Michigan State University presidents through history (original) (raw)
Updated May 27, 2026, 11:27 a.m. ET
Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz announced his departure from MSU on Wednesday after a little more than two years in the post. MSU has had 21 presidents, and four who held interim or acting titles, from 1857:
- Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. (March 2024–present)
- Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D. (2022–2024, interim)
- Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D. (2019–2022)
- Satish Udpa (2019, acting)
- John Engler (2018–2019, interim)
- Lou Anna K. Simon (2005–2018)
- M. Peter McPherson (1993–2004)
- Gordon Guyer (1992–1993, interim)
- John DiBiaggio (1985–1992)
- Cecil Mackey (1979–1985)
- Edgar L. Harden (1978–1979)
- Clifton R. Wharton Jr. (1970–1978)
- Walter Adams (1969–1970)
- John A. Hannah (1941–1969)
- Robert S. Shaw (1928–1941)
- Kenyon L. Butterfield (1924–1928)
- David Friday (1921–1923)
- Frank S. Kedzie (1915–1921)
- Jonathan L. Snyder (1896–1915)
- Lewis B. Gorton (1893–1895)
- Oscar Clute (1889–1893)
- Edwin Willits (1885–1889)
- Theophilus C. Abbot (1862–1885)
- Lewis R. Fisk (1859–1862)
- Joseph R. Williams (1857–1859)
