Adam RollinsSince the start of the new year, dozens of new appointments have taken over key leadership positions at some of the nation’s most prestigious schools.
As of July 14, Dr. Melina R. Kibbe has been named the sole finalist to become the next president of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston). Dr. Kibbe is the current dean of the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine and chief health affairs officer at UVA Health. She will succeed UTHealth Houston Interim President LaTanya J. Love, M.D., after a 21-day waiting period.
She joined UVA in 2021, leaving the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill for the role. Dr. Kibbe was with UNC for more than five years, working as a professor for the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Surgery. She also served as deputy director for the Institute of BioNanotechnology in Medicine at Northwestern University and professor and vice chair of research for that same institution’s department of surgery for nearly 13 years.
Dr. Kibbe is the latest in a string of leadership shakeups for higher education institutions across the nation. The changes signal a transition in university and college direction, adapting to shifts in institution goals, plans and standards.
On May 2, 2025, James Milliken was approved as the 22nd president of the University of California. He most recently served as chancellor of The University of Texas system for the past seven years. Milliken has also previously served as chancellor of the City University of New York, president of the University of Nebraska and senior vice president at the University of North Carolina. He will officially begin Aug. 1, 2025, succeeding Michael Drake.
Russ Kavalhuna recently officially assumed his responsibilities as the 10th president of Western Michigan University (WMU), stepping into office July 1, 2025. Kavalhuna most recently served as president of Henry Ford College for the past seven years. His appointment has been a return to WMU, where he previously served as executive director of flight operations at its College of Aviation. Kavalhuna succeeded Edward Montgomery in the role.
In February, the University of Washington (UW) Board of Regents selected Robert J. Jones to assume his responsibilities as the university’s 34th president. Jones concluded a nine-year tenure as chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to accept the role. He also previously served as president of the University at Albany. Jones will officially succeed Ana Mari Cauce on Aug. 1, 2025.
Stephen Fry was selected to be the 15th president of Temple University (TU) earlier this month. Fry is slated to assume his role in an official capacity Nov. 1, 2025. For the past 15 years, Fry has served as president of Drexel University. Other past roles include president of Franklin and Marshall College and executive vice president of the University of Pennsylvania. Fry will succeed Richard Englert in the role.
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