William H. Vandament
President of Northern Michigan University from 1991-1997
Biography:
William Vandament grew up in Missouri and received his bachelor’s degree from Quincy College and doctorate (in psychology) from the University of Massachusetts. From there, he worked in various faculties in higher education for decades. President Vandament initially came to NMU as an interim president in 1991, but was asked by the board of trustees to stay on as a full president in the spring of 1992. He inherited a difficult time for the university as the state continued to make serious budget cuts, but was respected for his honesty and willingness to accept input from the entire community about how best to move forward. During his time as president, he began NMU’s flat tuition rate, a practice that continues to this day. He also forged relationships with the state legislature and created relationships with South African universities to facilitate study abroad programs for Northern students and carried out multiple projects in the interest of preserving U.P. history.