Executive Officer Biographies

Rebecca Barber

Rebecca Barber brings more than 20 years of higher education experience, including more than a decade of leading planning and analysis functions. She also served as a faculty member for more than 15 years spanning multiple universities.

Most recently, Barber served as associate vice president of financial planning, budget and analysis and chief budget officer at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In this role, she oversaw resource planning and allocation for the university, aligning activity with institutional strategic goals. Prior to that, Barber served as senior director of management analysis at Arizona State University, where she led the development and design of several econometric initiatives, including tuition analyses and support for board reporting. She has led the design and implementation of systems to support institutional planning and has been featured as a speaker and instructor for professional development programs in data analytics. While at ASU, she developed a graduate certificate program in data analytics for higher education, for which she served as the lead instructor. Barber also has corporate experience in financial planning and analysis.

Barber holds a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from Arizona State University as well as a master’s in social and philosophical foundations of education and an MBA, both also from Arizona State University. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Excelsior College in Albany, New York. Barber is a member of the National Association of College and University Business Officers and the Association for Institutional Research. Barber is a recognized expert in predictive analytics, having taught courses for professional organizations and as part of a 15-credit graduate certificate.

Vice President for Financial Planning and Analysis
426 Auditorium Road, Room 412
East Lansing, MI 48824
barberr9@msu.edu

William R. Beekman

Bill Beekman was named vice president for strategic initiatives in September 2021. In that role, he supports the implementation of the university’s strategic plan and serves as a senior advisor to the president.

An MSU alumnus, Beekman has served the university since 1995, holding five positions in the president’s cabinet in addition to his current role, including vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics, acting president, vice president and secretary of the Board of Trustees, and executive director of the MSU Alumni Association. Beekman also has served as senior consultant to the provost and to the vice president for finance and operations, assistant dean for planning and finance in the College of Human Medicine and acting chief executive officer of the MSU HealthTeam.

While in athletics, Beekman balanced the department’s budget despite a pandemic-related decrease in revenue of $80 million and hired Big Ten championship coaches Jeff Hosler and Lisa Breznau. In his prior roles, Beekman led MSU’s negotiations with McLaren Health System to develop a hospital adjacent to campus and, with several colleagues, negotiated the expansion of the College of Human Medicine to Grand Rapids. He has taught health policy and health finance in the College of Human Medicine and the College of Law.

Beekman earned an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, a law degree from Wayne State University Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in justice, morality and constitutional democracy from MSU’s James Madison College.

Vice President for Strategic Initiatives
Wills House, Room 201
beekman@msu.edu

Jabbar R. Bennett

Jabbar R. Bennett is MSU’s vice president and chief diversity officer. Bennett works to advance MSU’s diversity, equity and inclusion strategic priorities along with staff in the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, and partnerships among senior executives, deans, faculty, staff, students and alumni. Bennett is also a professor of medicine in the College of Human Medicine.

Prior to joining MSU in December 2020, Bennett served as the inaugural associate provost for diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer at Northwestern University. Previously, he worked as associate dean of the Graduate School and associate dean for diversity in the Division of Biology and Medicine at Brown University. Bennett also has held administrative appointments at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School and United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley. He has served on the faculty at Harvard, Brown and Northwestern.

Bennett received a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in Spanish from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and a doctoral degree in biomedical sciences from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. He completed postdoctoral research training at Harvard Medical School and is an alumnus of the Harvard University Administrative Fellows Program and Massachusetts Education Policy Fellowship Program.

Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer
426 Auditorium Rd, Rm 444
Administration Building
517-353-3924
vpcdo@msu.edu

Dan Bollman

Dan Bollman is vice president for strategic infrastructure planning and facilities. A registered professional engineer with decades of experience in design- and construction-related activities, Bollman previously was director of Engineering and Architectural Services, where he was responsible for all estimating, design and construction activities on campus related to construction of new facilities, renovations, maintenance and repair, infrastructure and landscape.

After graduating from Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, Bollman spent five years managing the construction of major projects with the United States Naval Civil Engineer Corps. He then returned to MSU to work in various capacities within Engineering and Architectural Services before becoming director.

Bollman holds a master's degree in resource development, is a LEED-accredited professional and a certified educational facilities professional. He is active in the Construction Owners Association of America, Association of Physical Plant Administrators and the National Society of Professional Engineers.

Vice President for Strategic Infrastructure Planning and Facilities
1147 Chestnut Road, Room 101
Infrastructure Planning and Facilities Building
517-355-3366
dbollman@ipf.msu.edu

Christina Brogdon

Christina Brogdon is the Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, leading MSU’s human capital agenda, including talent acquisition and retention; leadership and organizational development; compensation and classification; benefits; employee and labor relations for staff and executive management.

Christina has proven excellence in the oversight and delivery of human resources strategy. She is a visionary leader with expertise in the opportunities and challenges facing higher education human resources. Her utilization of core people skills, ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders, and create a problem-solving approach has led to a career with demonstrated improvement, workforce leadership, and skill in change management.

Before joining MSU in 2022, Christina served as Vice Chancellor for Human Resources at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Prior to her role at North Carolina A&T, Christina served as Chief Human Resources Officer at West Georgia, Radford, and Bluefield State, in addition to having leadership roles at Virginia Tech. Christina earned her Bachelor of Science in Management at Virginia Tech and a Master of Business Administration from Averett University.

In addition to her MBA and B.S., Christina received a certificate in Strategic HR Leadership from the Industrial & Labor Relations School of Cornell University and has her Professional in Human Resources certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI).

Christina champions diversity, equity, and inclusion and employs best practices that facilitate discourse to source, select, engage, develop, and retain a highly qualified, diverse workforce. She serves on the Pamplin College of Business Advisory Council at Virginia Tech and is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). She is also a member of the College & University Personnel Association (CUPA-HR) and has held leadership roles at the state, regional, and national levels, including the national board.

Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
1407 S. Harrison Road
517-884-0101
brogdonc@hr.msu.edu

426 Auditorium Road, Room 412 Hannah Administration Building

Michael Brown

Michael Brown is the university physician and chief public health officer for Michigan State University. In this role he is a senior advisor to the president with the responsibility of planning and preparing for major public health issues affecting the campus community. In addition, Brown serves as the liaison to local and state public health officials and assists the education abroad programs with urgent medical issues. Brown also continues his role as founding chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine in MSU’s College of Human Medicine.

After graduating from MSU in 1986, Brown completed his emergency medicine residency training at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids where he subsequently joined the faculty. It was during this period that he developed a passion for summarizing evidence in a form useful to clinicians. This interest led to a master’s degree in epidemiology with a focus on evidence synthesis (i.e., meta-analysis). Brown serves on the editorial board for Cochrane and as lead editor for its journal, Cochrane Evidence Synthesis and Methods.

University Physician
463 East Circle Drive, Room 123
517-353-8933
uphys@msu.edu

Rebecca DeVooght

Rebecca DeVooght was named vice president for Government Relations in July 2024. In this role, DeVooght develops, articulates and executes the university’s comprehensive government relations strategy across all levels of government, representing all MSU locations and campuses to advance the university’s mission and priorities.

Prior to joining MSU, DeVooght served as director of State Relations at the University of Michigan for 11 years. There, she focused on state appropriations and on elevating research and academic freedom through strong collaborations with university academic and administrative units on the various intersections with state policy. Through her direct efforts, DeVooght was successful in securing base appropriation increases for the university as well as capital outlay support for such purposes as UM’s School of Dentistry, a joint project between the College of Engineering and School of Information and other critical research projects. She also successfully enhanced campus engagement and collaboration with a wide range of government and nongovernment organizations beyond higher education.

Before her time at UM, Rebecca spent 12 years as a chief of staff and communications director in the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives. During her tenure in state government, she championed mental health advocacy, worked to enhance domestic violence and sexual assault prevention policy and increased higher education funding support.

DeVooght earned her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and attended an agriculture and natural resources exchange program with University College Dublin.

Vice President for Government Relations
426 Auditorium Road, Room 484
517-353-9000

Stefan Fletcher

Stefan Fletcher has served as the secretary and chief of staff to the Board of Trustees since January 2023. In this role, Dr. Fletcher supports the board in the fulfillment of its general supervisory responsibility for the university. Dr. Fletcher is the internal and external liaison and adviser to the board, with custodial and management responsibility for the board’s bylaws, ordinances, policies and other records.

Dr. Fletcher holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin–Superior (UWS), a law degree from the Michigan State University College of Law, and a doctorate from the Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education program at MSU. Dr. Fletcher served in a variety of shared governance leadership roles while in Wisconsin and Michigan, including two terms as Student Government Association president at University of Wisconsin–Superior and four terms as president of the MSU Council of Graduate Students.

Before returning to MSU, Dr. Fletcher was the director of Administrative Policies, Projects, and Academic Fellowships at the University of Wisconsin System Administration, overseeing system-wide policy and project management in addition to a fellowship program for advanced-degree students. Among other volunteer roles, Dr. Fletcher currently serves as chair of the Association of College and University Policy Administrators (ACUPA) and as part of the Board Professionals Leadership Group with the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges.

Secretary and Chief of Staff to the Board of Trustees
426 Auditorium Road, Room 450
Administration Building
sfletche@msu.edu

Lisa A. Frace

Lisa A. Frace was named senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer in May 2021. In this role, Frace oversees financial management for the university and is responsible for managing financial progress including developing long-range financial plans. She brings more than 15 years of higher education leadership experience, having served as senior associate vice chancellor and chief finance and budget officer for the University of California, Davis and as associate vice president, budget and planning and chief budgeting officer for Arizona State University. Prior to joining higher education, Frace had more than 20 years of experience in several private sector industries, with a background in strategic planning, financial management, and treasury. During her career, Frace has led the re-imagining of financial processes, budgets, and integration of resource allocation with strategic vision.

She has been in higher education association, serving on the board, in a variety of professional development leadership roles, and as an instructor with the Western Association of College and University Business Officers. She also recently served on the board of the National Association of College and University Business Officers. Frace received the association’s Rising Star Award in 2017.

Frace received a bachelor’s degree in health planning and administration and a master’s degree in business administration with concentrations in marketing and finance from Pennsylvania State University. She also attended the executive program in the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia.

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
426 Auditorium Road, Room 412
Administration Building
lfrace@msu.edu

Doug Gage

Doug Gage is vice president for research and innovation, overseeing strategic initiatives and support for the university’s multi-million-dollar annual research programs. He is also a professor in the College of Natural Science Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Gage began his career at MSU as a postdoctoral researcher in the MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory and later served as the director of the Mass Spectrometry Facility. In 2002, Gage left the university to work in research and development in the pharmaceutical industry before returning to MSU in 2007. He is active with the Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization Hub, and the board of the Spectrum Health-MSU Research Alliance. He currently serves as research chair for MSU’s partnership with Henry Ford Health Center.

Gage earned a doctorate in botany from the University of Texas and holds a master’s degree in biological sciences and bachelor’s in psychology from Florida State University.

Vice President for Research and Innovation
426 Auditorium Road
Administration Building
(517) 355-0306
gage@msu.edu

Vennie Gore

Vennie Gore is the Senior Vice President for Student Life & Engagement at MSU. Gore administers a residence hall system, including apartments, with a capacity for 17,500 students, as well as the Culinary Services program, which serves more than 50,000 meals daily. In his role, Gore also oversees various units within the areas of Diversity, Equity and Belonging; Student Involvement and Leadership; the Career Center; Registered Student Organizations; Transition; Experiential Learning; and Health, Wellness and Safety. He also provides oversight for the Dean of Students’ office.

Student Life & Engagement also includes the MSU Union, MSU Bakers, University Concessions, MSU dining halls and food courts, Sparty’s markets, coffee shops, Food Stores, Spartan Linen Services, Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center and the State Room Restaurant, Kellogg Catering, University Conference Services, the Breslin Center, Forest Akers Golf Courses, the MSU Tennis Center and the MSU Alumni Chapel.

Gore served as co-chair of MSU’s Strategic Planning Steering Committee and currently serves as a member of the project steering committee for MSU’s new multicultural center.

Before joining MSU in 2007, Gore served in various leadership roles in housing and food services at the University of Washington, University of Illinois and University of Wisconsin.

Gore received his master’s degree in college student personnel from Indiana University and his executive management certification from the Foster School of Business. Most recently, he participated in the Institute for Educational Management in the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Gore also has served as a member of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Student Segmentation Advisory Board and has been a member of the board of directors for the Capital Area United Way.

Gore has been recognized with a number of outstanding leadership, alumni and service awards.

Senior Vice President for Student Life & Engagement
550 S. Harrison Road, Room 3010D
1855 Place
517-884-6450
vgore@msu.edu

Emily Gerkin Guerrant

Emily Gerkin Guerrant is vice president for media and public information. In this role, Guerrant oversees daily media relations related to issues and administration, manages crisis communications and works with the University Communications and Marketing team to advance strategic communications efforts.

Prior to joining MSU, Guerrant was the senior vice president of marketing and communications at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the state's marketing arm. She managed the strategic direction for all marketing campaigns, including the successful Pure Michigan tourism campaign and the more recent PlanetM campaign to position Michigan as a global leader in mobility and autonomous vehicle development. Guerrant also led strategic media communications projects for the state's economic development arm, focusing messaging around Michigan's comeback economy and successes since the end of the recession. 

Prior to MEDC, Guerrant spent 10 years at two statewide public relations agencies where she focused on issues management and advocacy communications. She started her career as a press secretary to state lawmakers and the Speaker of the House in the Michigan Legislature.  

Guerrant earned her bachelor's degree in journalism and political science from Central Michigan University and a master's degree in public relations from Michigan State University. 

Vice President and Chief Communications Officer
408 West Circle Drive, Room 401
Olds Hall
emilyg@msu.edu

Alan Haller

Alan Haller is vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics at MSU. Haller is a professional administrator with more than 20 years of experience in athletics, law enforcement and higher education.

A former MSU football player and member of the track and field team as well as a former cornerback in the NFL, Haller joined MSU Athletics in 2010, following a 13-year career with the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety. Haller was promoted to deputy athletic director in 2019 after serving as the chief of staff and senior associate athletic director the previous three years.

During his time with MSU Athletics, Haller oversaw coordination of external relations, capital projects, athletics facilities and event management. Haller has extensive experience working directly with teams as a sport administrator, including football. He also has led coaching search committees, including playing a prominent role in the hiring of football head coach Mel Tucker. Haller previously led the senior staff/sport administrator group responsible for administration of all varsity sports and provided leadership, direction and supervision to sport supervisors.

Haller works directly with campus leadership in providing guidance on a wide range of issues, including serving as a liaison to the General Counsel’s Office, Office of Institutional Equity, Residential and Hospitality Services, Student Affairs and student governing organizations. His relationships with current and former student-athletes continues to be an important asset for the athletic department and the overall well-being of student-athletes.

Haller holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from MSU and a master’s degree in human resources from Central Michigan University.

Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics

Thomas Jeitschko

Thomas D. Jeitschko is the Interim Provost. Prior to assuming the interim provost role, he served as senior associate provost, senior advisor to the provost, and acting provost.

In his role as senior associate provost, Jeitschko helped guide the budgeting process of the Office of the Provost and oversaw Office of the Provost communications and events, Institutional Research, and Institutional Space Planning and Management, as well as the Apple Developer Academy, Student Information System project, and ethics initiative. He also served as the provost’s liaison to the Budget Subcommittee of the University Committee on Faculty Affairs, where he consulted with, listened to, and engaged with faculty on the university’s academic budget allocations and the annual salary adjustment process.

Jeitschko is a Professor of Economics who holds an advanced degree from the University of Münster in Germany in Economic History and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia in Mathematical Economics. At MSU he has taught graduate courses and served on Ph.D. committees in the College of Social Science, the Broad College of Business, the College of Engineering, the College of Ag and Natural Resources, and the Law College.

His research interests are in applied economic theory, including game theory, industrial organization, and law and economics. He has published in a wide variety of journals and served on multiple editorial boards. He has also worked at the U.S. Department of Justice, advises States Attorneys General throughout the U.S. and has been retained by the USDOJ as an expert. Prior to his current appointment at MSU, Jeitschko has held faculty positions at Royal Holloway College, University of London in the United Kingdom, and Texas A&M University as well as shorter appointments at Duke, Johns Hopkins, and Georgetown Universities.

Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
426 Auditorium Road, Suite 430
517-355-6550
provost@msu.edu

Brian Quinn

Brian Quinn is the vice president for legal affairs and general counsel. Before joining the Office of the General Counsel, where he practices litigation, Quinn was a partner at the Honigman law firm in Lansing, Michigan, where he had a diverse litigation practice. Previously, he served as a law clerk for Justice Michael F. Cavanagh of the Michigan Supreme Court. Quinn received his law degree summa cum laude from MSU College of Law and his bachelor of science degree from Wayne State University.

Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel
426 Auditorium Road, Room 494
Administration Building
517-353-3530
quinnbri@msu.edu

Heather C. Swain

Heather C. Swain leads Michigan State University's branding, marketing, creative and storytelling, digital and experience strategy, and analytics and insights functions. She has worked in higher education for more than two decades and in senior leadership positions for more than 15 years.

Swain oversaw development of the university’s Spartans Will brand campaign, and under her leadership MSU's marketing communications work has been recognized with numerous awards, including Tellys, Emmys and Addys, as well as top recognition from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). Swain received the American Marketing Association Higher Education Marketer of the Year Award in 2016.

Swain chaired the drafting committee that produced Michigan State’s strategic plan – MSU2030 – and continues as a core member of the implementation team.

Prior to joining MSU in 2006 as assistant vice president for university relations, Swain spent six years as the senior communications officer at Ball State University where she led a major rebranding tied to the institution’s strategic planning efforts. Swain also spent five years at Indiana University Bloomington in a variety of communications roles, culminating in the position of associate director for university-wide marketing working with IU campuses across the state.

Swain co-chairs the Association of American Universities marketing interest group and is a board member for Futurity, a multimedia consortium of more than 45 leading research universities from the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australia. Previous service includes co-chairing the American Marketing Association Symposium for Higher Education, membership on the CASE Commission on Communications and serving on the AAU Public Affairs Network (PAN) steering committee.

Swain received her bachelor’s degree in English from the College of William & Mary and completed the Educational Management Program at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. She earned expert digital marketer certification from the American Marketing Association/Digital Marketing Institute in 2022.

Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
408 West Circle Drive, Room 405
Olds Hall
517-355-2262
swainh@msu.edu

Kim Tobin

Kim Tobin serves as vice president for University Advancement, a position she has held since May 2022. In this role, she oversees all fundraising and alumni relations efforts, and leads an Advancement team of more than 300 through planning and execution of the institution’s next comprehensive campaign.

Prior to joining MSU, Tobin worked at Colorado State University for nearly two decades. She joined the CSU team in 2003 and was appointed vice president in 2017. Tobin managed a division of more than 150 staff. Under her leadership, CSU saw its highest fundraising year in 2021, raising more than $200 million.

Born and raised in Canada, Tobin is an alumna of the University of Toronto, where she studied arts management. She went on to study at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, where she earned a master’s degree in philanthropy and development. A strong believer in lifelong education, Tobin earned her doctorate in higher education leadership in 2018 at Colorado State, focusing her dissertation on the impact of negotiation on the careers of women leaders in higher education.

Tobin began her advancement career at her undergraduate alma mater, the University of Toronto, before applying her development skills at Lakehead University in her hometown of Thunder Bay. At Colorado State, Tobin was promoted into a central leadership role, progressing from an executive director to assistant vice president and then associate vice president overseeing units such as planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, regional fundraising and principal gifts.

Vice President for University Advancement
535 Chestnut Rd, Room 300
Spartan Stadium
517-884-1008
tobinkim@msu.edu

Phil Zecher

Philip Zecher is MSU's first chief investment officer. A former hedge fund manager with a doctorate in physics from MSU, Zecher oversees all of the university's long-term investments, including its endowment.

From 2010 to 2014, Zecher served on the MSU Foundation board of directors and from 2011 to 2014 on the Board of Trustee's investment advisory subcommittee. He also has served as senior adviser to the president for investments and as an executive-in-residence and professor of finance in the Eli Broad College of Business.

Zecher earned his PhD in nuclear physics from MSU in 1996 and worked with Deloitte Consulting in New York, focusing on technology solutions for financial risk measurement. In 1999, he and a fellow alumnus started Investor Analytics, a risk assessment firm focusing on hedge fund risks. He later served as a partner and chief risk officer of EQA Partners, a Connecticut-based hedge fund.

Chief Investment Officer
Office of Investment
426 Auditorium Road, Room 412
Administration Building
517-432-0430
invoff@msu.edu

Michael Zeig

Michael Zeig was named chief of staff to the President in September 2018. In this role, Zeig serves as the President’s main liaison with other university vice presidents and executives to advance the university’s strategic priorities. He also supervises the operations of the President’s Office and staff.

Zeig joined MSU in 2012 and served as director of university planning prior to assuming his current role. Prior to joining MSU, he worked at Central Michigan University and in the Executive Office of the Michigan Governor in the education policy and external affairs divisions. As part of his scholarly work on higher education strategy and governance, he has been published nationally in journals including Innovative Higher Education and Change as well as other publications such as Trusteeship and Inside Higher Ed. He has taught legal issues in higher education as an adjunct professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at CMU.

Zeig has a bachelor's degree in political science from CMU and master's and doctoral degrees in higher education administration from MSU.

Chief of Staff to the President
426 Auditorium Road, Room 450
Administration Building
517-355-6560
zeigmich@msu.edu