Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
College Matters listeners, we want to hear from you. Please help us to improve our show by completing a brief audience survey at chronicle.com/podcastsurvey (chronicle.com/podcastsurvey) .
Last week, Kevin Guskiewicz took a pay cut to leave Michigan State University’s presidency for the top job at Clemson University. And he lobbed a grenade on the way out by criticizing the institution’s trustees, a group of eight elected officials who in recent years have been accused of dysfunction and backbiting. It’s the latest example of how partisan governing boards, willing to throw their weight around in new ways, are making presidents uncomfortable. Are those boards overstepping their bounds? Rema Vassar, an outspoken Michigan State trustee, argues that leadership tension is “a gift” — and discusses an audio recording in which she told students how they might “crucify” a past president.
Related Reading
He Came From the Frying Pan. Can He Manage the Fire? (chronicle.com/article/he-came-from-the-frying-pan-can-he-manage-the-fire) (The Chronicle)
After an Embarrassing Report, Squabbles on Michigan State’s Board Head Toward a Political Conclusion (chronicle.com/article/after-an-embarrassing-report-squabbles-on-michigan-states-board-head-toward-a-political-conclusion) (The Chronicle)
The New Order (chronicle.com/article/the-new-order) (The Chronicle)
Guests
Andy Thomason (chronicle.com/author/andy-thomason) , assistant managing editor of The Chronicle of Higher Education
Rema Vassar (https://trustees.msu.edu/about/meet-the-trustees/v/rema-vassar) , member of the Michigan State University Board of Trustees
For more on today’s episode, visit chronicle.com/collegematters (chronicle.com/collegematters) . We aim to make transcripts available within a day of an episode’s publication.
College Matters listeners, we want to hear from you. Please help us to improve our show by completing a brief audience survey at chronicle.com/podcastsurvey (chronicle.com/podcastsurvey) .
Last week, Kevin Guskiewicz took a pay cut to leave Michigan State University’s presidency for the top job at Clemson University. And he lobbed a grenade on the way out by criticizing the institution’s trustees, a group of eight elected officials who in recent years have been accused of dysfunction and backbiting. It’s the latest example of how partisan governing boards, willing to throw their weight around in new ways, are making presidents uncomfortable. Are those boards overstepping their bounds? Rema Vassar, an outspoken Michigan State trustee, argues that leadership tension is “a gift” — and discusses an audio recording in which she told students how they might “crucify” a past president.
Related Reading
He Came From the Frying Pan. Can He Manage the Fire? (chronicle.com/article/he-came-from-the-frying-pan-can-he-manage-the-fire) (The Chronicle)
After an Embarrassing Report, Squabbles on Michigan State’s Board Head Toward a Political Conclusion (chronicle.com/article/after-an-embarrassing-report-squabbles-on-michigan-states-board-head-toward-a-political-conclusion) (The Chronicle)
The New Order (chronicle.com/article/the-new-order) (The Chronicle)
Guests
Andy Thomason (chronicle.com/author/andy-thomason) , assistant managing editor of The Chronicle of Higher Education
Rema Vassar (https://trustees.msu.edu/about/meet-the-trustees/v/rema-vassar) , member of the Michigan State University Board of Trustees
For more on today’s episode, visit chronicle.com/collegematters (chronicle.com/collegematters) . We aim to make transcripts available within a day of an episode’s publication.
