Michigan Business Beat | Kevin Guskiewicz, MSU, Green & White Council Vision, AI-Ready Spartans + +

Chris Holman welcomes back Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D., President, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. Tell us about the recently developed MSU Green and White Council? How did the Council determine its three recommended initiatives? Why is "AI-Ready Spartans" on that list? How important is experiential learning (i.e. internship, study abroad, etc.) in helping to prepare graduates for the workforce? Why is MSU uniquely positioned to drive these initiatives forward? » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Subscribe to MBN’s YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/ Green and White Council Michigan State University’s specially appointed Green and White Council includes some of Michigan’s foremost business, industry and civic leaders. In April 2025, President Guskiewicz launched the Council to champion bold initiatives that will amplify MSU’s role as Michigan’s state university and address the state’s biggest challenges. Harnessing MSU’s distinctive assets and the unparalleled expertise of its members while focusing on what matters most for Michigan, the Council guides initiatives designed to: Develop talent for in-demand jobs across the state and equip Spartans with the skills of the future. Connect Spartans to great companies and careers in Michigan. Leverage MSU’s cutting-edge research and intellectual property to propel Michigan’s economy. Co-chaired by university alumnus Matt Elliott and Eli Broad College of Business Dean Emeritus and Professor Sanjay Gupta, the council’s partnership with MSU helps align education, research, and industry to current workforce needs, identification of future skills, and guidance toward initiatives that prepare Spartans for a rapidly evolving economy. The Council has designed three transformational initiatives that drive this work: AI-Ready Spartans: Builds digital competencies across the undergraduate experience by prioritizing AI through an industry-backed, employer-informed approach, ensuring every graduate can use AI effectively and responsibly. Career-Connected Spartans: Ensures every undergraduate gains access to career exploration and real-world experiences, building the skills, confidence, and clarity needed to launch successfully into the workforce. Spartan Catalyst: Accelerates collaboration between MSU researchers and industry to translate discovery into innovation and economic impact by tackling their most pressing challenges. Looking Ahead University leadership, in coordination with the Green and White Council, is currently working to integrate the initiatives across colleges and units at MSU. The university invites companies and industry leaders to partner on applied AI and digital competency curriculum, career exploration and experiential learning opportunities, and applied research collaborations. Employers play a pivotal role in preparing the future workforce, and MSU welcomes partners ready to build alongside and help power the innovation economy. More information and the opportunity to engage with the council’s initiatives is available here. A $5 million seed gift from an Eli Broad College of Business alumnus will help launch the council’s initiatives and advance the university’s continued incorporation of artificial intelligence, experiential learning and applied research as part of the undergraduate experience at MSU. The council anticipates additional philanthropic investments to expand opportunities for students and partners nationwide.