Jon Kinsey, chief of staff in the President’s Office and a member of the University of Michigan’s leadership team, is being recommended as the next vice president and secretary of the university.
His appointment will be considered by the Board of Regents at its March 28 meeting on the Ann Arbor campus. Kinsey would transition into the role in April.
“I’m so grateful for Jon’s service, leadership, and sound counsel,” President Santa J. Ono said in a universitywide message announcing his recommendation. “His experience at the university, the depth of his relationships across campus and the wisdom he has brought to our conversations have been invaluable.
“I have complete confidence that he will do an outstanding job for our Board of Regents and our leadership team, and I’m looking forward to continuing to serve with him in his new capacity.”
The position serves as the liaison officer for the Board of Regents and is responsible for facilitating, coordinating and managing policy matters, governance and communications pertaining to the board, president and executive officers. Kinsey would serve under the direction of the president and would be an executive officer of the university.
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His selection comes after a national, four-month search chaired by Richie Hunter, vice president for communications, and supported by executive search firm Storbeck Search.
Kinsey would succeed Sally J. Churchill, who has served as secretary of the university for nearly 19 years and who will become a special adviser to the president and a senior adviser to the secretary. Over the course of the 2024-25 academic year, she will ensure a smooth transition and work on revisions to the Board of Regents Bylaws.
“I’m honored to be recommended for this position and humbled to be following in the footsteps of Sally Churchill, who has been a tremendous leader and has left an indelible impact on the university over the course of two decades,” said Kinsey. “I look forward to working with her, President Ono and the Board of Regents to advance the mission of this great institution.”
Kinsey currently works as an adviser and strategic partner to the president and supports the university’s executive team in implementation of the president’s priorities. He oversees presidential initiatives and special projects and manages the administrative functions of the office.
Prior to that, Kinsey was chief of staff in the College of Engineering and, earlier, was the assistant vice president for research – research initiatives in the university’s Office of Research. Also at CoE, he has been director of government relations and senior director, research relations.
Before joining U-M, Kinsey was an international business strategy manager in retail, a consulting manager in a startup management consulting firm, and a program manager in automotive engineering at the Lear Corp.
Kinsey received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from U-M in 1993 and earned his Master of Business Administration degree from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business in 2000. He currently serves on the board of directors at the University of Michigan Credit Union.
Jay Baer, the LSA chief of staff, would step into Kinsey’s role as chief of staff in the President’s Office and would become a member of the university’s leadership team.
