A Message from Interim Chancellor Scarlatta - May 6, 2026

Dear Colleagues,

This morning, University of Michigan President Domenico Grasso announced that he has appointed me as UM-Dearborn's seventh chancellor, subject to regental approval at their May meeting. I am profoundly honored to accept this appointment. I look forward to leading our university with integrity, compassion, and a commitment to collaboration.

I like to say that I grew up at UM-Dearborn. I arrived in the fall of 1996. I never expected I would be celebrating my 30th anniversary as your chancellor. As a matter of fact, when I was appointed interim chancellor, I stated that I fully intended to keep the “interim” in my title. And I meant it! But over this past year, I learned that my experiences — adjunct lecturer, tenured faculty, department chair, associate dean, provost, interim chancellor — and my deep connection to this campus were tremendous assets in this position. Equally important, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I am keenly aware that I will be stepping into this role during an incredibly challenging time — for UM-Dearborn and for higher education as a whole. I firmly believe regional universities like ours are especially well-poised to meet this challenge. We are affordable, we are accessible, and we help students from highly diverse backgrounds gain the skills and connections they need to build the lives they want for themselves and truly put their dreams into practice. 

I can imagine no greater honor than to lead an institution — this institution — that is devoted to this work, and to do it alongside colleagues who care about this campus as much as I do. I plan to carry out this work by listening, collaborating, and strengthening ties across campus, with our colleagues in Ann Arbor and Flint, and in our great community of Dearborn.

Of course, my moving into this role permanently means there will need to be additional leadership transitions. We are working on a plan and will have more information to share in the coming weeks. 

I am so grateful to all of you for supporting me and each other in ways large and small during this past year. I look forward to building on our many recent accomplishments and to our continued work together.

Go Blue! Go Dearborn!

Gabriella Scarlatta
Interim Chancellor