Clemson’s search for college president continues after new hire opts to remain in Michigan

CLEMSON — Clemson University’s search for a new president resumed Monday after the chosen candidate opted to stay in Michigan.

Less than six weeks after agreeing to lead the Upstate university, Kevin Guskiewicz informed the college’s governing board he would instead remain president at Michigan State University, citing “personal reasons,” according to a statement from Clemson.

“The national search had a robust pool of candidates, and the Board will be meeting soon to determine next steps,” Clemson’s statement continues.

In a letter to the “Spartan community” of Michigan State, Guskiewicz said public speculation about the college’s future that followed his announcement in May “prompted a period of deep personal reflection about my own commitment” to the college where he’s been president since March 2024.

“After much thought, countless conversations and careful consideration, I have decided to remain at Michigan State University and continue serving as your president,” he wrote in the letter posted online Monday. It never mentioned Clemson or the Tigers.

In his online farewell message in May, Guskiewicz pointed to infighting on the board and “discouraging behavior by a few trustees.” In announcing his stay, he indicated those “governance challenges” are being worked out.

“I am grateful for the patience the board extended as I worked through this deeply personal decision,” his letter continued, which concluded with “Go Green.”

Michigan State never appointed an interim president or outlined a transition plan. So, the college’s governing board didn’t need to take any formal action after Guskiewicz told trustees Monday he withdrew his resignation, according to a release from the college.

“When he initially told me he was leaving, I asked him to consider rethinking his decision. I am so happy that he did!” Michigan State Board Chair Brianna Scott said in the release.

Clemson’s search

Clemson’s six month-search for a new president began Dec. 18, 2025, with the school paying Dallas-based firm Funk Associates $200,000 to conduct it.

The school narrowed down the field from 77 applicants to three finalists before ultimately settling on Guskiewicz.

The other finalists were internal candidates: Anand Gramopadhye, dean of Clemson’s engineering and computing school, and Cynthia Young, dean of Clemson’s College of Science. The names were provided to the SC Daily Gazette following a public records request after Guskiewicz was hired.

Gramopadhye started as an assistant professor at Clemson in 1992. He ascended the ranks of chairman of the industrial engineering department and then assistant to the dean before taking his current position in 2013.

Young became founding dean of College of Science in 2017. Prior to coming to Clemson, she spent 20 years at the University of Central Florida where she was a vice provost and associate dean.

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As for Guskiewicz, Clemson leadership expected him to take over the helm of the 30,000-student university next month, replacing former President Jim Clements, who abruptly retired last December.

The board voted unanimously on May 27 to hire Guskiewicz at a salary of $1.2 million. He was offered a five-year contract, which included annual raises of about 5% and performance bonuses of up to $250,000 annually.

For remaining at Michigan State, his salary will be $1.5 million, reports the Michigan Advance, a States Newsroom affiliate of the SC Daily Gazette.

That’s up from just over $1 million. The increase is “being pursued through non-university resources,” according to the Michigan State release.

But that’s less than what he was offered in May to stay.

Just three days before accepting Clemson’s offer, Michigan State trustees approved a resolution doubling his salary to $2 million and extending his contract through 2031 in hopes of keeping him, the Michigan Advance reported. But that offer was subject to negotiations and needed final approval.

Before moving to Michigan in March 2024, Guskiewicz was chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for five years.

Chapel Hill is actually where Guskiewicz, who grew up outside Pittsburgh, started his career in higher education in 1995.