Michigan State University Interim President John Engler today announced the appointment of Robert Young as vice president and general counsel.
Young replaces Kristine Zayko who has been serving as acting general counsel. Zayko announced her intent to retire from MSU and return to private practice, effective June 1.
A former Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, Young is currently of counsel with the Dickinson Wright law firm and has been serving as special counsel for MSU coordinating the multiple investigations and lawsuits against the university.
“Bob did a tremendous job representing MSU during the recent mediation and achieving an equitable outcome for all,” Engler said. “As the university moves forward, we will draw on his prior appellate judicial experience as well as his time in private practice where he served as a general counsel for one of Michigan’s leading companies. His leadership and expertise will be a great asset to the MSU legal team.”
Young served on the Michigan Supreme Court from 1999-2017. As chief justice, Young developed and implemented an acclaimed strategic plan to measure judicial performance, track public satisfaction, adopt best practices and implement technologies to expand public access, increase efficiency and boost productivity of trial courts.
Prior to his Michigan Supreme Court appointment, Young served on the Michigan Court of Appeals, was vice president and general counsel at AAA, and was a partner at Dickinson Wright. He also has been an adjunct instructor at MSU and Wayne State University.
He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Harvard College.
Young’s appointment is effective June 1, 2018.
