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Michigan State UniversityUniversity Relations

Key Contacts

Heather Swain
Interim Vice President
(517) 355-2262
Contact Heather Swain

Kent Cassella
Director of Media
Communications
(517) 353-1772
Contact Kent Cassella

Susan Holloway
Director of Marketing
Communications
(517) 884-1987
Contact Susan Holloway

Jim Peck
Big Ten Network Executive
Producer and Director of
University Photography and
Videography
(517) 432-2021
Contact Jim Peck

Carmen Crist
Director of Research, Planning,
and Analysis
(517) 884-2920
Contact Carmen Crist

Staff Directory


As the central communications office for Michigan State University, University Relations is responsible for advancing and protecting the brand and reputation of the university. Our team of marketing and media strategists, writers and editors, designers and developers, and photographers and videographers works to:

  • Maximize MSU’s reputation by building awareness and increasing positive impressions of the university through strategic, brand-aligned marketing and media communications
  • Manage multiple university-level marketing and communications programs and products, including brand advertising, the MSU news room, university social media accounts, msu.edu website, MSUToday television shows, and Spartan Sagas
  • Provide professional consultation for strategic marketing and media communications and coordinate the University Communicators Network, which connects communications professionals across campus

Key Projects



  • Purchase photo and video services
  • Subscribe to MSU Weekly News
  • Learn about filming on campus
  • View the latest Spartan Sagas and nominate a Spartan