Clemson Hires Kevin Guskiewicz as 16th President in Unanimous Vote

9 articles · Updated · WILX · May 27

Kevin Guskiewicz is leaving Michigan State to become Clemson’s next president after Clemson trustees approved his hiring unanimously on Wednesday.
Less than two weeks earlier, Michigan State trustees had recommended a new deal that would nearly double his annual pay to $2 million and extend his term to 2031, after saying other schools were aggressively pursuing him.
Clemson said Guskiewicz will receive a $1.21 million base salary plus incentives and will replace interim president Bob Jones, who has served since Jim Clements retired at the end of 2025.
Michigan State thanked Guskiewicz for his leadership and said the university remains on a positive trajectory as it begins another presidential transition.
Guskiewicz, who became MSU president in 2023 after four years leading UNC-Chapel Hill, was scheduled to appear at Michigan’s Mackinac Policy Conference later Wednesday.

Why did Guskiewicz leave a potential $2 million salary at MSU for a new role at Clemson?

Will his history of board friction at Michigan State be a preview of his leadership at Clemson?