Clemson University’s board of trustees announced Kevin Guskiewicz as its 16th president during a May 27 meeting. The university said the 60-year-old Guskiewicz—currently president of Michigan State University—will take over from Jim Clements, who stepped down Dec. 31, 2025, after 12 years in the role. The appointment comes after a five-month presidential search, and it positions Clemson for a leadership transition as the university continues its academic and research agenda under a new chief executive. Guskiewicz’s move also reflects how major research universities increasingly recruit top leaders with demonstrated capacity for scaling research activity and managing complex stakeholder environments.