EAST LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – Michigan State University President Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz is leaving Michigan State University to become president of Clemson University.
The board of trustees at the South Carolina school voted to approve the hire during its meeting Wednesday morning. The vote passed unanimously.
Guskiewicz shared a message to the Spartan community announcing his departure.
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.
Guskiewicz also spoke via Zoom during Wednesday’s meeting. He is scheduled to speak with the media via Zoom on Wednesday morning.
His departure comes less than two weeks after the MSU Board of Trustees voted to recommend a new contract for Guskiewicz during a contentious special meeting.
The board voted to recommend awarding Guskiewicz with a new contract that would nearly double his annual salary to $2 million per year and extend his contract by two years until March 4, 2031.
Guskiewicz will earn a base salary of $1.21 million at Clemson, with additional incentives, trustees announced during Wednesday’s meeting.
Michigan State University released a statement following the announcement of his departure, thanking him for his leadership and contributions to the university community.
Today, President Kevin M. Guskiewicz shared that he will be leaving MSU to become the next president of Clemson University.
Over the past several years, he has helped lead important progress across our university, strengthening student success initiatives, advancing research and innovation, expanding community partnerships and reinforcing MSU’s land-grant mission.
We are grateful for the leadership, energy and commitment that President Guskiewicz and Amy have brought to the Spartan community, and we thank them for the many relationships and memories built during their time in East Lansing.
MSU remains strongly positioned for the future because of the extraordinary students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters who continue to move this university forward every day.
Please join us in thanking President Guskiewicz for his service to MSU and wishing Kevin, Amy and their family the very best in this next chapter.
MSU Trustee Sandy Pierce said during the May 17 meeting that the push for a new contract came as Guskiewicz was being “aggressively pursued” by other schools.
MSU Board Chair Brianna Scott issued the following statement regarding President Guskiewicz moving on from Michigan State University:
“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. 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.”
Guskiewicz will replace interim Clemson President Bob Jones, who has been filling the role since Jim Clements retired at the end of 2025, according to Fox Carolina.
Guskiewicz served as president at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for four years prior to becoming MSU president in 2023.
Guskiewicz was scheduled to speak Wednesday afternoon at the Mackinac Policy Conference. It is unclear whether he will still speak.
This is a developing story. Stay with News 10 Lansing for the latest updates as they become available.
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