A Profile of Nizar Lajnef, MSU’s New Associate Dean for Research and International Partnerships.
On August 16, Michigan State University (MSU) appointed Nizar Lajnef as the new Associate Dean for Research and International Partnerships of MSU’s International Studies and Programs (ISP). For Lajnef, the role represents both a return to his roots and an opportunity to shape MSU’s global engagement at a critical time.
Originally from Tunisia, Lajnef first came to MSU as an international student. Having completed a USAID-funded master’s program in Tunisia in collaboration with Virginia Tech, he went on to pursue both his Master’s and PhD at Michigan State. That experience gave him a firsthand appreciation for the transformative power of international education—not only for students, but also for the global image of academia and the “soft impact” that collaboration brings to communities and societies. “Education,” he reflects, “is the first thing that should be an objective when you reach out and collaborate with people. It’s something very close to my heart.”
Throughout his career, Lajnef has remained deeply connected to Africa. His research and professional engagements have taken him across the continent and beyond, with work spanning more than 20 countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa. He sees this new role as a way to give back and to step up during what he calls “a very difficult time for international studies.” Rather than shy away, he views this moment as an opportunity to strengthen MSU’s global ties and make them more resilient.
Lajnef brings with him extensive research experience and a record of success in securing external funding—close to $28 million over the course of his career. His expertise lies in areas at the forefront of global transformation, particularly the digital economy and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on developing countries. He believes these fields will shape the future of education, employment, and entrepreneurship, and sees enormous potential for Africa. “If I look at the number of startups in AI around the world,” he notes, “the U.S. and China dominate. In Africa, across more than 50 countries, there have been barely a dozen in the past five years. There’s a tremendous opportunity there, and it’s one of the strengths I want to bring to MSU’s global agenda.”
At the heart of his vision is the commitment to equitable partnerships. MSU, he emphasizes, has a long history of meaningful collaborations with African institutions—relationships built not on one-sided aid or extractive research, but on mutual benefit, capacity building, and shared impact. He argues that the future of MSU-Africa collaborations lies in deepening these ties, ensuring that investments in research, infrastructure, and digital transformation deliver value both to African universities and communities as well as to MSU. Key areas of opportunity, he suggests, will include infrastructure development—such as telecommunications, transportation, and health systems—alongside the rapid digital transformation reshaping economies worldwide.
Despite challenges in the political and funding environment, Lajnef remains confident about MSU’s path forward. He points to the university’s 65-year history of engagement with Africa as proof of its staying power. Funding models may evolve, but the mission endures. Private donors and foundations, he notes, remain committed to supporting MSU’s work on the continent. And just as importantly, the lessons learned abroad have direct applications at home in Michigan, where communities face many of the same challenges.
For Lajnef, the way forward is clear: MSU must hold fast to its values, adapt as needed, and continue advancing its mission of global engagement. “We’re going to stick to our values,” he says firmly. “We have a strong history, we know what we are doing, and we’re going to keep doing it. Even if resources are limited or circumstances change, the good work that MSU has been doing for 65 years will continue.”
