Matthew Daum named dean of MSU’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and associate provost

Following a competitive national search, Matthew Daum has been approved by the Michigan State University Board of Trustees to serve as dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, or CANR, and associate provost.

Daum has provided interim leadership to CANR since July 1, 2024, when he succeeded outgoing dean, Kelly Millenbah.

Daum joins MSU Today to talk about his industry background before returning to his alma mater to lead the School of Packaging. He describes the college’s diverse curriculum, research, and outreach activities. He talks about why he wants to be dean and details some of his goals for the college.

Conversation Highlights:

(0:36) – Describe your background before returning to your alma mater. And what attracted you back?

(3:27) – Talk about the diverse curriculum, research, and outreach activities in the college.

(5:21) – Why do you want to be dean?

(6:35) – How would you describe your leadership and management style?

(8:22) – Describe your associate provost role.

(9:24) – What are some of your short-term goals for the college?

(11:59) – What about some longer-term goals?

(13:15) – What are challenges and opportunities ahead for the college, MSU, and higher education?

(16:03) – Final thoughts

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

Conversation Transcript:

Speaker 1:

Well, it's a pleasure to welcome Matt Daum back to MSU Today. Matt is the brand new dean of MSU'S renowned College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, although he has been the interim dean since last July 1st, 2024, and Matt and I talked a few times in his previous role as chair of our renowned School of Packaging. So Matt, great to have you back.

Speaker 2:

Thanks Russ. I am thrilled to be back and appreciate you coming over here for this conversation.

Speaker 1:

And why don't you start a little bit, you're not new to MSU, you've been around a while, but tell listeners a little bit of your background maybe before you came to MSU and why you decided to come here.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I've been here since 2020, so I moved my family here during the pandemic. Before that I actually was in industry, so I was in Idaho. I worked for a company called Hewlett Packard based in Boise, Idaho. We were there for over 25 years, almost 26 years, and was in executive management roles there. And almost kind of out of the blue got a call from a friend who said, Hey Matt, the School of Packaging has their director job open. Would you be interested? And I said, no, why would I be interested at that? I liked where I lived, I liked the company I worked for. I liked the work that I was doing. And so I kind of just blew it off, frankly. Well, he called again and he said, Matt, you want to keep making widgets or do you want to come back and impact the next generation? That got my attention.

It actually came at a good time because if you know the print industry, which I was in, it was struggling. And I was also at a point in my career where I felt like wanted to spend a little more time with family and was willing to take a new risk. And I was from Michigan and got my degrees from the College and School of Packaging in particular. So I went and explored and the dean at the time, we had a great conversation about what he was looking for and I thought, you know what? I can do this. Let me give it a shot. And so that's how I ended up at MSU. I will say that my degree, my packaging degree from MSU opened up all kinds of doors for me, and that's true of a lot of degrees here at Michigan State. It gives you a great foundation to do a lot of different things, but that degree in particular got me into a globally recognized fantastic company that made huge investment in its employees, made investment in me. I started as an engineer, but then I ended up in management and leadership roles. And so that's how I was trained was to lead and manage all kinds of different functions and businesses really. And so I'm very, very grateful for the land grant mission and the degree that I got and the success that led for me.

Speaker 1:

And Matt, let's talk a little bit about this wonderful College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at MSU. We don't have enough time for you to talk about all the cool things going on, but touch on a little bit of the diverse curriculum, the outreach, the research, so much goes on here.

Speaker 2:

It's a huge college and I did not appreciate that until I actually stepped into the interim dean role and then realize, wow, there's a lot here. So from an academic point of view, there are 12 academic units proper. We've got everything from packaging to construction management, landscape architecture, ag engineering, fisheries and wildlife, ag economics, and many more. And so if you have any interest in agriculture or natural resources built environments, we have it. And that sets us apart. And in fact, our college, I think is unique. It is unique in Michigan. We are able to offer those kinds of degrees that other universities don't have. So that's the academic side. We also have MSU Extension and most people know that MSU Extension operates in all counties in Michigan. I like to think of it as we take the research from the university and we bring it out to the people in the communities and apply it to make communities better, healthy, et cetera. Four H, most people know 4-H and many other programs like that shout out to Quentin Tyler, he's our senior director for extension and does a fantastic job. The other piece is what we call AgBioResearch. And so George Smith, fantastic leader of that organization. That's the research portfolio on behalf of the whole university related to ag and natural resource that cuts across seven different colleges. It's quite a large research portfolio. So all of those things together comprise the College of Ag and Natural Resources.

Speaker 1:

And so Matt, why did you want to be the dean and lead this college?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I get asked that question every so often, especially now when we're in a little more tough environment. Why would you want to go and do that? There's a couple reasons. So one is personally, I feel like my whole career has, I think led up to this point in terms of leadership. I love bringing an organization into a new frontier. That's really what if you boil it down, that's really my passion. And where I feel I have strength is to lead organizations into new territory. This was a fantastic opportunity to do that. The second piece is I am a serial learner. I love learning new things. I never become like an expert really in anything, but I love learning. And so this is a massive p...

Uncommon Will in Action: A Record Year for a Far Better World  

Michigan StateUniversity has announced it raised a record $380.1 million during the fiscal year that ended June 30. 

MSU is also in the early stagesof its Uncommon Will. Far Better World. campaign. The public phase of the campaign was launched in March of 2025. 

Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz and MSU Vice President for University Advancement Kim Tobin discuss fundraising’s role in MSU’s dynamic future. 

Conversation Highlights:

(0:43) - President Guskiewicz, you’ve now completed your first full fiscal year at Michigan State—and what a year it was. Over $380 million raised with more than 65,000 donors contributing to MSU’s future. What does that level of philanthropic support say to you about the MSU community?

(1:52) - Kim, you’ve been leading University Advancement through transformational growth. Can you walk us through what made this particular year stand out—and what it took behind the scenes to reach this milestone?

(3:20) - The campaign title—Uncommon Will. Far Better World. —is bold and aspirational. What does ‘Uncommon Will’ mean to each of you? And how is that playing out across the Spartan community?

(4:07) - How are you helping donors see themselves in this campaign—not just as financial supporters, but as co-creators of that ‘Far Better World’?

(5:41) - This campaign is about more than dollars—it’s about impact. What are some of the ways this momentum is directly benefiting students, research, and MSU’s mission right now?

(7:47) - This past year included 5 gifts of $5 million or more, totaling $138M—which is remarkable. What are you hearing from donors at that level that gives them confidence in investing at MSU?

(8:59) - What role has collaboration between faculty, deans, advancement officers, and university leadership played in this success?

(11:28) - How are you fostering a culture of philanthropy not just among donors, but across MSU’s internal teams—from students to staff to alumni ambassadors?

(13:19) - The campaign has a bold $4 billion goal. As you look ahead, what’s the next frontier for MSU fundraising and engagement?

(14:55) - As you continue your presidency, what do you hope people will say about this moment in time—this record-breaking year—and how it shaped the future of MSU?

(15:59) - If you could speak directly to the 65,474 donors who made this year possible—what would you want to say to them?

(16:44) - What does it mean to you—personally and professionally—to lead MSU during a time of such historic philanthropic support?

(17:43) – What should we keep in mind as the Uncommon Will. Far Better World. campaign progresses?

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

Conversation Transcript:

Russ:

Michigan State University has announced it raised a record $380.1 million during the fiscal year that ended June 30th. MSU is also in the early stages of its Uncommon Will. Far Better World. campaign. The public phase of the campaign was launched in March of 2025. Michigan State University, President Kevin Guskiewicz and MSU Vice President for University Advancement, Kim Tobin, join me to discuss fundraising's role in MSU's dynamic future. Kevin and Kim, great to have you back on MSU Today.

Kevin Guskiewicz:

Thanks for having us, Russ.  as always, I enjoy catching up with you.

Kim Tobin:

Thank you.

Russ:

Kevin, you've now completed your first full fiscal year at Michigan State, and what a year it was with over $380 million raised with more than 65,000 donors contributing to MSU's future. What does that level of philanthropic support say to you about the MSU community?

Kevin Guskiewicz:

Well, I think it reflects extraordinary belief in Michigan State University's leadership, the direction that we're headed, and our purpose as a leading global public research university. And we have amazing stories to tell, and that's what successful philanthropy is all about. I think it underscores our identity as a people-powered institution; our community is all in. And I think that incredible number that you mentioned there, from this past year, I think reaffirms our shared commitment to building a future grounded in access, excellence, and impact. And I think it's a clear sign that Spartans don't just believe in the mission, they invest in it.

Russ:

Kim, you've been leading University Advancement through transformational growth. Can you walk us through what made this particular year stand out and what it took behind the scenes to reach this milestone?

Kim Tobin:

Thanks, Russ. I think really at the heart, it's the team that's worked together. They've been disciplined. We created a strategy three years ago to elevate our success, and people have been committed to that strategy throughout the last three years, and we have also built on the foundation of strong relationships for many years before that. So, the teamwork by the Advancement staff and the strong collaboration across the colleges and units have really been our secret to success. And I want to give a special thanks to our deans and the senior directors of development in the colleges and units. We partner with 28 units on campus to realize this mission and launching the Uncommon Will. Far Better World. campaign also created visibility for what we are doing at the university, and all the positive programs that are happening.

And one of the things that was evidence of people's belief in us is our historic success with our Give Green Day, back in March. It's a single day where we celebrate gifts of all sizes, and in that single day we had 7,716 gifts made totaling $2.2 million for many different funds across campus. So, it just showed the energy and excitement and the teamwork at play.

Russ:

The campaign title, Uncommon Will. Far Better World. is bold and aspirational. Kevin, maybe you first, what does Uncommon Will mean to you, and how is that playing out across the Spartan community?

Kevin Guskiewicz:

Well, I think it means that we do the extraordinary and the uniquely MSU things that distinguish us. And I think it's the relentless drive to push boundaries in research, teaching, and outreach.

Kim Tobin:

I would add that our donor community has shown that they choose action over apathy, and they want to make a difference. It's not just about doing more but doing it boldly and intentionally. I think our Spartan spirit, leading with purpose and perseverance is really evident.

Russ:

The Michigan State University College of Engineering has launched its new Technology Engineering program. (TechE) [pronounced Tech – “E”]

The TechE bachelor of science degree program was developed from the ground up with extensive input from industry. It blends mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering with computer science to prepare students for modern engineering challenges in a multidisciplinary, interconnected world.

Students choose from concentrations in mechatronics and embedded cybersecurity or a smart agricultural systems minor. Courses in hardware cybersecurity, electronics and embedded systems, sensors and signal processing, and robotics, automation and controls are taught in state-of-the-art teaching labs and designed to leverage hands-on, real-world projects that integrate cutting-edge technologies with a strong foundational engineering mindset.

The TechE degree program was launched in the fall of 2024 and offers a unique blend of engineering and computer science, tailored to address the engineering challenges of coding and computer science integrated into modern engineered systems. It serves as the college’s latest response to industry demand for practice-ready engineers and aims to bridge the gap between engineers and computer scientists across product development teams.

Janet Brelin-Fornari, Ph.D. is TechE program director. David Sanders and Heather Dashner are MSU College of Engineering alumni and Technology Engineering Industry Advisory Board members. Sanders is with Microsoft, and Dashner is with Ford Motor Company. 

Conversation Highlights:

(1:17) - What is Technology Engineering? Describe the areas of concentration within it. 

(3:04) - What will this program offer that can’t be found elsewhere?

(4:34) - Why was it important for you to get involved with the Technology Engineering program?

(5:57) – What about coding and artificial intelligence?

(6:30) - What current industry needs does this program meet?

(7:39) - How would your company utilize a graduate with this type of skill base?

(8:44) - How did the idea for this program come about?

(10:41) - How will a degree like this one help improve the talent pipeline in Michigan and the Midwest region moving forward?

(13:06) - Why is Michigan State the best place to launch a new discipline like this?

(13:40) – Spartan Engineers are ready to hit the ground running.

(14:18) - What kind of facilities will be available to the students?

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

“MSU helps students learn to pivot, persevere, and overcome challenges.”

Michigan State University Executive Director of Admissions John Ambrose talks about the challenges and issues facing higher education admissions.

MSU students Ryan Weingarden and Quiana Kelly join the conversation. They talk about why they chose MSU for college, the pressure points they felt during the application and admissions process, and factors to keep in mind when choosing a college. 

The trio reinforces facts and dispels myths about the college admissions process.

Conversation Highlights:

(0:43) – Ryan and Quiana introduce themselves.

(2:15) – John on the challenges and issues in the higher education admissions world today.

(6:36) – Quiana and Ryan on why they chose MSU.

(8:29) – What were your pressure points when going through the admissions process?

(10:16) – What are the key factors to keep in mind when choosing a college? What should I do, and when should I do it?

(15:49) – Why did you change your major the first week of school?

(16:59) – What about the application process? What tips would you offer? What about the essay?

(21:53) – What are some facts you would like to reinforce and some myths you would like to dispel?

(27:21) – What have you learned about yourself since coming to MSU?

(30:03) – What do you want to be remembered for here at MSU?

(31:30 – Rapid fire questions: Favorite place to study on campus, best food on or near campus, one tradition every Spartan should try, most unexpected thing about college life, and one word to describe your MSU experience.

(32:51) – Summary and closing thoughts.

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

State of the State is the monthly round up of policy and research for the state of Michigan from Michigan State University’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR). Matt Grossmann and Arnold Weinfeld from IPPSR are joined by economist Charley Ballard to discuss the latest in politics and the economy.

Bryan Beverly is director of the Office of K-12 Outreach in MSU’s College of Education. He and members of the team join the conversation to talk about their work on how school districts are responding to expiring COVID-19 funds.

Conversation Highlights:

(1:12) – Beverly introduces his team and describes the research.

(2:47) – Tyler Thur adds his perspective.

(6:11) – Abigail Bies adds her perspective.

(7:02) – Are districts having to cut back on programs?

(9:37) – Are there examples school districts can point to that was successful due to temporary funding?

(13:40) – Closing thoughts

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

In a bold demonstration of philanthropic leadership and long-standing commitment to Michigan State University, the MSU Research Foundation has designated $75 million over the next eight years to support the university’s comprehensive campaign, Uncommon Will, Far Better World.

The nonprofit foundation’s $75 million of financial support to MSU reinforces its decades-long partnership with Michigan State University, advancing research, innovation and student success through strategic funding over the next eight years.

Conversation Highlights:

(0:39) - David Washburn is CEO of the MSU Research Foundation. 

(1:52) - Randy Cowen is chair of the MSU Research Foundation board.

(2:32) - Dave, what motivated this support for MSU at this time?

(3:38) - Kevin Guskiewicz, president of Michigan State University, on the impact of this generosity. 

(4:39) - Kevin sees the $75 million being used across all three campaign pillars (Talent Activated, Synergies Imagined and Futures Built).

(6:08) - What else should we know about the Uncommon Will, Far Better World campaign?

(7:00) - Randy Cowen is a graduate of Michigan State University’s College of Arts & Letters, College of Social Science, and Honors College. And he is a 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, which is among the highest awards MSU bestows on its alumni. He demonstrates a continued commitment to MSU by investing in the Physics and Astronomy Department through endowments. The Jerry Cowen Endowed Chair in Experimental Physics honors the memory of Cowen’s father, Professor Jerry Cowen, who was a distinguished researcher in the MSU Physics and Astronomy Department for more than five decades.   

Michigan State University formally launched the Uncommon Will, Far Better World campaign on March 9, 2025. With a $4 billion goal, it is the largest campaign in the university’s history and aims to accelerate discoveries, expand access to education, and create the infrastructure needed to empower Spartans to lead in every field. 

For more, visit president dot msu dot edu and/or msu foundation dot org.

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows. 

New Michigan State University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics J Batt was introduced to Spartan Nation at an introductory press conference on June 4 in the Greg and Dawn Williams Lobby of the Tom Izzo Football Building on the MSU campus.

Conversation Highlights:

(0:00) – Opening remarks from President Guskiewicz

(3:11) – President Guskiewicz introduces Tom Izzo.

(8:22) – President Guskiewicz continues his remarks.

(12:45) – President Guskiewicz introduces J Batt.

Related Content: Meet new MSU Spartans Athletic Director J Batt

Questions from the media for Kevin and J

(20:16) – “Challenges are not a responsibility. They’re a privilege.”

(21:05) – How do you enhance MSU’s role within the Big Ten?

(21:50) – How important is it to you to learn MSU’s history?

(22:52) – What’s the role for non-revenue sports in today’s landscape?

(23:31) – Did you talk to Nick Saban about MSU?

(24:13) – How much can you change quickly, and how much needs to change? And what about NIL?

(25:45) – What traits of J’s stood out to you? 

(27:32) – What is J’s rocket fuel?

(28:49) – Did J do something that convinced you to hire him?

(30:28) – How can you best help football?

(31:18) - What do you look for in the people you hire?

(32:05) – How important was it for you to hire someone with sitting athletic director experience?

(33:40) – Talk about the importance of alignment in an athletic department.

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

J Batt is Michigan State University’s new vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics. 

Batt’s contract and appointment as vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics will be voted on by the Board of Trustees at its June 13 meeting, he will start the week of June 16.

Conversation Highlights:

(0:29) - Give us a bit of your background. Your name is Jason, but you go by J? Is there a story there?

(0:52) - You first met President Kevin Guskiewicz when you were a student athlete at UNC (he played soccer there), and you had to work with him on concussion treatments.

(2:22) - What attracted you to the AD position at MSU?

(3:50) - What’s the state and future of college athletics? NIL, transfer portal, etc. What is coming July 1?

(5:07) - What do see as the challenges and opportunities ahead for Spartan Athletics and all of college athletics?

Related Content: J Batt introduced as MSU's next athletic director

(6:12) - What are some of your short-term goals as you get started at MSU?

(6:57) - If you have had time to think about it, what about some long-term goals?

(7:40) - How would you describe your management and leadership style?

(8:20) - What is your philosophy on fundraising. Why do you love it? “Relationships. People invest in people.”

(9:30) – How does your experience as student-athlete inform your leadership of a department?

(10:48) - Final thoughts for Spartan Nation as you take over leadership of Spartan Athletics.

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

Eric Olmscheid is executive director of Michigan State University’s Wharton Center for Performing Arts.

Olmscheid reflects on his first three years leading Wharton Center. He talks about challenges and opportunities ahead for the arts, and he describes some highlights of the center’s coming season. He shares several examples that show the center’s commitment to its education and engagement mission. He also describes how important donors are to Wharton Center’s mission.

Conversation Highlights:

(0:14) – Have you settled into Wharton Center, MSU, and the community now that you’ve been leading Wharton Center for three years?

(0:58) – How has Wharton Center come out of Covid, and what are the challenges and opportunities ahead?

(3:51) – Why are you so passionate about the arts?

(5:22) – Give us some highlights of the coming ‘25/’26 season.

(6:26) – Talk about the importance of Wharton Center’s Education & Engagement mission. Eric mentions the Act One School Series, Sutton Foster Awards, creative classrooms initiative, and Broadway Bridges.

(12:45) – Eric on the access and arts within reach initiatives. 

(14:18) – Wharton Center’s website is the best place to go for tickets.

(15:17) – How important are donors to your vision and mission?

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

Michigan State University President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. has selected Laura Lee McIntyre as MSU’s next provost and executive vice president for academic affairs following a comprehensive, national search. 

As provost, McIntyre will be the chief academic officer for the university, providing leadership for academic programs and research and outreach involving faculty, students and staff. Her planned start date is August 4, 2025, and she will also serve as MSU Research Foundation Professor in the Department of
Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education.

Laura Lee currently serves as dean of the college of education and the Castle-McIntosh-Knight Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Oregon.

She is an accomplished scholar, a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, and a certified school and board licensed psychologist. Her research focuses on children’s mental and behavioral health, special education, and prevention and intervention to promote child and family well-being in vulnerable and underserved populations.  McIntyre is known for her work in early childhood, autism, family-centered interventions and family-school partnerships for children with disabilities. 

Conversation Highlights:

(1:50) - Give us some of the highlights from your background.

(4:46) - Do you have any experience with MSU and/or the state of Michigan? 

(5:26) - Many outside of academia aren’t entirely clear on what a provost is and does. Can you expound a bit on a provost’s role in higher education at a university like MSU?

(6:38) - What attracted you to the position? Why do you want to be provost at MSU?

(9:12) - What do you see as some of the challenges and opportunities ahead for MSU and all of higher education as you lead the academic enterprise at America's pioneer land-grant university?  

(13:40) - Talk about your research interests and why those are your interests. And what research do you plan to pursue at MSU?

(18:16) - What are some of your short- and long-term goals as you prepare to get started in August?

(20:47) - How would you describe your leadership and management style?

(22:59) - Summarize what you would like Spartan Nation to know about you as the summer progresses, and you prepare to join MSU in August.

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.