also earned degrees at Western.
Kavalhuna was the director of flight operations in the aviation school before he became the president of Henry Ford College in Dearborn in 2018. He will lead Western at a time when funding for higher education is under intense scrutiny from the Trump administration.
“We've got to navigate questions about whether Western Michigan University or any higher education institution is worthy of the public investment. And I'm looking forward to answer those because we have good answers," he said.
"If you come to Western and you put in the work, you leave as a better person and you have a better life.”
Kavalhuna will take the reins after Edward Montgomery retires at the end of June. He will be WMU's 10th president.
