(WWJ) It's a shock in East Lansing as Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz will be stepping down to take a new job Clemson University, in South Carolina.
At a meeting Wednesday morning, Clemson Board of Trustee member Cheri Phyfer said they were searching for an inspired leader with a bold vision, and "the operational expertise necessary to lead in a rapidly evolving higher education environment" — someone who could imagine a brighter future for Clemson, and then deliver on that vision.
She said Guskiewicz is that person.
The board then voted unanimously to hire Guskiewicz as the university's 16th president.
Speaking at the meeting, Guskiewicz said:
"Over the past decade I've had the privileged of serving in senior leadership roles at two extraordinary public universities: The University of North Caroline Chapel Hill, and Michigan State University. And those experiences have shaped my understanding of what great public universities can accomplish when they remain anchored in innovation and service with instructional alignment."
This move comes just over a week after the MSU Board of Trustees voted to give Guskiewicz a nearly $1 million raise that brought his salary to about $2 million.
Clemson offered Guskewicz much less: a $1.2 million per year base salary.
Speaking to WWJ's Pat Vitale earlier in the morning, MSU Trustee Michael Balow was surprised. He said MSU was a good fit for Guskiewicz, that it would be a bad thing for him to leave, but that MSU "is bigger than one person."
Once the news was confirmed, MSU Board Chair Brianna Scott spoke with of Guskiewicz in a statement, and said they'll be working on a transition plan.
“We greatly value these past two-plus years under President Guskiewicz. His leadership has set the university on a positive trajectory and one that we can continue during this transition," Scott said. "Michigan State University has demonstrated resilience throughout its history, and the institution’s strength has never depended on any one individual. The university’s mission, talent and momentum continue just as they have for nearly 175 years.
“The board will provide information regarding a transition plan soon; in the meantime, we wish Kevin and Amy well and look forward to aligning our shared visions over a productive summer in anticipation of a busy and prosperous academic year.”
Guskiewicz served as president of MSU for just over two years.
Below is the complete statement by Guskiewicz to the MSU community:
Dear Spartans,
When I arrived at Michigan State University, I did so with a vision rooted in the extraordinary potential of this institution and the people who make it special. From the very first visit Amy and I had almost three years ago, we were deeply impressed by the passion, resilience and commitment of Spartans across our university community and around the world.
Since being named president, I have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the remarkable impact Michigan State University has on our state, our nation and our world. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to serve this institution and to work alongside so many dedicated students, faculty, staff, coaches, alumni, donors and supporters.
Together, we have accomplished so much in a relatively short period of time. We launched important initiatives that reflect the values and aspirations of this university, specifically to ensure our actions today keep the university competitive in the future and support our students’ success. We advanced work through the One Health Initiative, the Green and White Council, modernizing our general education curriculum, supporting the Student Success Center and continuing our commitment to improving relationship violence and sexual misconduct through our ongoing institutional assessment project.
I have been especially proud of the ways we embraced innovation, collaboration and engagement through initiatives such as Spartan Ventures, the Williams Scholars program and the Spartan Bus Tour, which allowed us to connect directly with communities across Michigan. Together, we also navigated significant federal transitions and continued the focus on a safe, welcoming and inclusive community.
The record-setting milestones accomplished through the Uncommon Will, Far Better World campaign will shape MSU’s future for years to come. The new Leinweber Engineering and Digital Innovation Center, Student Recreation and Wellness Center, renovated greenhouses, Plant Sciences building and Multicultural Center are all visual signs of progress and commitment to our communities — close to home and far away.
Throughout my presidency, I have often spoken about the importance of a “One Team” philosophy — the belief that progress is strongest when we row together toward common goals, learn from one another and remain committed to moving this great university forward together. I continueto believe deeply in that approach and in the extraordinary potential of Michigan State University.
At the same time, effective university leadership requires a shared commitment to collaboration, trust and a forward-looking vision. While many across this university community have embraced that spirit, it has become increasingly clear that there are differing perspectives within the Board of Trustees regarding how best to move MSU forward. At times, too much energy has been spent revisiting past conflicts and internal disagreements rather than focusing collectively on the opportunities and aspirations ahead of us. While I firmly believe we are all better when there is a diversity of viewpoints informing decisions, our ability to make meaningful progress is hampered when disagreements move from offering alternative perspectives into publicly undermining decisions and putting personal interests above the best interests of the university and our faculty, staff and students. What is perhaps most troubling is the actions of some to abuse their access to privileged and confidential information to mispresent facts, manipulate situations and selectively use and leak that information to promote personal agendas.
Despite this discouraging behavior by a few trustees, I am appreciative of the five trustees who recently voted to strengthen their code of ethics and conduct in alignment with what our national governance advisors have said are best practices for university boards. Furthermore, I appreciate the principled and ethical leadership of Chair Brianna Scott and past chair Kelly Tebay in supporting me as president throughout my tenure.
While I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished these past two-plus years, I have always said that your health, family and faith must come first above all else. The ongoing and continuous nature of the aforementioned actions has created an unsustainable situation. So after thoughtful reflection, I have made the difficult decision to leave Michigan State University and accept an opportunity to lead Clemson University as its next president. This was not an easy decision, particularly because of the deep admiration Amy and I have for this campus, the people who care deeply about its land-grant mission and the many relationships that have made this experience so meaningful for us and our family.
I have shared this decision with the board, and I will remain in my role over the next several weeks to help support a smooth and successful transition.
Importantly, Michigan State University is positioned to continue moving forward with strength and momentum. The university benefits from an exceptionally talented and dedicated leadership team, extraordinary faculty and staff, world-class athletic coaches, passionate students and one of the most loyal alumni communities in higher education. The mission of this university does not change, and neither does its ability to shape lives and make a profound impact through teaching, research, outreach, healthcare, athletics and service.
Amy and I are incredibly thankful for the friendships we have made, friendships that will remain in our lives forever. No matter where life takes us, we will always be proud Spartans, forever supporting the Green and White.
Thank you, Spartans everywhere, for your support, your partnership and your unwavering commitment to Michigan State University. It has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life to serve as your president.
With gratitude,
Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D.
President Michigan State University
