Michigan State University President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D., today announced the selection of Shashank Priya as the new vice president for Research and Innovation, or VPRI, following a national search and the pending retirement of Douglas Gage. This appointment is subject to approval by the Board of Trustees at its Feb. 6 meeting.
“Dr. Priya’s distinguished career as a researcher and leader of a major research enterprise, his deep commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, and his demonstrated ability to expand research capacity and strategic impact make him the ideal leader to help advance MSU’s ambitious goals for discovery, innovation and global impact,” Guskiewicz said. “We are on an upward trajectory, and I am confident Shashank will continue and expand on our success and new opportunities.”
Priya will start in the new role Feb. 16 and brings exceptional leadership experience as a scholar, researcher and senior administrator, along with a deep enthusiasm for advancing MSU’s creativity, research excellence and innovation enterprise.
“I am deeply honored to join an exceptionally talented and experienced team that stewards a near-billion-dollar research enterprise with far-reaching social, environmental, economic and national security impact,” Priya said. “The remarkable depth and breadth of disciplinary expertise at MSU enable the conception and delivery of truly transformative, high-impact interdisciplinary programs.”
Priya joins MSU from the University of Minnesota, where he served as vice president for research and innovation for the past three years. In December 2025, he transitioned into the roles of special advisor and founding executive director of the National Security Research Institute, as well as strategic advisor to the chancellor at the University of Minnesota Duluth. As VPRI at Minnesota, Priya oversaw a more than $1 billion research enterprise across multiple campuses, with responsibility for sponsored projects administration, research integrity and regulatory compliance, technology commercialization, 12 interdisciplinary research centers and institutes, and a rapidly expanding corporate engagement portfolio. Under his leadership, the university achieved record growth in both new research awards and total research expenditures, launched a record number of startups, and significantly strengthened industry partnerships.
Prior to the University of Minnesota, Priya served as associate vice president for research at Pennsylvania State University, where he led major strategic initiatives within the research enterprise. Among his accomplishments, he expanded and reorganized Penn State’s Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Office — doubling its size and substantially increasing large, complex proposal submissions and funding success rates. He also led the Commonwealth Campuses research programs, seeding research across Penn State’s campuses through targeted investments that fostered faculty engagement, core facility utilization and the development of center-scale initiatives. In addition, Priya advanced international research partnerships across Europe, Australia, and Asia and collaborated with campus leaders to develop long-term plans for research infrastructure and equipment investments.
Reflecting on his decision to join Michigan State University, Priya emphasized the institution’s strengths, mission and long-standing tradition of excellence across all forms of scholarship.
“The university’s leadership, talent, culture, community and infrastructure provide an exceptional platform for tackling complex social, environmental and economic challenges — now and in the future,” Priya said. “I am honored to join President Guskiewicz’s leadership team, which is fostering transformative opportunities across research, education and community engagement. Together with Spartan researchers, I look forward to advancing programs that deliver enduring national and global impact.”
