Mercer University President William Underwood Announces Retirement

William Underwood will join the Law faculty this time at Mercer after 20 years of serving as President of the University in 2026.  Underwood was only the 3rd University President in the last 65 years at Mercer.  Prior to joining Mercer, Underwood had served as the Interim President of Baylor University where he had served as a member of the law faculty, holding the Leon Jaworski Chair at Baylor School of Law, where he was also named a Master Teacher.

Underwood received his JD from the University of Illinois College of Law.  After law school he clerked for the Hon Sam D. Johnson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.  He then practiced law with the Carrington, Coleman law firm in Dallas, TX.

Larry R. Thompson Announces Retirement as President of Ringling College of Art and Design

After more than a quarter century at the helm, Larry R. Thompson is retiring from the Sarasota, FL institution effective May 2026.   Thompson previously served as the CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He did not intend to pursue a career in academia. “He entered college with a plan to practice medicine but ended up with a bachelor’s in math, a master’s in counseling and education administration and a doctorate in law.”  He later served as counsel for Ohio State University, where he, at various times, also oversaw athletic and media programs.

Seasoned President Russ Kavalhuna, JD Appointed 10th President of Western Michigan University

Russ Kavalhuna, J.D. will be leaving Henry Ford College for Western Michigan University effective July 1, 2025. 

Kavalhuna previously served as executive director of flight operations at Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation. He served as a commercial airline captain before going to law school and then serving as a law clerk at the Michigan Supreme Court and a federal prosecutor. He also taught at Western Michigan University’s Cooley Law School.  In 2018 he served as a consultant on higher education policy for then governor-elect Gretchen Whitmer’s transition team.

He earned his JD from Western Michigan University’s Cooley Law School.