Eastern Michigan University released a new episode of EMU Today TV on Mar. 18, featuring a two-part conversation with President James Smith and Dr. Connie Ruhl-Smith as Smith prepares to conclude his presidency on March 31, 2026, and transition to president emeritus the following day.
The episode is significant as it reflects on a decade of leadership at the university, highlighting major changes, challenges, and the couple’s engagement with students and the campus community.
In the first segment, Smith discusses his tenure since arriving in 2016, addressing financial pressures due to low state funding for higher education in Michigan. He credits donor partnerships such as support from GameAbove for helping advance key initiatives despite fiscal challenges. “If you don’t have dollars in one pocket, you look for the other pocket,” Smith said. He also recalls efforts to improve student relations after tensions in 2016: “From that day forward, we tried to make better and better relations with students who didn’t think they were being heard.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, he emphasized teamwork: “Presidents get too much credit sometimes,” he said. “It was truly a team effort.” Smith also outlined over $300 million invested in campus construction and renovations during his presidency.
Dr. Connie Ruhl-Smith shares her perspective on transitioning away from daily work at EMU after years of involvement as Director of International Relations for the EMU Foundation. She describes both excitement and uncertainty about this change and expresses gratitude for her experiences with students: “We will desperately miss engaging with you… and we will miss seeing you graduate,” she said. She encourages graduates to stay connected to EMU after leaving campus.
Smith expressed appreciation for faculty and staff: “It is so easy to say that we are a student-centered place,” he said. “But to watch how you do what you do… is replicated over and over in stories students tell me.” The couple plans to relocate near Cincinnati while continuing consulting work but says Ypsilanti and EMU will remain important parts of their lives.
According to the official website, Eastern Michigan University prepares students to make significant contributions to society through its educational focus (official website). The university features historic architecture alongside modern facilities supporting student success (official website), has gained national recognition for its programs (official website), offers more than 200 undergraduate majors and minors along with various graduate programs (official website), focuses on building critical thinking skills (official website), and James Smith served as president according to its official website.
