By Marco Schimizzi
When Michigan State University President Kevin M. Guskiewicz signs his name, he makes sure to include “professor” in his title. Why?
He assumed the role of MSU president and professor on March 4, 2024. Guskiewicz was appointed as tenured faculty in the Department of Kinesiology.
His appointment holds great significance for the department, arriving at a pivotal time for the growing field.
“Kinesiology continues to be one of our most popular undergraduate majors at Michigan State University and across the country at many universities,” said Guskiewicz.
“I have cherished my role as a teacher and researcher for the past 28 years, and that won’t change.”
While prepared to serve the dynamic role of a university president, Guskiewicz says his favorite place remains “at the front of the class with a group of curious students.”
In Spring 2025, he intends to co-teach a course in Kinesiology’s doctoral program, “The American Professoriate.” The course examines the foundations and long-standing traditions of higher education, and the modern-day challenges and opportunities facing junior faculty beginning their careers.
A world-renowned neuroscientist, academic leader and concussion researcher, President Guskiewicz is poised to bolster MSU’s world-class reputation as a hub for students and scholars alike.
His pioneering research – including over 200 peer-reviewed articles – has shaped concussion protocols in the NCAA and NFL. To MSU, he brings close to 30 years of teaching experience gained at the University at North Carolina (UNC), where he founded and led the Center for the Study of Retired Athletes.
The center has moved the needle for concussion research. Guskiewicz hopes to leverage his knowledge and experience to complement a new era of groundbreaking research at the department.
He is excited for the opportunity to continue this work with Spartans and bridge the department with leading health and medical scientists across the state of Michigan.
“I’m a big proponent of interdisciplinary and team-based research, so [the Center for the Study of Retired Athletes], which I launched at University of North Carolina in 2001, will be a partnership with our faculty in Kinesiology, Neuroscience, Human Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine,” he said. “We will continue this important work to address neurological, cardiovascular and orthopedic related issues facing both active and retired athletes to improve safety in sport and improve quality of life for former athletes.”
Leading is what he does
- 1993 – began serving as the vice president of the Athletic Training Research Education Society.
- 1995 – received Ph.D. in Sports Medicine from the University of Virginia.
- 2001 – founded the Center for the Study of Retired Athletes at UNC.
- 2006 – named Fellow in the National Academy of Kinesiology, one of 15 U.S. scholars to receive the distinction that year.
- 2010 – founded the Matthew Gfeller Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center at UNC. The center has received close to $8 million in funding since its founding.
- 2011 – named MacArthur Fellow for innovative research on sport-related concussion; and convinced the NFL and NCAA to implement a new kickoff rule which reduced concussions by 50% on the kickoff.
- 2013 – named senior associate dean for Natural Sciences at UNC, where he oversaw a program aimed at increasing the diversity among future science leaders.
- 2013 – Time Magazine listed Guskiewicz as one of 18 “innovators and problem-solvers that are inspiring change in America,” in a piece titled “Game Changers.”
- 2016 – appointed dean of College of Arts and Sciences at UNC.
- 2018 – awarded over $16 million from the NFL as co-principal investigator on a study examining long-term neurologic health outcomes of former players.
- 2019 – selected as UNC’s 12th chancellor.
- 2020 – inducted into the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame.
- 2021 – implemented a transparent budget model for UNC’s $4 billion annual operating budget and eliminated a $110 million structural deficit in less than 18 months.
- 2022 – completed the Campaign for Carolina, UNC’s capital campaign, raising $5.1 billion, exceeding a $4.25 billion goal.
- 2022 – launched a new and novel general education curriculum at UNC – IDEAS in Action.
- 2024 – named MSU president on March 4.
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