MSU President Guskiewicz Leaves for Clemson After Salary Dispute
MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz is leaving for Clemson University just days after his salary was doubled to $2 million to prevent his departure.
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN — Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz is leaving the university to become the 16th president of Clemson University in South Carolina, following his appointment by Clemson’s Board of Trustees during a Wednesday morning meeting.
The departure comes shortly after MSU’s board extended Guskiewicz’s contract through 2031 and doubled his salary to $2 million, as board members aimed to retain him amid interest from other universities, according to the State News.
MSU spokespeople did not immediately respond to requests for confirmation regarding details of Guskiewicz’s departure.
Trustee Board Tensions
Guskiewicz’s exit follows controversial changes to Michigan State University’s Board of Trustees code of conduct approved Sunday evening in a 5-3 vote. The new rules implement potential sanctions or removal for trustees who speak out against fellow board members’ decisions.
The amended code of ethics includes a ban on divulging confidential information to unauthorized individuals and bars trustees from undermining decisions made by the majority.
Leadership Transition at Both Universities
At Clemson, Guskiewicz will replace Jim Clements, who resigned abruptly in December 2025. The South Carolina university had been conducting a search for new leadership since Clements’ unexpected departure.
MSU now faces the task of finding a replacement president amid ongoing governance disputes among its board members. The recent salary increase for Guskiewicz was reportedly designed to prevent this scenario, making his departure particularly significant for the East Lansing institution.
The timing of Guskiewicz’s announcement raises questions about the effectiveness of MSU’s retention strategy and the impact of internal board conflicts on university leadership stability.
