YPSILANTI – James Smith, currently president of Northern State University in South Dakota, was named the new president of Eastern Michigan University on Friday. Smith will begin his duties on July 1, the start of the university’s new fiscal year. He succeeds Susan Martin, who retired in 2015.
Smith has been president of the university in Aberdeen, South Dakota since 2009. Prior to his appointment in South Dakota he was vice president for economic development at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Smith’s received his bachelor’s and doctorates from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. He has his masters is from Xavier University.
