Michigan State President Guskiewicz to Lead Clemson

Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz will leave his position to become the next president of Clemson University, the institutions announced. The Clemson Board of Trustees unanimously appointed Guskiewicz during a meeting on May 27, 2026, ending his tenure of just over two years at Michigan State.

Guskiewicz, a neuroscientist and former chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, began his role at Michigan State in March 2024. His departure comes shortly after the Michigan State Board of Trustees extended his contract through 2031 and nearly doubled his annual compensation to $2 million in an effort to retain him. Despite the offer, Guskiewicz accepted the position at Clemson, where he will receive a base salary of $1.2 million.

In a statement to the Michigan State community, Guskiewicz expressed gratitude for his time at the university but cited significant governance challenges as a reason for his exit. He wrote that while diverse viewpoints are valuable, progress is hampered when disagreements lead to publicly undermining decisions and placing personal interests above the university's welfare. He described the situation as unsustainable,...