Wayne State President Richard A. Bierschbach takes formal oath of office

Surrounded by students, alumni, community members and colleagues, Wayne State University President Richard A. Bierschbach took the formal presidential oath of office on Thursday, April 23, during a ceremony in the McGregor Memorial Conference Center.

The Honorable Edward Ewell Jr., Chief Judge for the 3rd Circuit Court, administered the oath of office to Bierschbach, who officially began serving as Wayne State's 14th president on Feb. 24 following a unanimous election by the Board of Governors. He had been serving as interim president since Sept. 17, 2025.

"I know our university, like all universities, faces challenges. But I also know that there is a way through those challenges. I know how much promise and potential we have despite those challenges, the impact we make every day, the lives we change, the discoveries we advance and the knowledge we create," Bierschbach said. "Spending time with members of our community in this new role has only strengthened my belief in this institution - in our people, our energy and our shared sense of purpose. I really do believe that if we all row in the same direction to embrace change, pursue excellence, relentlessly try to make ourselves better, the future of Wayne State is incredibly bright."

Ewell, a Wayne State Law School alumnus, met Bierschbach during his tenure as the school's dean. Ewell '85, has served on the Law School's Board of Visitors for more than a decade and is also highly engaged in the broader Detroit community.

"I am honored to swear in a person for whom I have the utmost respect. President Bierschbach leads by example. He is as thoughtful as he is brilliant, as kind as he is hard-working. He inspires others through his true love of people and through his actions," Ewell said. "What is going to make him a great president is that he has the ability to talk with donors, politicians and scholars, while at the same time staying in touch with students, parents and staff."

Before becoming president, Bierschbach served as dean of Wayne Law for eight years, where he led a remarkable period of institutional progress, elevating national rankings, increasing employment outcomes for graduates and expanding interdisciplinary academic programs.

As president, he has overseen the launch of the Institute for AI and Data Science, new student-focused initiatives, and continued strength in enrollment, research and fundraising.

A nationally recognized scholar and award-winning educator, Bierschbach's research focuses on criminal law, administrative law and corporate governance, with work published in leading law journals. Before joining academia, he clerked for Sandra Day O'Connor and worked in the U.S. Department of Justice. Bierschbach holds a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and a bachelor's in history from the University of Michigan. Read more about Bierschbach.

The brief ceremony was followed by a celebratory reception.