David Washburn:
Welcome to the MSU Research Foundation Podcast. I’m joined by my colleague Jeff Wesley, who leads our venture practice, and today we’re excited to be talking with Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz.
Kevin is a sports medicine scholar in neuroscience and a pioneer in concussion research. He’s the 22nd president of Michigan State University, a role he began in March 2024. Wow—two years already.
Kevin Guskiewicz:
It’s going fast, dude.
David Washburn:
Before MSU, Kevin was at the University of North Carolina, where he served as faculty, dean, and eventually chancellor. He also serves on the MSU Research Foundation board, and we’re delighted to have him here. Welcome, Kevin.
Kevin Guskiewicz:
Thanks, Dave. Thanks, Jeff. Always good to hang out and talk research.
David Washburn:
Two years already—it must have flown by.
Kevin Guskiewicz:
It really has. The listening and learning tour took about five or six months, but it helped me understand what makes this place so incredible—where the challenges are, and more importantly, where the opportunities are. And we’ve been leaning into those.
David Washburn:
There’s a lot we could cover, but given the Foundation’s role, I want to focus on research, commercialization, and economic impact. Maybe a good place to start is your work on concussions—how federally funded research led to real-world change.
Kevin Guskiewicz:
It started when I was working with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the early ’90s. I kept asking, “Why are we sending players back into games with suspected concussions, but holding someone out two weeks for a knee injury?”
We knew very little back then. Concussions were called a “hidden injury.” I used to say they’re like snowflakes—no two are alike, which makes them hard to study.
That curiosity led me to the University of Virginia for my doctorate, then to UNC, where we built the Matthew Gfeller Center. From there, we developed protocols that changed NCAA and NFL policies—kickoff rules, helmet sensors, impact tracking. It was really about changing policy through data.
David Washburn:
It’s amazing how different things look now—guardian caps, smart helmets, rule changes. It shows how basic research leads to real breakthroughs.
It also makes me think about current pressures—especially federal funding cuts. How would you describe the state of that relationship today?
Kevin Guskiewicz:
It’s been a challenging year. I’ve probably spent more time in D.C. than ever before, telling our story and meeting with lawmakers.
I serve on the Council for Competitiveness with other university presidents and business leaders. The message is simple: if America wants to stay competitive, we need strong research universities working in partnership with the federal government.
That’s true for biomedical research, agriculture, manufacturing—you name it. We have to keep telling that story.
David Washburn:
Do you think that advocacy is working?
Kevin Guskiewicz:
I do. It’s about storytelling. Programs like Spartan Advocates, our Research for You website, MSU Today—all of that helps show how our work improves lives, from mental health to agriculture.
But we can’t stop. We have to keep reinforcing that message.
David Washburn:
We’ve also seen reports on the economic impact of Michigan’s universities.
Kevin Guskiewicz:
About two weeks ago, I was in Lansing with other presidents. We’re part of RU4M—Research Universities for Michigan.
Together, we generate about $35 billion in annual economic activity. About $3.5 billion in research funding leads to nearly $1 billion in additional in-state impact. That’s something we’re proud of—but again, we have to keep telling that story.
David Washburn:
You were also at the auto show with Mayor Pete, talking about mobility.
Kevin Guskiewicz:
Mobility isn’t just cars—it’s how we move people and goods across land, air, and water. Our engineering and packaging programs play huge roles there.
That fireside chat with Pete Buttigieg was fun. We talked about talent, public policy, and how government supports innovation.
David Washburn:
Did you pick out a new car?
Kevin Guskiewicz:
First auto show ever. I walked out thinking, “This is pretty cool.” And yes—if I’d driven one home, it would’ve been Spartan green with white trim.
David Washburn:
You were also in Detroit at the Policy Conference with Henry Ford Health.
Kevin Guskiewicz:
Yes, and I talked about our partnership with Henry Ford and what’s coming next.
We’re building a major research facility there—opening in about 15 months—with around 80 principal investigators and 500 researchers. One floor will focus on neurofibromatosis through the Gilbert Family Foundation.
There will be major work in neuroscience, women’s health, and cancer. It’s going to be a game changer for MSU and for Detroit—and it will include incubator space, which is where the Foundation comes in.
David Washburn:
Jeff, a lot is already happening there, right?
Jeff Wesley:
Absolutely. From Grand Rapids to East Lansing to Detroit, we’re trying to be catalytic—to help turn the president’s vision into reality. Between Henry Ford, Corwell, PitchMI, and our new fund, there’s a lot of momentum.
David Washburn:
It’s exciting to see startups getting real-world feedback so quickly.
Jeff Wesley:
That partnership is about five years old now, and it keeps getting stronger. If we improve health outcomes, attract talent, and move research forward, great things follow.
Kevin Guskiewicz:
We’re focused on being a talent magnet. Detroit’s resurgence is incredible, and MSU wants to be part of that. We’ll serve as a bridge—connecting Detroit, Grand Rapids, and East Lansing as an anchor institution.
Jeff Wesley:
The impact MSU has across the state is huge. Sometimes it’s hard to connect all the dots, but it’s an incredible story.
David Washburn:
And here in East Lansing, we have partners like McLaren and Fraunhofer.
Jeff Wesley:
And MSUFCU—we’re launching the Conquer FinTech Accelerator with them.
David Washburn:
Kevin, your “one team” mindset really stands out.
Kevin Guskiewicz:
That’s where innovation starts—bringing different perspectives together. You can’t work in silos. I’ve always surrounded myself with people who think differently than I do. That’s how you grow.
David Washburn:
We can’t talk partnerships without mentioning the Green and White Council.
Kevin Guskiewicz:
We launched it in April 2025—18 business and civic leaders helping us understand workforce needs.
That’s led to new initiatives:
- AI Ready Spartans, preparing students for artificial intelligence
- Career-Connected Spartans, expanding internships and work-based learning
- Spartan Catalyst, strengthening entrepreneurship and commercialization
- Faculty weren’t trained for this 30 years ago—we need to change that.
David Washburn:
I might take some of those classes myself.
Kevin Guskiewicz:
You and me both.
David Washburn:
You’ve also hired a new VP for Research and Innovation.
Kevin Guskiewicz:
We’re excited to welcome Shashank Priya. He joins us from the University of Minnesota and brings strong experience in interdisciplinary research. He’ll be a great partner for the Foundation.
David Washburn:
What gives you optimism about Michigan’s innovation ecosystem?
Kevin Guskiewicz:
I talk about MSU as a leading global public research university.
- “Leading”—we’re doing remarkable things.
- “Global”—our work reaches around the world.
- “Public”—we serve taxpayers and the public good.
- “Research”—it’s at the heart of everything.
We’re humble here, sometimes too humble. We need to celebrate our people more. When you put all that together, it creates real opportunity. I want every Spartan to feel proud of this place.
David Washburn:
Our guest today has been MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz. Thank you for your leadership and for joining us.
Kevin Guskiewicz:
Thank you.
