Clemson University’s Board of Trustees selected University of Georgia Provost Benjamin C. Ayers as president after Kevin Guskiewicz reversed course and decided to remain president of Michigan State University. Clemson’s voice vote approved Ayers just days after the board had been preparing to move forward with the Guskiewicz appointment. Ayers will begin Aug. 1 with a base salary of $1 million, with potential increases tied to performance reviews. The term sheet also sets eligibility for deferred compensation, additional goal-based awards, transition expenses, and a tenured faculty position option following the presidency. Board committee leaders said the selection process continued after the reversal, using work already completed rather than reopening a new search. The leadership shift could affect Clemson’s research and enrollment priorities as the university transitions into a new operating phase.