Season 8 - Episode 28: Battle of Washtenaw, Student-Athlete Day, and a Familiar Face Returns

Dr. Brendan Kelly opens his presidency at Eastern Michigan with a clear focus on students, energy, and connection, stressing that "if we don't get that right, then we might as well throw our hands up and walk off the field." Drawing on his own experience as a two-time EMU alum, he emphasizes closing gaps in the student experience, building pride, and moving quickly with "the best idea in the room." He challenges outdated traditions, calling for simpler systems and a campus "completely obsessed" with student success, while also addressing the need to grow fan and community energy. Kelly sees the hiring of men's basketball coach Billy Donlon as a reflection of that vision, praising his "standard of excellence" and grit, and signaling a broader push to raise expectations across the university. See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at .

You can listen to Season 8 - Episode 28: Battle of Washtenaw, Student-Athlete Day, and a Familiar Face Returns online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Season 8 - Episode 28: Battle of Washtenaw, Student-Athlete Day, and a Familiar Face Returns is an episode from Eastern Insider by Eastern Insider.

This episode is 00:20:09 long.

This episode was published on Apr 6, 2026.

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