Ruth J. Person, chancellor of Indiana University Kokomo, has been appointed as the seventh leader of the University of Michigan-Flint. The University of Michigan Board of Regents approved her appointment at the June 19 meeting.  Person, an alumna of the U of M, will assume her new role on August 18.

Since her appointment as chancellor of IU Kokomo in 1999, Person led the campus through a strong period of growth.  During her tenure, IU Kokomo implemented a strategic plan, added new academic programs, completed a $3 million fundraising campaign, and constructed an award-winning science facility. Person also oversaw the reversal of a seven-year enrollment decline, guiding the campus to record enrollment of full-time and traditional-age students.

Throughout her impressive career, Person has had rich and diverse experiences in higher education.  She served for four years as vice president for academic affairs and professor of business administration at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas. She also held positions as vice president for academic affairs at Ohio's Ashland University, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, dean of the College of Library Science at Clarion University in Pennsylvania, and associate dean and faculty member of the School of Library and Information Science at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. As an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow, Person also worked as chief academic officer with the Arizona Board of Regents.

Person earned her bachelor's degree from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania and received both her master's degree  and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. She also holds an M.S. degree in administration from George Washington University School of Business and Public Management. She is a member of Phi Alpha Theta, Beta Phi Mu, Pi Lambda Theta, Psi Chi, Kappa Delta Pi, Beta Gamma Sigma and is listed in a number of Who's Who publications. Person attended the Harvard University Institute of Educational Management in 1989. 

 “It is an exciting time to join the University of Michigan-Flint,” noted Person.  “The opening of the new residence hall, new academic programs and other important initiatives have created enthusiasm on campus.  I look forward to being part of the positive momentum and spirit of the university.”