After serving for two years as Michigan State University’s president, Kevin Guskiewicz announced he is resigning from his role to accept a leadership position outside the university.
Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) confirmed to Local 4 on Wednesday morning that Guskiewicz will step down to serve as the next president of Clemson University in South Carolina.
In a statement issued on Wednesday from the Office of the President, Guskiewicz cited “discouraging behavior by a few trustees” as a contributing factor in his decision to leave, noting that “At times, too much energy has been spent revisiting past conflicts and internal disagreements rather than focusing collectively on the opportunities and aspirations ahead of us.”
“Effective university leadership requires a shared commitment to collaboration, trust and a forward-looking vision,” the statement read. “While many across this university community have embraced that spirit, it has become increasingly clear that there are differing perspectives within the Board of Trustees regarding how best to move MSU forward.”
Just eight days ago, the MSU Board of Trustees voted overwhelmingly to offer Guskiewicz a new, amended contract that would nearly double his annual base salary from $1.02 million to $2 million and extend his presidential term through 2031, among other changes, the university reported.
In a special Board of Trustees meeting held via Zoom on Sunday, trustees acknowledged that the significant raise was a preventative effort to keep Guskiewicz at MSU, as he was being “aggressively pursued” by other universities.
Guskiewicz’s original contract was set to expire in 2029.
“I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished these past two-plus years,” he said. ”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."