Ken Beer

Ken has served as the ComArtSci Dean Fiscal Officer since 2015, held a similar position before that starting in 2011 with both the Department of Advertising + Public Relations, and the School of Journalism, and began his MSU career back in the Fall of 2002 in the College of Social Science.

After graduating from MSU in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Ken spent 10 years in related fields in Michigan, working for the Michigan Radio Network in Lansing, Lezotte Miller Public Relations in Okemos, and Photo Marketing Association International in Jackson. In 2002, Ken's desire to return to MSU and work as a professional came to fruition, although it wasn't as a writer as initially planned. Starting literally from the ground up (a temporary employee in the Social Science Student Affairs Office), and now more than 20 years later, Ken performs financial analysis, reporting, and budgeting work, manages system and building security accesses, as well as coordinates financial and HR transactions and approvals.

Following the pattern of returning to his roots, Ken and his family moved back to his hometown of Petoskey, Michigan, in 2019, and became ComArtSci's guinea pig as a fully-remote employee. Despite being three hours away, he routinely returns to campus for in-person meetings and events, and always finds time for a stroll along the Red Cedar River.