UTSA provost takes helm of Wayne State
Kimberly Andrews Espy, the provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at the University of Texas at San Antonio, will be the next president of Wayne State University in Detroit starting Aug. 1.
Hired as provost at UTSA in 2018, she’ll be the first female president of Wayne State.
Founded in 1868, it’s the largest public urban research university in Michigan, offering more than 350 academic programs to nearly 24,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
UTSA officials said Espy has “earned a national reputation for advancing institutional, academic and student success; promoting faculty research and development; and deepening university-community partnerships and engagement.”
She was instrumental in establishing UTSA’S Bold Promise program, a free-tuition program for high-achieving Texan students from low- and middle-income families. Espy also advocated for strategic planning and increasing financial aid, helping the university achieve a 5 percent enrollment jump between 2019 and 2022, when college enrollments fell nationwide due to the pandemic.
“Her impact on UTSA and San Antonio is immeasurable,” said UTSA President Taylor Eighmy, calling her “a catalyst in building programs that accelerate student academic success, broaden paths to graduation for our students and prepare graduates for rewarding careers.”
Heather Shipley, senior vice provost for academic affairs at UTSA, will serve as interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.
“I expect to update our community some time later in the coming academic year regarding a national search and filling this position permanently,” Eighmy said.