Clemson Taps Michigan State President as its Next Leader

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by WILL FOLKS

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Clemson University – a school beset by worsening financial woes – is reportedly tapping a woke liberal as its next president.

Sources familiar with the situation tell FITSNews the school is hiring Michigan State University (MSU) president Kevin Guskiewicz as its next leader, a controversial move given the blowback the school has received from ostensibly conservative state leaders in recent years.

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UPDATE |

Clemson’s official announcement.

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“Together, we will continue advancing Clemson’s tradition of excellence through student success, innovation and impact,” the school stated in its hiring announcement.

Guskiewicz replaces James Clements, who resigned last December amid the school’s worsening fiscal situation and criticism of his proximity to several insider land deals. According to WILX TV-10 (East Lansing, Michigan), the move comes less than two weeks after MSU’s board voted to extend Guskiewicz’s contract through 2031 and raise his salary to $2 million annually.

That was expected to keep him in East Lansing for the foreseeable future, but Clemson – which has seen its red ink soar in recent years – was able to poach him. While the full spectrum of Guskiewicz’s compensation at Clemson was not immediately available, the school’s foundation will pay him at least $1.216 million annually over the next five years. In addition to that money – and supplemental retirement deferred compensation paid by the foundation – South Carolina taxpayers are expected to shell out a significant chunk of money to boost Guskiewicz’s total compensation.

MSU hired Guskiewicz in December 2023 from the University of North Carolina, where he served as chancellor from December 2019 to January 2024. He took over in East Lansing in March of 2024.

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RELATED | CODE ORANGE

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Clemson’s board – which is controversially governed by a majority of unconstitutional lifetime trustees – tapped Guskiewicz following a “national search,” according to the school’s official announcement.

The school’s release touted Guskiewicz’s “student-focused vision centered on access, workforce readiness and public impact,” and his efforts at MSU to “strengthen campus culture.”

Part of his “culture?” Pushing back against U.S. president Donald Trump‘s 2025 executive orders banning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs on college campuses.

“We have learned over the years in higher education that full participation of all lived experiences and perspectives is essential in being able to deliver on our core missions,” Guskiewicz told a local paper in the wake of Trump’s orders. “Please know that no matter what happens, we all belong here. The university remains committed to research and educational excellence, inclusivity and dialogue, and we will continue as one team to navigate any changes and challenges that come our way.”

Clemson came under relentless criticism from social conservative lawmakers following the politically motivated assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. More recently, though, lawmakers are concerned with the school’s deteriorating finances.

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As we reported earlier this month, despite efforts at cost-cutting, Clemson’s budgeted operating expenses for the 2027 fiscal year are currently 8% higher than actual expenses for the current year. “After several years of expense management, expense and revenue growth remain mismatched,” the school’s chief financial officer, Rick Petillo, told trustees.

Subsequently, FITSNews reported extensively on financial issues associated with the school’s Public Service Activities (PSA) division – including allegations that school leaders improperly restricted funds earmarked for agriculture, public health, research, and statewide regulatory enforcement.

Acording to internal emails and audit materials (.pdf) reviewed by FITSNews, PSA officials believed Clemson leadership was treating restricted regulatory funds as part of a broader institutional budget crisis — potentially limiting access to money they argued was legally earmarked for specific public service functions.

This is a developing situation… please check back for updates.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…

Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.

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