Chancellor’s update
Chancellor Gabriella Scarlatta provided an update on Fall 2026 enrollment:
- UM-Dearborn welcomed nearly 2,000 new students in Fall 2026
- The university’s undergraduate headcount is up 1% and there was an 18% growth in new transfer students.
- Overall headcount is down 3%, largely due to continued challenges with international student visas. Over the last 2 years there has been an 82% drop in new international students.
- The university was prepared and the Fall 2026 numbers are in line with projections for the year.
- The university’s 4-year graduation rate is the highest in university history, at 39%, and the 6-year-graduation rate is at 60% for the second year in a row.
Chancellor Scarlatta also shared new information on UM-Dearborn student debt and graduate earnings:
- 59% of full-time, in-state undergraduates graduate with no debt.
- 20% fewer of undergraduates are graduating with debt as compared to 10 years ago and the average that our undergrads borrow has fallen by 37% in that time.
- About a quarter of graduate students take out loans, and for them the average debt has declined 10%.
- According to the most recent College Scorecard, UM-Dearborn undergraduate student median earnings are the third highest among public universities in Michigan, at $77,000.
- Based on value and return on investment, UM-Dearborn was recently named the #3 public university in Michigan in Time Magazine’s inaugural America’s Best Colleges list.
Joint or additional appointments of regular associate or full professors and selected academic and administrative staff
Stein Brunvand, associate provost for graduate education, accreditation and digital education, Office of the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, effective August 1, 2026
Dewey Jung, interim chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science, effective August 3, 2026 through August 31, 2027
New Appointments of Regular Instructional Staff
Apurv Shukla, assistant professor of electrical and computer Engineering, College of Engineering, August 26, 2026 – April 30, 2029
Adoption of retirement memoirs
Sally Howell, professor of history in the College of Arts, Sciences and Letters, retired from active faculty status on September 30, 2026. The Regents named Howell professor emerita of history.
Judy Mousigian Nesmith, lecturer IV in biological sciences in the College of Arts, Sciences and Letters, University of Michigan-Dearborn, retired from active faculty status on June 30, 2026. The Regents named Nesmith lecturer IV emerita in biological sciences.
Committee appointments
Citizens Advisory Committee
David Knezek,, new appointment, four-year term, September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2030.
College of Arts, Sciences and Letters Executive Committee
Christopher Alteri, three-year term, September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2029
Cameron Amin, three-year term, September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2029
Velimir Stojkovski, three-year term, September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2029
College of Engineering and Computer Science Executive Committee
Amanda Esquivel, three-year term, September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2029
Cheol Lee, one-year term, retroactive appointment, January 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027
Xuan Zhou, three-year term, September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2029
College of Business Executive Committee
Zhixin Liu, one-year term, September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027
Vivek Singh, three-year term, September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2029
College of Education, Health and Human Services Executive Committee
Anda Botoseneanu, three-year term, September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2029
Dara Hill, three-year term, September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2029
Natalie Sampson, three-year term, September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2029, reappointment
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Watch the the Board of Regents September 2026 meeting or view the meeting agenda
