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Committees and Work Groups

The Board of Trustees endorsed the university’s strategic plan in September 2021, including an implementation process with executive sponsors for each theme area and a Strategic Plan Implementation Steering Committee, or SPISC, comprising the executive sponsors of the six theme areas, leaders of the DEI and RVSM strategic planning efforts and other members appointed by the president.

Steering Committee Membership


Bill Beekman, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, Chair 

Rebecca Barber, Vice President for Financial Planning and Analysis
Norman Beauchamp Jr
., Executive Vice President for Health Sciences
(Executive Sponsor: Staff and Faculty Success; Sustainable Health; Discovery, Creativity and Innovation for Excellence and Global Impact)
Jabbar R. Bennett, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer
(Executive Sponsor: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion)
Dan Bollman, Vice President for Strategic Infrastructure Planning and Facilities
Christina K. Brogdon, Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer
Lisa Frace, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Executive Sponsor: Stewardship and Sustainability)
Terry Frazier, Special Assistant to the Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer
Douglas Gage, Vice President for Research and Innovation
(Executive Sponsor: Discovery, Creativity and Innovation for Excellence and Global Impact)
Vennie Gore, Senior Vice President for Student Life and Engagement
(Executive Sponsor: Student Success)
Thomas Glasmacher, Interim Executive Vice President for Administration and Chief Information Officer
(Executive Sponsor: Staff and Faculty Success; Stewardship and Sustainability) 
Norm Hubbard, Chief Business Officer, Office of Health Sciences
Thomas D. Jeitschko, Interim Provost
(Executive Sponsor: Student Success; Staff and Faculty Success; Discovery, Creativity and Innovation for Excellence and Global Impact)
Barb Kranz, Assistant Provost, Institutional Space Planning and Management
Roushell Mignott-Nesbitt, Director of Strategic Plan Implementation, Office of the Executive Vice President for Administration
Heather Swain, Vice President for Marketing, Public Relations and Digital Strategy 
Dave Washburn, Executive Director, MSU Research Foundation 
Dave Weatherspoon, Associate Provost of Enrollment and Academic Strategic Planning, Professor of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics
Mike Zeig, Chief of Staff, Office of the President


Executive sponsors are leading implementation in their theme areas at the university level, consulting with shared governance as appropriate. The SPISC helps ensure progress across all themes and facilitate coordination, communication and engagement.

Strategic Theme Work Groups


Within each theme area, work groups appointed by executive sponsors are advancing implementation. While the approaches taken by work groups will vary, some common features of their work are to identify key strategies, prioritize initiatives, refine or confirm metrics, engage stakeholders and report progress regularly to the steering committee.

Executive sponsors have established the following strategic theme work groups:

Executive Sponsors
Thomas D. Jeitschko, Interim Provost
Vennie Gore, Senior Vice President for Student Life and Engagement

Erin Carter, Chief of Staff, Student Life and Engagement, convener
Renata Opoczynski, Assistant Dean, Student Success Assessment and Strategic Initiatives, convener

Jason Beaudin
, Executive Director for Educational Technology 
Renee Brown, Director, Center for Community Engaged Learning
Bethan Cantwell, Assistant Provost and Director of Institutional Research
Pero Dagbovie, Vice Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and Dean of the Graduate School
Melissa Del Rio, Chief of Staff, Graduate School
Kirti Deshpande, Director of Human Resources, Residence Hall Association
Greg Deppong, University Controller
Ray Gasser, Assistant Vice President, Residence Education and Housing Services
Brendan Guenther, Chief Academic Digital Officer, Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation
Steve Hanson, Vice Provost and Dean, International Studies and Programs
Hannah Jeffery, President, Council of Graduate Students
Jo Kovach, President, Associated Students of Michigan State University
Mark Largent, Vice Provost and Dean, Office of Undergraduate Education 
Roushell Mignott-Nesbitt, Director of Strategic Plan Implementation, Office of EVP for Administration
Renata Opoczynski, Assistant Dean, Student Success Assessment and Strategic Initiatives
Aaron Reifler, Director, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
Jeno Rivera, Associate Professor in the College of Residential Arts and Humanities
Genyne Royal, Assistant Vice President, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, and Assistant Dean for Student Success Initiatives 
Neil Romanosky, Dean, MSU Libraries
Allyn Shaw, Assistant Vice President, Student Development and Leadership 
Kendra Spence Cheruvelil, Dean, Lyman Briggs College
Laurie Thorp, Director, Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment
Dave Weatherspoon, Vice Provost of Enrollment and Academic Strategic Planning

Executive Sponsors
Norman Beauchamp Jr., Executive Vice President for Health Sciences
Thomas D. Jeitschko, Interim Provost
Thomas Glasmacher, Interim Executive Vice President for Administration and Chief Information Officer

Marilyn Amey, Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Staff Development
Ann Austin
, Interim Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs
Jabbar R. Bennett, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer
Bryan Beverly, Academic Specialist and Director, Office of K-12 Outreach, College of Education
Laura Bix, Assistant Dean, Teaching, Learning and Analytics, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Christina K. Brogdon, Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer
Kendra Spence Cheruvelil, Dean, Lyman Briggs College
Victor DiRita, Rudolph Hugh Professor and Chair, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Veterinary Medicine
Ashley Green, Chief of Staff, Office of the Provost
Chris Long, Dean, Honors College and College of Arts and Letters
Sharri Margraves, Director, Human Resources
Navaeh Marshall, undergraduate student (horticulture)
Roushell Mignott-Nesbitt, Director of Strategic Plan Implementation, Office of EVP for Administration
Kristen Mulder, Finance Senior Assistant Manager/Analyst, Office of the Controller
Gabe Ording, Associate Professor and Director, Center for Integrative Studies, College of Natural Science
Leigh Small, Dean, College of Nursing
Lauren Scott, Chief of Staff, Office of EVP for Administration
Melissa Sortman, Director, Academic Human Resources
Aron Sousa, Dean, College of Human Medicine
Dave Weatherspoon, Vice Provost of Enrollment and Academic Strategic Planning
Student members appointed by ASMSU and COGS

Executive Sponsors
Doug Gage, Vice President, Office of Research and Innovation

Thomas Glasmacher, Laboratory Director and Project Director, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, convener

Titus Awokuse, Associate Dean for Research and Strategic Partnerships, International Studies and Programs
Jiquan Chen, Professor, Department Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences, College of Social Science
Federica Brandizzi, MSU Foundation Professor, Department of Plant Biology, College of Natural Science; MSU-DOE Plant Research Lab member and Science Director, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center
Christina Chan, Interim Chair, Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, and Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, College of Engineering; University Distinguished Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Natural Science
Bill Hart-Davidson, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education, College of Arts and Letters
Melanie Kauffman, Communications Manager, Office of Research and Innovation 
Kendall Mahn, Associate Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Natural Science 
Evonne Pedawi, Director, Contract and Grant Administration
Amy Ralston, James K. Billman Jr., M.D., Endowed Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Natural Science
Quinetta Roberson, John A. Hannah Professor of Management and Psychology, Broad College of Business and College of Social Science
Mike Stokes, Interim Director, Office of Financial Planning and Budget
Bruno Takahashi, Brandt Associate Professor of Environmental Communication, School of Journalism and AgBioResearch; Research Director, Knight Center for Environmental Journalism
Kurt Zinn, Professor, Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Radiology and Small Animal Clinical Sciences; Colleges of Engineering, Human Medicine and Veterinary Medicine

Executive Sponsor
Norman Beauchamp Jr., Executive Vice President for Health Sciences

 

Bill Beekman, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives  
Jabbar R. Bennett, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer
Kwesi Brookins, Vice Provost for University Outreach and Engagement
Lisa Frace, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Norm Hubbard, Chief Business Officer, Office of Health Sciences 
Laura Kuczajda, Chief of Staff, Office of the Executive Vice President for Health Sciences
Chris Long, Dean, College of Arts and Letters and Honors College
Alexis Travis, Vice Provost and Executive Director, University Health and Wellbeing 

Executive Sponsors

Lisa Frace, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Thomas Glasmacher, Interim Executive Vice President for Administration and Chief Information Officer

 

Objective 1: Long-term, Comprehensive Financial Model (Century Bond)

 

Jeff Rayis, Director, Treasury and Financial Management, convener

Jabbar R. Bennett, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer

Dan Bollman, Vice President for Strategic Infrastructure Planning and Facilities

Douglas Gage, Vice President for Research and Innovation

Thomas GlasmacherLaboratory Director and Project Director, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams

Norm Hubbard, Chief Business Officer, Office of Health Sciences 

Thomas D. Jeitschko, Interim Provost

Bob Patterson, Unit Chief Financial Officer, Residential and Hospitality Services

Kim Tobin, Vice President for University Advancement

Philip Zecher, Chief Investment Officer

A separate workgroup will be formed to address budget process

 

Objective 2: Comprehensive Facilities and Land Use Plan

 

Dan Bollman, Vice President for Strategic Infrastructure Planning and Facilities, convener

Eric Boatman, Assistant Director, Institutional Space Planning and Management

Erin Carter, Chief of Staff, Student Life and Engagement 

Thomas Glasmacher, Laboratory Director and Project Director, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams

Charley Hasemann, Assistant Vice President for Innovation and Economic Development, Innovation Center

Norm Hubbard, Chief Business Officer, Office of Health Sciences 

Barb Kranz, Vice Provost, Institutional Space Planning and Management

Adam Lawver, Director of Campus Services

Ming-Han Li, Professor and School Director, School of Planning, Design and Construction

Dylan Marinez, Assistant Athletic Director/Event Operations, Intercollegiate Athletics

Stephanie O’Donnell, Traffic Engineer, MSU Police and Public Safety

Monte PrideCapital Project Delivery Manager, Infrastructure, Planning and Facilities

Richard Temple, Assistant Vice President, Real Estate and Capital Planning, Infrastructure, Planning and Facilities

Steve TroostCampus Planner, Infrastructure Planning and Facilities

Jeff RayisDirector, Treasury and Financial Management

Mike Zeig, Chief of Staff, Office of the President

TBD, Sustainability Office

 

Objective 3: Climate Neutrality by 2050

 

Convener: TBD 

Dan BollmanVice President for Strategic Infrastructure Planning and Facilities

Carla lansiti, Sustainability Officer, Student Life and Engagement

Sherri Jett, Director of Utilities, Infrastructure Planning and Facilities

Jason Vallance, Manager, Building Performance Services, Infrastructure Planning and Facilities

John Verboncoeur, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, College of Engineering

Rati Walther, Assistant Budget Officer, Financial Planning and Budget 

Laura YoungSustainability Program Coordinator, Office of Sustainability

 

Objective 4: Sustainable IT Strategic Plan

 

Richard Czarnecki, Assistant Vice President of IT and Assistant CIO, MSU IT, convener

Teal Amthor-ShafferExecutive Director, Strategic Relations, MSU IT, convener

Dreux Baker, Assistant Director of DEI for Residence Education and Housing Services, Student Life and Engagement

Laura Kuczajda, Chief of Staff, Office of Health Sciences

Samantha Lake, Assistant Director, Human Resources

Terri Miller, Associate Dean, Teaching, Learning, and Research Engagement, MSU Libraries

Steven Ondersma, Professor, Division of Public Health and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, College of Human Medicine

Renata Opoczynski, Assistant Dean for Student Success Assessment and Strategic Initiatives, Office of Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education

Katherine Ruger, Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Life, College of Osteopathic Medicine

Anne Shoup, Associate Vice President, University Advancement

Lindy Smith, Payroll Operations Manager, Office of the Controller 

Marilyn Tarrant, Associate Vice President and Chief Audit, Risk and Compliance Officer

Eric Torng, Associate Dean, Graduate School

Executive Sponsor
Jabbar R. Bennett
, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer

Norman Beauchamp Jr., Executive Vice President for Health Sciences
Dan Bollman, Vice President for Strategic Infrastructure Planning and Facilities
Christina K. Brogdon, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Kwesi C. Brookins, Associate Provost for University Outreach and Engagement
Lisa A. Frace, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Douglas Gage, Vice President for Research and Innovation
Thomas Glasmacher, Interim Executive Vice President for Administration
Vennie Gore
, Senior Vice President for Student Life and Engagement
Emily Gerkin Guerrant, Vice President and University Spokesperson
Thomas D. Jeitschko, Interim Provost
Katie John, Interim Vice President for Government Relations
Teresa Mastin, Vice Provost and Associate Vice President for Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs
Doug Monette, Interim Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police
Laura Rugless, Vice President for Civil Rights and Title IX
Kim Tobin, Vice President for University Advancement
Estrella Torrez, Associate Professor, Residential College in the Arts and Humanities
Quentin Tyler, Associate Dean and Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Director of MSU Extension

Updating the Strategic Plan
The Strategic Plan Implementation Steering Committee, working with strategic theme workgroups will report regularly to the president. Formal reports on progress and achievements will be provided to the president and Board of Trustees twice annually.

A task force appointed by the president in consultation with the SPISC will initiate a formal review of the university’s strategic plan in fall 2024 and produce written recommendations on additions, deletions, revisions or updates to the themes, goals and objectives of the university’s strategic plan no later than summer 2025. As context for its work, the task force will complete an environmental scan and strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis.