Remarks as prepared for delivery
It’s wonderful to be meeting here in Benton Harbor, and to join our board and other senior leaders as we learn more about the community and some of the connections the university has here.
I want to thank the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center for hosting us and thank everyone who joined us for last night’s community reception and dinner here.
Graduation recap
I want to start today by thanking everyone who joined us to salute more than 10,900 Spartan graduates at ceremonies last month, alongside their proud families and the university’s equally proud faculty and staff.
It was a really impressive group of scholars, including 214 students earning multiple baccalaureate degrees and some 320 compiling perfect 4.0 undergraduate grade point averages ... in addition to three graduates who signified their role in the Sparty Mascot Program by wearing the costume boots at commencement.
We’re also celebrating another proud group of graduates this season — the fifth cohort graduating from the Apple Developer Academy.
Some 200 Detroit residents in this cohort trained in coding, app design, marketing and project management.
Our partnership with Apple and the Gilbert Family Foundation is still the only academy of its kind in North America.
AI-ready Spartans
Speaking of technology, we recently held two events on campus with a focus on artificial intelligence: the Ethics AI Summit and our first Apple Manufacturing Academy Forum.
I want to thank everyone who joined us in those events as we think about deploying and teaching AI machine learning in responsible ways.
Meanwhile, in our role as the state's chief talent activator, initiatives spurred by our Green and White Council continue to move forward.
For example, we’re developing tools that better track graduate career outcomes, identify new workforce opportunities and strengthen alignment of career preparation with evolving industry needs.
We’re also advancing plans for a centralized Corporate Engagement Center, among other actions spurred by the Green and White Council.
And to support a workforce-ready AI education, we recently awarded more than half a million dollars in competitive grants encouraging faculty members to design courses focused on artificial intelligence.
The successful proposals range from a two-day, non-credit immersive workshop building AI literacy, ethical decision-making and workforce readiness through collaborative problem-solving to a 1-credit university-wide AI literacy course and micro-credential to a 3-credit interdisciplinary course preparing future educators to effectively integrate AI into teaching, learning, assessment and educational policy.
I want to mention a couple other recent campus developments of note.
It was also nice to join more than 100 stakeholders and friends last month to celebrate the opening of our newly renovated Plant Science Research Greenhouse Complex.
The renovations and additions, including new greenhouses and state-of-the-art environmental controls, will bring our facilities up to the level our scientists and students need to maintain our leadership in plant science and serve our many industry partners.
I’m also pleased to congratulate John Papapolymerou, who has served as interim Engineering dean for the past year and a half, on being recommended for the permanent dean’s post pending today’s board endorsement.
Dean Papapolymerou has collaborated on numerous vital initiatives, including securing more than $110 million in philanthropic support — much of it going to the Leinweber Center for Engineering and Digital Innovation.
He’s met with alumni and corporations around the world and served as a delegate on investment missions to strengthen business opportunities for Michigan’s growth industries.
On the road
As I said, it’s great to be here in southwestern Michigan for this week’s activities. In some ways yesterday was another version — a mini-version — of our Spartan Bus Tours. Just a few weeks ago, several dozen MSU leaders and faculty joined me for our semi-annual Spartan Bus Tour, which visits places where Michigan State is making a difference and our students and alums call home.
This leg of our tour took us to the Flint and Saginaw Bay region — places that represent Michigan's natural, cultural and industrial and labor heritage.
We saw how deeply embedded MSU is in these communities and how their stories, people, traditions and partnerships have shaped us.
And we saw firsthand the impact of collaboration, resilience and community-driven work across the region, and are grateful to all those who hosted us.
And as always, participants were able to get to know colleagues they may never have met otherwise, perhaps planting seeds for future interdisciplinary projects.
Turning to sports — let's talk “FIFA World Cup turfgrass.”
We can be proud as we tune in this summer, knowing that MSU has literally laid the groundwork: Our internationally recognized Turfgrass Management Program has worked with FIFA to provide natural grass playing surfaces, bringing Spartan research to soccer’s biggest stage.
I’m looking forward to learning more in today’s research presentation, but congratulations to Professor Trey Rogers and everyone who has represented MSU as this huge sporting event now begins to unfold.
I also want to share two additional meaningful sports events I recently joined. Those who follow Spartan tennis might know that our men’s team had an especially notable 2026 season.
The team won both the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles for the first time since 1967.
I was pleased to join Joan Secchia Nowak and others for the dedication of a new state-of-the-art building supporting our tennis program.
With rebuilt outdoor courts and improved spectator and team room facilities, the project provides our athletes with one of the very best facilities in the Big Ten and will foster student-athlete success both on the court and in the classroom.
It was also rewarding to welcome participants to the first standalone Special Olympics Michigan Unified Day recently.
Since its inception, the Unified Day has been part of the annual Special Olympics State Summer Games, bringing together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities in competitive events. The new format brought inclusive competition here as its own dedicated experience.
Expanding access to opportunity has always been what Michigan State is about, after all, and we were proud to host this wonderful event.
Juneteenth
Coming up, I want to take special note of our 6th annual Juneteenth Commemorative Celebration.
This year’s theme, Beyond Freedom: Building Futures, Protecting Our Past and Activating Change, recognizes the contributions of past and contemporary artists, scientists and advocates centering Black excellence in American history and culture.
There are commemorative events throughout next week, and there is something for everybody.
Parting thoughts
I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the remarkable impact Michigan State University has on our state, our nation and our world.
I am grateful for the opportunity to serve MSU and to work alongside so many dedicated students, faculty, staff, coaches, alumni, donors and supporters.
Together, we have navigated challenging federal transitions and continued the focus on a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment.
Importantly, the record-setting milestones accomplished through the Uncommon Will, Far Better World campaign will shape MSU’s future for years to come.
We see some of the tangible signs of MSU’s progress through facilities including the Leinweber Engineering and Digital Innovation Center, Student Recreation and Wellness Center and Plant Sciences building.
And as the board moves today to set next year’s budget and our tuition and room-and-board rates for the next academic year, I want to acknowledge the faculty, staff and leaders across the university who have worked so diligently over the last year to implement budget adjustments that will put the university on a sounder financial footing.
We know we have another year ahead of us with more tough decisions to make about our spending and operations, so thank you all again for making these important accommodations to fiscal stewardship.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank our leadership team for their vision and commitment in moving our great university forward in challenging times. We recently wrapped up an excellent academic year — and I’m proud of the accomplishments we’ve made together.
I want to thank the trustees for their time this week at the retreat — for their engagement with students, faculty and staff that we heard and learned from.
And also, for all of us collectively participating in meaningful conversations with partners in Southwest Michigan communities, showcasing the important work that MSU — Michigan’s state university — provides to and partners with these local communities.
I specifically want to acknowledge Chair Brianna Scott, who lives 80 miles north, up in Muskegon, and who had the vision and passion to bring us here to Berrien County and to highlight our agriculture work in these communities.
It was great to see Ben LaCross, president of the Farm Bureau, meet with local farm owners and members of our outstanding MSU Extension Team. Patrick Cudney from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Ben, Beth and Mike from Extension, Jackie and Stefan from our Board Office — they all did an excellent job organizing the visits.
In conclusion, I’m proud of all that we have accomplished this year. Our One Team approach across the leadership team has produced many accomplishments and progress on our 2030 Strategic Plan.
I believe today the university is positioned to continue moving forward with strength and momentum behind an exceptionally talented and dedicated leadership team, world-class faculty and staff, extraordinary athletic coaches, passionate students and one of the most loyal alumni communities in higher education.
I am confident that Michigan State University’s future is very bright. MSU will continue its talent activation, its impactful research and teaching, its community engagement, its bold, innovative ideas, and as I have said on many occasions, will be a leading public land grant institution with a mission of changing people’s lives. Always being strategic, bold and student focused.
And so, I want to thank everyone who has shared that vision and the work that moves MSU forward.
With that, let’s turn to the rest of today’s agenda.