(Source: MIRS.news, Published 12/11/2023) Michigan State University (MSU) President-elect Kevin Guskiewicz told the press Monday that each of the eight members of the Board of Trustees (BOT) committed to a "shared governance model," which he feels will now open the door to collaboration.
"I've gotten to know all eight of the board members … and I have heard each of them say they're committed to a shared governance model that will keep everyone in their lanes and playing the role that they have to play in terms of their fiduciary responsibilities and providing counsel and advice to the president and the leadership team," he said. "And I committed to them that I would build a leadership team and that we would work in a collaborative way with them."
Guskiewicz, pronounced “Gus-kuh-witz,” was unanimously voted as MSU's 22nd president by the BOT on Friday, ending his position as chancellor at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill.
The Lansing State Journal reported that his base salary comes in at $975,000 annually, part of a contract that will pay him over $1.1 million each year.
But it was reported Guskiewicz was initially hesitant to accept, expressing concern in a statement about the MSU BOT and the ability to lead the university without interference.
Today, when asked about BOT infighting and what sort of assurances he received, Guskiewicz said each of the trustees has "looked him in the eye" and committed to a stronger, better MSU.
"I promise you, and I'm confident that we will be able to work collectively with the board," he said.
Guskiewicz acknowledged that there have been challenges, but said they are not unique to MSU, and "higher education is struggling . . . with regard to the sort of political divide that exists."
"There are still some challenges, and we have to stay attuned to that," he said, "so that we would not repeat some of the same mistakes that have occurred."
When asked about how he plans to address internal conflict moving forward, Guskiewicz said he's going to work to find the unique expertise that each BOT member brings to the board "so that we can rely on them to help us solve a challenge, solve the problem, find a new opportunity.
"I think when they're able to bring that back to the table for the greater good, I think they'll need to begin to see that we really are one," he said.
Guskiewicz said with MSU's unique set of recent challenges, he wants to begin by breaking down the university's 2030 strategic plan.
He was also asked about transparency, in response to calls aimed at the BOT to release documents related to former MSU sports physician Larry NASSAR and a lawsuit alleging perjury.
Guskiewicz said that was not among the topics that came up during his hiring process.
"I think if you talk to anyone that I've worked alongside, in my previous leadership positions … transparency is really important to me, and I will work really hard to be as transparent as possible," he said. "Obviously, around personnel matters, there are limitations on what we can do, but I also want to be clear that at times people will link a, quote unquote, lack of transparency with perhaps being dishonest, and those two things are very different.
"I guarantee you and promise you that we will work with the community with the highest level of integrity and honesty, with hopefully, an appreciation and understanding that we can't always be as transparent until a certain point, especially around personnel matters, but I believe in transparency," he said.
