Dear Spartans and friends,
Summer's pace and the leadership uncertainties of the past few weeks haven’t slowed Michigan State’s momentum, and I’m excited to again share with you some recent events demonstrating the excellence and dedication of our amazing university and the people who make it what it is.
First, I’m pleased to tell you that I have appointed Jon Palumbo, MSU’s executive deputy athletics director and chief operating officer, as interim director of intercollegiate athletics, with the pending departure of J Batt. Palumbo, one of our top athletics executives, also currently serves as CEO of our recently launched Spartan Ventures, the new commercial operations organization supporting Michigan State Athletics and our student-athletes. With his work with our athletics leadership team over the last year and his extensive prior experience and knowledge, Palumbo’s appointment, which begins today, ensures a seamless transition and builds optimism for a successful start of the upcoming season.
We’re also thrilled to see increased momentum for our Leinweber Center for Engineering and Digital Innovation, which won an additional $30 million appropriation from the state of Michigan in the recently approved capital outlay budget. I’m grateful to our legislative leaders and Gov. Whitmer for their continued support for this transformative investment in the next generation of innovators and the state’s competitiveness. Gratitude also goes to MSU alum Randy Cowen and his spouse Phyllis Green for their generous $10 million gift, part of which will fund two specialized laboratories in the new building.
Saluting recent graduates
Speaking of the next generation, I want to salute the MSU class of 2026 as members embark on the next leg of their life journeys. We celebrated more than 10,900 outstanding graduates at our spring undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, medical, veterinary and law degree ceremonies, together with proud families, MSU faculty and leaders. Each graduate made their unique mark on our university and will always have a place to return to along the banks of the Red Cedar. Here’s a glimpse of our commencement week in photos.
Underscoring our focus on real-world career readiness, MSU’s postgraduation surveys show that more than three-quarters of our graduates have participated in internship or co-op opportunities. And every year, more than 25,000 students register for community-engaged learning opportunities, both in and beyond the classroom. Service to the community is a Spartan hallmark, recently validated by our ranking at the top of U.S. public universities in service-learning for the third year in a row.
We’re also celebrating another proud group of graduates this season — the fifth cohort of the Apple Developer Academy. Some 200 Detroit residents were recently honored, having trained over the last nine months in coding, app design, marketing and project management through this unique collaboration. It’s another way MSU helps prepare Michiganders for success in a dynamic jobs market, and this partnership with Apple and the Gilbert Family Foundation is still the only academy of its kind in North America.
Rankings underscore MSU excellence
MSU’s excellence was again underscored by our rising rankings on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Global Universities list, placing us among the top 6% of institutions worldwide. We also rank among the top five in the United States in plant and animal science and No. 1 in the U.S. in education and educational research.
Our credentials as a green institution also earned validation as MSU ranked No. 2 in the nation in another global assessment focused on how universities advance United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings evaluate universities based on their contributions through research, teaching, stewardship and community engagement. Congratulations and thanks to all whose work supports our high placements in these and other rankings.
Plant science leadership
Here on campus, it was a treat to join partners and friends to celebrate the opening of our newly renovated Plant Science Research Greenhouse Complex. The renovations and additions, funded with $35 million in state and university support, include new greenhouses and state-of-the-art environmental controls to bring our facilities up to the level our scientists and students need to maintain our leadership in plant science and to serve our many industry partners.
Underscoring our legacy of leading plant science, MSU renewed our 60-year relationship with the U.S. Department of Energy with a new three-year, $13.6 million grant to the MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory. As one of the world’s premier centers for photosynthesis research, the PRL works to unlock the molecular complexities of photosynthesis, including how plants adapt to changes in their environment. Understanding how organisms capture and convert sunlight into usable energy could spur innovations across renewable bioenergy production, sustainable agriculture and advancements in biotechnology and medicine.
World Cup plays on MSU turfgrass
With MSU’s global plant science leadership and focus on practical applications, it’s highly appropriate that we’ve literally laid the groundwork for the year’s biggest global sporting event. With FIFA World Cup soccer matches held at sites across North America, we’re proud to highlight MSU’s internationally recognized Turfgrass Management Program, which worked with the International Federation of Association Football and the University of Tennessee to develop and provide natural grass playing surfaces across all the venues in a wide range of climates. Our engaging coverage of this partnership covers almost as much ground as the miles of natural sod developed for these exciting international competitions. Every game I see on TV is a reminder of our outstanding turf program and how our university research continues to be a global leader.
The future we’re building together
Such examples of excellence build confidence in MSU’s upward trajectory and contributed to the decision by Amy and me to stay in East Lansing — together with the overwhelming expressions of support we received from so many: faculty, staff, alums, donors, partners, and university, community, state and business leaders. I’m proud of all the things we’re building together.
Our Green and White Council of external executives has given us great insight into the dynamic needs of employers and 21st-century careers. Our world-class faculty, working with Provost Laura Lee McIntyre, have launched a thorough study that will result in an updated general education curriculum addressing the knowledge and skills needed by all MSU graduates.
Our One Team, One Health initiative is among our most ambitious and transformational efforts, representing more than organizational change. It includes a new research network, a new health occupations college and the combination of our medical colleges to support new approaches to medical education, strengthening the future of health sciences at MSU through deeper collaboration, greater alignment and a shared commitment to expanding our impact across our work in education, research, healthcare and service.
We recently opened our new Student Recreation and Wellness Center and look forward to joining students for an official opening celebration this fall. We remain committed to holistic approaches to improving our campus community’s health and well-being through the University Health and Well-Being office. And we continue to assess and improve our work combating relationship violence and sexual misconduct and supporting survivors.
We’ve broadened access to an MSU degree through several new initiatives that offer financial, advising, belonging and well-being support to students, with exciting new facilities in the works including a consolidated Spartan Success Center and educational and research buildings focused on digital innovation and plant science.
As I mentioned earlier, our Spartan Ventures organization embraces innovation and collaboration to support the competitiveness of MSU athletics in today’s dynamic environment, and with the support of our dedicated faculty, staff and leadership, we have navigated significant federal transitions while continuing to focus on a safe, welcoming and inclusive community.
Our Uncommon Will, Far Better World campaign, which has already set fundraising records, will shape MSU for years to come. All told, we have the elements in place to continue MSU’s upward momentum, thanks to our exceptionally talented leadership team, dedicated faculty, staff and athletic coaches, our passionate students, our supportive state lawmakers and donors and one of the most loyal alumni communities in higher education.
Amy and I remain deeply grateful for the support of so many in the university community and beyond and are thrilled to continue working alongside those who dedicate themselves to MSU’s mission and excellence. This is truly a special place.
Go Green!
Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D.
(pronounced GUS-ka-wits)
President
John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor
Department of Kinesiology