EAST LANSING — Michigan State University has a new president, and now it’s official.
On Sunday, Kevin Guskiewicz was formally installed as the university’s president during an investiture ceremony at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts on MSU’s campus that was interrupted by protesters. After nearly seven months in the role, the event was the first time Guskiewicz laid out his plans for the future of the school, which will include a heightened focus on research and academics.
Guskiewicz announced the launch of the next phase of the school’s Global Impact Initiative with seven new research proposals to make “breakthroughs in vital areas,” including space, electronics, computational biology and public health.
He also announced the creation of a “Michigan State University Ethics Institute,” which will “address institutional transformation.” The institute could begin its work in February 2025.
Guskiewicz explained his vision for the school includes being a “talent activator for the state of Michigan.” He hopes to implement a merit-based scholarship to attract students who might not be able to attend college otherwise and expand the university’s reach in Lansing.