Craig D. Willis grew up in Cambridge, Ohio and attended Ohio Wesleyan University completed graduate degrees, including a Ph.D., at The Ohio State University. After teaching for one year in the Columbus Public Schools, Willis returned to Ohio Wesleyan holding jobs in the office of admissions, registrar, and international studies until 1969 when we took a position in the Dayton Public Schools. He remained with the Dayton Public Schools for only one year before leaving to fill the position of Director of Admissions at Wright State.

Willis served for 22 years as the President of Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania. He accepted a one-year interim appointment to serve as President at Eastern Michigan University shortly after retiring from Lock Haven. He arrived on campus in 2004 and served the University until July 2005.

Willis was asked to address advancing the University’s position in Lansing, defining better internal controls, resolving relationship issues, ensuring high quality educational experiences for all students and successfully completing all collective bargaining agreements. He was well liked on campus and quickly won over faculty, students and staff, who said his tenure helped heal a broken, distrustful campus and moved EMU out of the controversial University House spotlight. John A. Fallon assumed the Presidency from Willis in the Fall of 2005.