EAST LANSING (WWJ) - Michigan State University has a new leader.
In a unanimous vote, the university's Board of Trustees announced Chapel Hill chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz as its 22nd president in a special meeting Friday morning.
Guskiewicz is slated to start his new role on March 4, 2024. According to his faculty profile, the Pennsylvania native has spent nearly 30 years at UNC as a faculty member and administrator, serving the last four years as chancellor.
In addition to his role as president, MSU administrators said Guskiewicz will hold a tenured professorship in MSU's kinesiology department within the College of Education.
The trustees voiced their enthusiastic approval of Guskiewicz, who was reported as the sole finalist for the job last month.
"Definitely yes," Trustee Dianne Byrum said.
"Definite yes" Trustee Dennis Denno replied
Trustee Renee Knake Jefferson added: "Enthusiastically yes."
Trustee Dan Kelly didn't hold back either, saying, "100% yes."
"Honored to say yes" Trustee Sandy Pierce stated.
"So excited to say yes." Trustee Brianna Scott said.
"They stole all the adjectives so, absolutely yes!" Kelly Tebay added.
Chair Rema Vassar cheered when it came to her vote, stating, "Yeay! Yes, yeay!"
Guskiewicz rose to prominence as a neuroscientist, sports medicine researcher and Kenan Distinguished Professor at UNC, having earned his a B.S. in athletic training from West Chester University, M.S. in exercise physiology/athletic training from the University of Pittsburgh and Ph.D. in sports medicine from the University of Virginia.
He is a leading expert on sport-related concussions with his research and work earning him numerous awards as well as greatly influencing concussion guidelines in the NCAA and the NFL.
Faculty members at UNC-Chapel Hill called losing Guskiewicz a "devastating loss".
UNC-Chapel Hill Faculty Senate Chair Beth Moracco penned a letter on behalf of the faculty when news of his possible new appointment was leaked, asking him to consider staying in North Carolina.
"Over the past week, many faculty members have contacted me to express their support for you as our chancellor," she said in the letter posted to the UNC website. "... while we respect your decision-making process and the many factors to be weighed, I join a multitude of faculty voices in saying that I fervently hope that you will remain at Carolina."
Guskiewicz addressed UNC-Chapel Hill students and staff in a campus-wide email about the news, stating: “I have loved leading Carolina for nearly five years. We have accomplished so much together, and I am proud of where Carolina is today. We have faced challenging times, but also incredible moments of opportunity. Thank you for standing shoulder-to-shoulder with me to ensure our status as the leading global public research university we have aspired to be. It has not always been easy, but as I have often said — easy is boring. We certainly have not been bored.”
Guskiewicz's hiring comes after Interim President Teresa Woodruff said she would not step into a permanent role. MSU has gone through six presidents since disgraced USA Gymnastics and MSU Dr.Larry Nassar was sentenced for sexually abusing over 150 women and girls.
The Spartans began their search for their next president in May with a 29-member committee appointed by the board that represented the full spectrum of the Spartan community.
MSU head basketball coach Tom Izzo served on the search committee.
“I’m very excited to have Kevin Guskiewicz come to Michigan State and lead our great university, and welcome him and wife, Amy, to our Michigan State family,” said Izzo. “Through the search process, and in speaking to people who know him, I’ve found him to be very relatable, placing an emphasis on building relationships with those around him. Those relationships will be crucial, as a president must connect with many different constituencies across campus. Just as important is his passion for fundraising, as evidenced by his success in major fundraising efforts at North Carolina. Kevin began his professional career as a collegiate athletic trainer and later worked with the Pittsburgh Steelers before pursuing a career in higher education. I appreciate that he values the role athletics can play in helping advance the university’s greater mission, something he’s experienced firsthand at North Carolina. Finally, I think he will be a difference-maker who will gather all Spartans back together to accomplish our common goal of making Michigan State University the best institution in the world.”
Guskiewicz, addressed students and staff in a video stating he was "eager" to start working alongside all Spartans.
“I intend to foster a culture of collaboration and, by working together, we can propel MSU to even greater eminence through its powerful commitment to student success, knowledge discovery and land-grant service," he said.