EAST LANSING, Mich — After a little more than a year of searching, Michigan State University announced their next president.
Kevin M. Guskiewicz, PH.D. was unanimously appointed by the Board of Trustees to the position Friday morning.
Guskiewicz is a neuroscientist and sports medicine researcher, and was previously the 12th Chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“I am eagerly looking forward to working with all Spartans to build on this great university’s strong historical foundation,” said Guskiewicz. “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.”
Guskiewicz will begin his term as the 22nd President of Michigan State University on March 4, 2024. The board also appointed Guskiewicz to a tenured professor position in the College of Education's Department of Kinesiology.
Guskiewicz takes over from Interim President Teresa K. Woodruff, PH.D., who has been serving as president since January of this year. Woodruff was appointed to the position after former MSU President Samuel Stanley Jr. resigned from the position in October of 2022.
The search for the school's new president began in April of 2023 and was led by Trustee Dennis Denno, chair of the presidential search committee, and Trustee Brianna Scott, search committee vice chair.
“The board and I are excited to welcome such an experienced leader as Kevin Guskiewicz to the Spartan community,” said Denno. “We are confident that he has the intellectual vision, broad worldview and personal integrity to inspire our university community to new levels of excellence. And we look forward to working alongside him to foster a climate of community, engagement and mutual respect.”
MSU men's basketball coach Tom Izzo also assisted in the search for the university's new president.
“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."
Guskiewicz earned a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from West Chester University, a master’s in exercise physiology/athletic training from the University of Pittsburgh and a doctorate in sports medicine from the University of Virginia.
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