Dean Eric L. Hegg

Dean, Dean’s Office 
Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 
Pronouns: he/him/his 
Location: 104 Natural Science Building 
Email: erichegg@msu.edu

Eric L. Hegg began serving as dean of Michigan State University’s College of Natural Science on September 6, 2024. Hegg brings a wealth of experience and a dynamic vision with the college’s commitment to STEM education, research, and community engagement. His leadership style is inclusive and forward-thinking and promises to build on our strong foundation while exploring new opportunities for innovation and growth. 

Hegg joined the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology in 2006. His previous role was as the Associate Dean for Budget, Planning, Research, and Administration in the College of Natural Science, a position he held since January 2020. In his role as Associate Dean, Hegg helped oversee the college’s general fund operating budget, helped develop funding requests to the MSU administration, managed the College of Natural Science space and research infrastructures, worked with college chairs and directors in the recruitment and retention of faculty, and helped managed day-to-day operations of the dean’s office budget. In addition, Hegg was part of the team that developed the college strategic plan, and he represented NatSci on numerous internal advisory boards at the university. 

Prior to accepting the role of Associate Dean for the college, Dean Hegg served for approximately seven years as the Director of Business Operations for the MSU component of the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center. In this capacity he helped manage the subcontract and oversaw the MSU business and human resource activities of the center.

Dean Hegg’s research is at the interface between chemistry and biochemistry where he focuses on environmentally important processes, including biofuel production and enzymes involved in the global nitrogen cycle. He has authored nearly 80 manuscripts and book chapters, holds 4 patents with another 3 patents pending, and his lab has been supported by funding from a variety of different organizations including the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, U.S. Department of Energy, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and U.S. Department of Agriculture. He has mentored nearly 100 students and postdoctoral researchers in his lab, including over 50 undergraduate students. 

Dean Hegg was elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). He also received the Cottrell Scholar Award which recognizes outstanding teacher-scholars.  

Prior to MSU, Dean Hegg was on the faculty at the University of Utah in the Department of Chemistry. Hegg earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin and was an NIH Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Minnesota prior to joining the faculty at the University of Utah.