Russ Kavalhuna

Russ Kavalhuna
10th President of Western Michigan University
Assumed office
2025
Preceded byEdward B. Montgomery
Personal details
Born
EducationWestern Michigan University (BS)
Cooley Law School (JD)

Russell A. “Russ” Kavalhuna is the tenth president of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan and former president of Henry Ford College. Kavalhuna earned his bachelor's degree in flight science from Western Michigan University and his J.D. from Cooley Law School. Prior to higher education administration, Kavalhuna was a federal prosecutor and a commercial airline captain.

Kavalhuna served as the Executive Director of Flight Operations in the College of Aviation at Western Michigan University from 2015 to 2018. He next served as the sixth president of Henry Ford College in Dearborn, Michigan.

Kavalhuna began his term as president of Western Michigan University on July 1, 2025.