Dear Colleagues,

Michigan State University’s commitments as a land-grant institution are deeply rooted in a tradition of public engagement that continues to advance our mission to educate students, foster their success, and catalyze groundbreaking discoveries. University Outreach and Engagement (UOE) plays a vital role in accelerating these efforts—by convening community and academic partners to address pressing societal challenges, translating research into practical applications, and creating hands-on opportunities for engaged scholarship and learning.

Through a broad and diverse range of partnerships, UOE helps strengthen student success, amplify faculty research and its impact, and foster collaborations that benefit Michigan and beyond. As Spartans, we remain committed to contributing to the public good while driving excellence across campus and more broadly in ways that generate lasting impact.

Rooted in tradition—yet forward-thinking in accelerating the impact of our Spartans through talent activation and community engagement—UOE embodies the essence and ethos of our land-grant mission. With its orientation toward the future, an eye toward innovative engagement models, and community-centered collaboration approaches, I am excited about the vision, mission, and goals outlined in UOE’s strategic plan. It builds on a long tradition of engaged scholarship at MSU that identifies opportunities for collaboration with our faculty, staff, and students—as well as across the state of Michigan, the nation, and the world.

I encourage you to embrace the vision and goals of the plan, and to engage in opportunities with UOE to find synergies that will continue to move us forward as One Team toward our shared engagement aspirations.

Warm regards,

Laura Lee McIntyre, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Michigan State University

Dear Colleagues,

University Outreach and Engagement is pleased to share this strategic plan with the Michigan State University community—on campus, across Michigan, and beyond. Our planning process began with three central questions: How well are we fulfilling the mission the university has entrusted to us? How can we innovate and strengthen partnerships to enhance MSU’s public engagement and scholarly impact? And how can we build a workplace that enables our centers, institutes, and offices to achieve shared goals?

To answer these questions, we engaged administrators, faculty, staff, students, community members, and partners. Their insights affirmed the strong value UOE brings to advancing MSU’s engagement and research mission. We also heard that MSU continues to be respected for its contributions to the well-being and vitality of communities throughout Michigan and beyond.

Equally important, we learned that communities are eager to collaborate with MSU to address today’s most pressing challenges. These perspectives helped shape the strategic priorities outlined in this plan and strengthened our optimism about the work ahead.

We invite you to read, reflect, and imagine new possibilities with us. Together, we can continue advancing the public good and deepening MSU’s commitment to meaningful engagement.

Warm regards,

Kwesi Brookins, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for University Outreach and Engagement
Michigan State University