Dear Spartan community,
Wow! Where have the last 100 days gone?
My wife Amy and I have felt the warmth of Spartan Nation since joining this illustrious university on March4, 2024, including from students, faculty, staff and friends likeyou.
Having observed my 100th day on campus last week, I would like to take a moment to extend my appreciation for your support and steadfast love for Michigan State University. You are part of what makes this university feel likehome.
This time of year, between the spring and fall semesters, is often one of reflection and celebration for me. And I thought what better way to mark this milestone than highlighting 100 moments worth celebrating?
Here are just a few. To see the full list, head over to my website for all our celebration-worthy moments.
- Honoring 38 faculty on my first day and celebrating their accomplishments during our 2024 Investiture for Endowed Faculty.
- Celebrating two Big Ten Championship titles in one day for gymnastics and ice hockey.
- Welcoming more than 10,000 new Spartans into our alum community during our spring commencement ceremonies.
- Making 48 stops on our listening and learning tour to hear from our world-class students, faculty and staff.
- Adding seven faculty to the roster of Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
- Tallying up the collective impact of more than 23,500 hours of community service by 130 students.
- Meeting former MSU President Clifton Wharton, his spouse Dolores Wharton and son Bruce Wharton in New York City at the annual Wharton Series event.
- Earning a top-50 ranking among U.S. patent-granting universities, maintaining an 11-year streak on the list of top 100 universities worldwide for patents granted.
- Seeing the research efforts of over 1,000 students at the 26th annual University Undergraduate Research and ArtsForum.
- Attending the groundbreakings for a state-of-the-art Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center and a much-needed renovation to the Plant Science Greenhouses.
I’m grateful for this opportunity to work alongside such an open-hearted community to continue to strengthen MSU —and solidify our place as Michigan’s state university for any student, from any background, who has the desire to pursue a degree and a better tomorrow. Together, we are one team, strengthening one another, and I look forward to the great work we will accomplishahead.
Sincerely,
(pronounced GUS-ka-wits)
President
Professor, Department of Kinesiology