History and Overview
The concept of a Land Management Office at Michigan State University was developed in the late 1970s by Vice President for Operations and Public Affairs Jack Breslin and Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station Associate Director Dr. Jacob Hoefer.
The purpose was to centralize the maintenance and operations of off-campus properties, to provide adequate facilities and equipment for research and education, and to improve community relations at the off-campus properties.
The Land Management Office was officially established on July 1, 1979 and charged with the responsibility for management of University properties and facilities. These include the University Farms and the large animal units located in East Lansing, the off-campus Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station properties, Hidden Lake Gardens, and all other agriculture and natural resource properties owned by Michigan State University or the Michigan State University Foundation. These properties total almost 24,000 acres at 45 locations and include 14 Michigan Agricultural Experiment Stations throughout Michigan.
Management responsibilities include budget development, personnel, maintenance and improvement of physical facilities, community relations, planning and evaluation, documentation and reporting on all university lands and associated facilities, and conducting special assignments as directed. The Land Management Office is also responsible for the sale and acquisition of university and MSU Foundation properties and real estate leases.
The director of the Land Management Office works for four units of the university:
- Vice President for Finance and Operations
- Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Director of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station
- Executive Director Michigan State University Foundation
Michigan State University’s philosophy dictates that non-campus land not being used for research, teaching or outreach should be sold and put back on the tax rolls. The income from the sale of excess land goes into a land and improvement fund. This fund provides the resources for the university to purchase additional land assets as deemed appropriate by the Board of Trustees. This philosophy has allowed the university to purchase land for three new facilities rather than keep donated land that was unsuitable for research.
Land Management Office Staff
Charles J. Reid
Director
Responsible for management and operation of property, real estate transactions,
easements, leases, and property inventory, building construction projects.
Brenda Clark
Assistant Director
Responsible for space management for the College of Agriculture and
Natural Resources, university real estate leases and contracts, real
estate transactions, operating budget and accounting for off-campus
properties.
Benjamin Darling
Assistant Director
Responsible for capital improvements, construction projects, farm regulatory
and compliance issues, and management of off-campus facilities used
by the College of Engineering.
Michelle Starr
Administrative Assistant
Responsible for accounting, budgeting and office management.
Linda Peters
Secretary
Responsible for accounting for off-campus properties, scheduling of
the Atrium, receptionist for the Land Management Office and secretary
to the director and assistant directors.
Renee Chapman
Secretary
Responsible for accounting for off-campus properties and receptionist for the Land Management Office.
Kevin Shelle
University Farms Service Center Manager
Responsible for all research support acreage south of Mt. Hope Road,
including the personnel and equipment to maintain the land for the production
of livestock feed and animal waste management. The University Farms
Service Center also provides general services to the departments that
operate plant and livestock units south of Mt. Hope Road.
Peter Sweeney
General Manager for South Campus Livestock Farms
Responsible for coordination of operations, facilities and program activity
for south campus large animal farms. He reports jointly to the Department
of Animal Science and the Land Management Office.
For questions regarding this site, contact Michelle Starr.
Land Management Office
246 Spartan Way • East Lansing, Michigan 48824-3005
Tel: 517/355-3272