Our Team

William R. Beekman

Vice President for Strategic Initiatives

Bill Beekman was named vice president for strategic initiatives at Michigan State University 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 unique positions in the president’s cabinet – more than any other individual in the university’s history – including, in addition to his current role, 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 has also served as senior consultant to the provost and 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. 

During his three-year tenure in athletics, Beekman balanced the department’s budget despite a pandemic-related decrease in revenue of $80 million; developed the department’s first ever long range facilities plan; hired the department’s first director of diversity, equity, and inclusion; facilitated a $32 million gift, the largest gift from a single individual in the history of the university; and hired two Big Ten champion coaches: Jeff Hosler in women’s soccer and Lisa Breznau in women’s cross country. 

In his prior roles, Beekman led MSU's negotiations with the 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.

In addition to his work at MSU, Beekman chairs the Reseda Board of Managers, a wholly owned subsidiary of the MSU Federal Credit Union.  He has also served on the board of directors of the MSU Federal Credit Union since 2013, serving a four-year term as board chair between 2015 and 2019.  Beekman also serves as past president of the University Club of Michigan State University and on the boards of the Michigan Finance Authority and the Michigan Humanities Council.
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.

Kami Smith

Project Manager

Kami Smith joined the Office of Strategic Initiatives in November 2021 and she serves as Project Manager supporting the implementation of the University’s strategic plan. She also oversees the finances and operations of the unit. Additionally, she provides support for various projects as directed by the President’s office.

She began her career at Michigan State University in 2014 as Communications Coordinator for the President. Her responsibility quickly broadened to serving as executive assistant for the Vice President and Secretary for the Board of Trustees in a dual role. In 2019, she transitioned to executive assistant for the Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Smith earned a bachelor of business administration in management from Northwood University.