Dr. Kimberly Andrews Espy is the 13th president of Wayne State University in Detroit, serving since August 2023. Espy has modernized the university’s organization and leadership and established strong relationships with WSU stakeholders. Her launch of the WSU Prosperity Agenda provides a framework that focuses on social mobility, urban health, and innovation to enhance community connection. Espy has also advanced Wayne State as the “university of opportunity,” as her College to Career Initiative is fueled by real-world “learning by doing” experiences across Detroit and around the globe for students to graduate career-ready to thrive in a competitive, 21st century workforce. The university has seen record enrollment growth, with nearly 7,000 new students joining the Wayne State community. A leader with more than 25 years of experience in higher education, Espy previously served as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she championed social and economic opportunity by promoting affordable access to a top-quality research university education.
