MSU officially welcomes President Kevin Guskiewicz, who promises focus on research, accountability
EAST LANSING — Michigan State University has a new president, and now it’s official.
On Sunday, Kevin Guskiewicz was formally installed as the university’s president during an investiture ceremony at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts on MSU’s campus that was interrupted by protesters. After nearly seven months in the role, the event was the first time Guskiewicz laid out his plans for the future of the school, which will include a heightened focus on research and academics.
Guskiewicz announced the launch of the next phase of the school’s Global Impact Initiative with seven new research proposals to make “breakthroughs in vital areas,” including space, electronics, computational biology and public health.
He also announced the creation of a “Michigan State University Ethics Institute,” which will “address institutional transformation.” The institute could begin its work in February 2025.
Guskiewicz explained his vision for the school includes being a “talent activator for the state of Michigan.” He hopes to implement a merit-based scholarship to attract students who might not be able to attend college otherwise and expand the university’s reach in Lansing.
“I’m proud to announce today a new merit-based undergraduate scholarship named after our first president and first lady,” he said. “Their legacies speak to us today as we prepare students for lives of success and purpose. I look forward to working with our generous alums and donors as week seek to fund this prestigious, full cost of attendance scholarship.”
He plans to have the university offer more opportunities for students in Lansing, through community service and internships with the school.
Protesters interrupt the investiture ceremony for MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024.
The ceremony began with a performance by the MSU wind symphony, and featured short remarks from MSU alumna Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate, an MSU alumnus, and U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow.
Also making remarks were University of Southern California President Carol Folt, who Guskiewicz succeeded as Chancellor of University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill after her resignation, and University of Utah College of Health Dean Emeritus David Perrin, who Guskiewicz worked with while studying the impacts of head injuries on athletes.
During the ceremony, protestors calling for the university to divest from Israel began chanting: “Kevin, Kevin you can’t hide, you are funding genocide,” and “How many kids have you killed today.” Police eventually removed the protestors from the auditorium.
Investitures are among the most important ceremonies in the life of a modern university, MSU said on its website.
“Presidential investitures are typically held in a leader’s first year in office to publicly and formally ‘vest’ them with the authority of the office and acknowledge, introduce and celebrate the new leader,” the school said.
Guskiewicz, who took over from interim MSU President Teresa Woodruff on March 4, 2024, was member of the University of North Carolina’s faculty since 1995, and founding director of the Matthew Gfeller Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center and the Center for the Study of Retired Athletes.
Guskiewicz was appointed UNC’s Chancellor in 2019.
Contact Sarah Atwood at [email protected], or follow her on X @sarahmatwood.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz investiture ceremony takes place
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