Finance Office
Office of Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer
The April 2025 employee spotlight is on Leven Zuelke, a valuable member of the OFPB team, whose unique journey and dedication reflect the Spartan Will to make a positive impact every day. Leven’s path to MSU wasn’t a straight line—it’s a story of pivots, passion, and a commitment to service that’s shaped who he is today.
Leven hails from over a thousand miles away, growing up in Montana before spending eight years in North Dakota. In August 2017, he made the move to Michigan—not for accounting, his first undergraduate degree, but to pursue a second bachelor’s in music. That passion led him to Central Michigan University, where he earned a master’s in music composition with dreams of a doctorate and a career teaching at the collegiate level. But after completing his studies, Leven realized teaching wasn’t his calling. Instead, he returned to accounting—a field he’d worked in full-time for four years before moving to Michigan—and decided to plant roots in the state. His MSU journey began in Residential & Hospitality Services, later shifting to Student Life & Engagement and back again, where he spent four years on the business and finance team for Culinary Services and Auxiliary Sports Group. Today, he’s a key player in the Office of Financial Planning and Budget.
Leven’s upbringing and early work experiences instilled a deep sense of service. From mowing lawns and stocking grocery shelves in high school to serving as a resident assistant and later an accountant and internal auditor, he learned to prioritize the needs of others. That value, reinforced by his time at the University of Mary (where service was a core pillar) and his church involvement, still guides him. “I always try to look at things from the perspective of how I can best do this task to provide the most value and information for the end user,” he says.
Within the Office of Financial Planning and Budget, Leven’s days revolve around system development for Spartan Financial Navigator (SFN), MSU’s new campus financial planning and budget system. Whether he’s building new apps, enhancing existing ones, or troubleshooting fixes, he’s knee-deep in exploring the system’s capabilities—a challenge he finds both tough and enjoyable. He also tackles various analyses for leadership as needed. The most rewarding part? Seeing the fruits of his labor when new apps or functionalities launch, streamlining processes for the university.
Leven’s proud of how his Microsoft Excel skills have leveled up since joining MSU, particularly in creating dynamic charts and VBA macros. If he could teach a finance course, he’d choose budgeting—not just because it’s his wheelhouse, but because he sees the strategic value in understanding diverse budgeting models, especially at a complex institution like MSU.
For Leven, success means building tools that advance MSU’s mission and improve planning for users. A standout moment came with last year’s SFN launch, when he and his team collaborated with consultants to develop, test, and deploy four initial apps for university-wide budget preparation. Despite some bumps, they rolled it out successfully and trained campus users—a significant win. Leven credits his supportive team for making it possible. “They’ve been essential for any of my successes at MSU,” he says.
Outside the office, Leven’s lesser-known passion is composing classical music, a craft he’s picked up more frequently in recent years after a post-COVID hiatus. He also recommends The Hard Hat: 21 Ways to Be a Great Teammate by Jon Gordon to colleagues—a quick, impactful read on leadership and teamwork that resonates with him.
Leven’s always learning. He recently earned a Certified Model Builder certification from Anaplan (the software behind SFN) and aims to start the next level of training this year, inching toward a second certification. To stay motivated through repetitive tasks, he mixes things up or takes short walks to refresh his focus. One fun work memory? Touring the football stadium suites—a rare peek at a space few see without a hefty donation to Athletics.
His advice to newcomers? “Be patient when learning MSU’s processes. It’s a large institution with lots of moving parts that have evolved over time—it takes a while to get it all.” The best career advice he’s received? “Admit when you’re wrong, don’t double-down.” Wise words from a team player who’s found his stride at MSU, blending service, skill, and a touch of musical flair.
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