Carol Viventi, Vice President and Special Counsel to Interim President Engler, has suffered a stroke and is taking a leave of absence from her role at the University until at least Labor Day.

Carol Viventi, Vice President and Special Counsel to Interim President Engler, has suffered a stroke and is taking a leave of absence from her role at the University until at least Labor Day.

According to an internal administration e-mail obtained by On the Banks, Interim President Engler informed University officials of the development on Friday, July 27. Engler indicated that Viventi was hospitalized at Sparrow Hospital due to a “minor stroke last weekend when she was out in East Lansing with her daughter.” The e-mail noted that Viventi was “making great progress.” Viventi is reportedly “eager to return to work,” but Engler has recommended that she refrain from returning to work until at least early September.

Since her appointment to the position in early February, Viventi has been the subject of some controversy. Viventi was present at the meeting during which Nassar survivor Kaylee Lorincz accused Engler of trying to pay her off without her attorney present; Viventi characterized Lorincz’s account as “false news” in an e-mail. She later apologized.

On the Banks wishes Viventi a speedy recovery.

Tyler Silvestri Tyler Silvestri is a third-year law student at MSU who received his bachelor’s degree in Political Theory & Constitutional Democracy from MSU’s James Madison College in 2017. He spent one year as the Assistant Director of ASMSU’s Student Rights Advocates and two years as a Resident Assistant. He is the Chairperson of the University Committee on Academic Governance. He can be reached at Tyler@onthebanksmsu.com. See author's posts