© 2026 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Public Media from Michigan State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Central Michigan U Appoints Murray State Leader As President

Robert O. Davies
murraystate.edu

The Central Michigan University Board of Trustees has appointed the leader of Murray State University in Kentucky as the school's next president.

The school in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, says Friday's vote to select Robert O. Davies as Central Michigan's 15th president was unanimous.

Davies is scheduled to start Sept. 1. He's been president at Murray State since 2014. He says in a statement that Central Michigan University is "100 percent committed to student success" and that's a "unique niche most research universities don't fill."

Davies will succeed George E. Ross, who announced in January that he would be stepping down from his leadership role after eight years as president. Executive Vice President and Provost Michael Gealt started this week as the school's interim president.

WKAR has closed the gap left by the loss of federal funding. Because of you, trusted journalism, inspiring stories, and classical music remain freely available to everyone in mid-Michigan.
Now the work continues — your monthly gift helps maintain this success and keeps public media free for all.