The following is a complete list of presidents of Eastern Michigan University. This list includes previous presidents under the school's past names Eastern Michigan College, Michigan State Normal College, and Michigan State Normal School. Prior to the Normal School's elevation to collegiate status, presidents were called "Principal."
A total of 29 people have served as the president: 27 men (including three interim appointments) and 2 women (including one interim appointment).
List of presidents
No. Inst. Full name Start End Namesake(s) Notes Ref. 1 MSNS Adonijah Strong Welch 1851 1865 Welch Hall, currently housing administrative offices 2 David Porter Mayhew 1865 1870 Parking lots Mayhew 1 & 2 near the Village and Towers are named after Mayhew3Charles FitzRoy Bellows187018714 Joseph Estabrook 1871 18805 Malcolm MacVicar 1880 18816Daniel Putnam18801883Putnam Hall, a residence hall7Edwin Willits188318858 Daniel Putnam188518869John Mayhelm Barry Sill 1886 1893 Sill Hall, home to the Fine and Industrial Arts programs Sill was a member of the first graduating class of MSNS, in 1854.10Richard Gause Boone18931899Boone HallEastern Michigan University, ‘’Vital statistics Regarding Campus Buildings’’ August 24, 1964, document in EMU Archives.11MSNS MSNCElmer A. Lyman1900190212 MSNCLewis Henry Jones19031911Jones Hall, a residence hall13Charles McKenny 1912 1933 McKenny Hall, the first student union on the campus of a teachers' college14MSNCJohn M. Munson 19331948 Munson Hall, a residence hall15 MSNC EMC EMUEugene B. Elliott 1948 1965 Elliott oversaw the transition from Michigan State Normal College to Eastern Michigan College and finally Eastern Michigan University.16 EMU Harold E. Sponberg 1965 1974 Sponberg Theater17 Ralph Gilden 1974 1974 Interim president for six months following Sponberg's retirement.18James H. Brickley 1974 197819 John W. Porter 1979 1989 Porter Building, housing the College of Education20 William E. Shelton 1989 2000 Presided over the 1991 mascot change21Samuel A. Kirkpatrick 2001 2004 Resigned under pressure after spending $6 million on a new president's house and alumni facility.22 Craig D. Willis 2004 2005 Served a one-year appointment as interim president23 John A. Fallon III 2005 2007 Fired following the Laura Dickinson murder 24 Donald M. Loppnow 2007 2008 Served a one-year appointment as interim president 25 Susan Martin 2008 2015 First female president of EMU. 26 Kim Schatzel July 8, 2015 January 7, 2016 Interim appointment 27 Donald Loppnow January 8, 2016 June 30, 2016 Interim appointment28James M. SmithJuly 1, 2016March 31, 202629Brendan KellyApril 1, 2026present*MSNS-Michigan State Normal School MSNC-Michigan State Normal College EMC-Eastern Michigan College EMU-Eastern Michigan University
Notes