[9] While there, he collaborated with astronaut Sally Ride on TOYChallenge, a nationwide toy design event that encouraged STEM learning for middle school students.

[15] He also played a major role in new university programs in the humanities, arts, social sciences and entrepreneurship.

He spearheaded a community-based strategic planning effort, culminating in the development of the GoBLUEprint for Success, which integrates quantitative key performance indicators that are continuously monitored to track progress.

Additionally, he oversaw the shift to a block tuition system and launched an initiative that provides all new first-year students with free football season tickets at Michigan Stadium.

[21] Under Grasso's leadership, the university achieved a 9% increase in its four-year graduation rate over three years and enrolled the two largest first-year classes in its history.

He restructured the university's diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiative into the Office of Holistic Excellence, focusing on individual narratives, perspectives and goals.

In addition to his accomplishments at the university, Grasso serves as a board member of the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition, New Detroit and the Citizens Research Council.

[21] Grasso's research focuses on how contaminants change and move in the environment over time, as well as processes to reduce their impacts on nature and human health.

[29] Grasso has held a variety of distinguished posts in the environmental engineering and science fields, including fellow on the NATO Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society, technical expert to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, vice chair of the Science Advisory Board for the United States Environmental Protection Agency and president of the AEESP.