Audiences: current students, admitted students, employees, current and admitted student parents, alums and BOT
Dear Spartans and friends,
Exams are in the books, many students have rejoined their families and proud fall graduates are looking toward the next chapter in their lives. Our end-of-semester whirlwind has begun to settle as we enter what I hope will be a restful and restorative winter break for our campus community.
With winter’s earlier evenings, we added some warmth and cheer to finals week with the inaugural illumination of our beloved campus centerpiece, Beaumont Tower. We’ll keep the lights aglow through the holidays and look forward to making this a new Michigan State tradition.
Graduation and beyond
What a proud moment we shared with the 4,765 undergraduate, graduate and professional students whose graduations we celebrated last week, together with many visiting families. The group included 3,234 bachelor’s degree candidates representing 71 of Michigan’s counties, 38 U.S. states and 42 countries. We’re proud of all our graduates, and our warmest congratulations go out to these new alums, whose Spartan roots of problem-solving, forward thinking and lifelong curiosity will continue to guide them.
To highlight the appreciating value of a Michigan State degree, we learned recently that Michigan State ranks No. 9 among U.S. public universities, and No. 34 overall, in the employability of our graduates. That ranking, from Times Higher Education, is based on those universities that top corporate recruiters think best prepare students for the workplace. Our own destination surveys sent to recent graduates show a 93% overall placement rate, with about two-thirds of those who are starting their careers doing so here in Michigan.
Additionally, we believe that the toughest real-world challenges can only be addressed by reaching across disciplines to unleash powerful synergies. So, it’s a particular point of pride to learn we rank among the top 7% of global institutions for interdisciplinary science, also according to Times Higher Education. Those rankings measure the strength of research through collaborations that bridge the sciences, social sciences, engineering and medical or health fields.
Attesting to the quality of the programs and faculty members preparing our graduates for 21st-century careers, MSU placed three academic disciplines — communications, education, and environmental science and engineering — in the top 10 of the Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects. MSU’s biggest move came from biotechnology, leaping from No. 48 last year to No. 15 in the world this year. All these rankings point to how strong and valued an education from Michigan State University continues to be, something we can all be proud of.
Generosity of friends
We recently announced with great pride something else that’s highly impactful: our largest-ever gift commitment. Greg and Dawn Williams, who stepped up earlier to serve as co-chairs for our “Uncommon Will, Far Better World” comprehensive fundraising campaign, have committed $401 million to MSU.
Their story, beginning with a $5 gift to the Wharton Center for Performing Arts as newlyweds in 1982, reflects decades of connection, gratitude and belief in this university as one unified institution. A significant portion of this new commitment will accelerate MSU’s ability to compete nationally and build a sustainable foundation for long-term success in athletics. At the same time, the commitment extends across campus, supporting the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Insurance and Risk Management program in the Broad College of Business, the Sparty Mascot Program, and the Spartan Marching and Pep Bands — areas that enrich the student experience and connect learning, leadership and community.
That same spirit of collective investment defines our broader campaign momentum. To date, 131,200 individuals have contributed $1.67 billion toward our ambitious $4 billion goal — support that is deeply rooted in MSU’s academic mission and reflective of who we are: a university defined by excellence, united by purpose and serving the public good.
Athletics and academics advance together at Michigan State, with pride and competitive success amplifying impact across campus. As a result, roughly two-thirds of the funds raised to date advance our academic priorities — scholarships, endowed faculty, interdisciplinary research, teaching and learning innovation, and transformative facilities — ensuring today’s momentum builds opportunity for the next generation of Spartans.
Thank you to all our generous donors.
Welcoming new leaders
You might have heard that we officially welcomed a new Spartan this month with the Board of Trustees’ endorsement of Pat Fitzgerald as the new football head coach. He’s a proven leader who understands the full mission of intercollegiate athletics, including academic achievement and the holistic development of our student-athletes — in addition to competitive excellence. If you saw him firing up the crowd at our Big Ten basketball season opener or dropping the puck at a hockey game, you’ll have no doubt about his enthusiasm for MSU and our excitement about him.
Another newly confirmed leader is Glenn Chambers, the new dean of our Honors College. He’s already familiar to many, having served as associate dean and, more recently, as interim dean. He was also active in supporting the renovation of Campbell Hall as a residential community for Honors College students, and I know how much our students value his leadership and mentorship.
Congratulations to both!
The approaching end of the calendar year offers an appropriate point to reflect on the past year and look forward to the next one. I hope you enjoy this photographic look back at Michigan State in 2025 and wish you a happy holiday season and the very best for 2026.
Go Green!
Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D.
(pronounced GUS-ka-wits)
President
John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor
Department of Kinesiology