By MATT PIKE
Following the retirement of President Elizabeth Kennedy, the search for the seventh president of Missouri Western State University is officially underway.
The Missouri Western State University Board of Governors is accepting applications and has appointed a search committee to help in finding the next president of the university, to take over as Interim President Patt Lilly holds the position currently.
“We are looking for a mission-driven servant leader with a deep commitment to public higher education,” Chair of the Board of Governors and chair of the search committee Bill Grimwood says in a news release. “He or she will understand the current higher education landscape, and put MoWest in a position to succeed in that landscape. MoWest is poised to do great things, and I’m confident that we will attract a lot of worthy candidates.”
The president serves as MoWest’s chief executive and administrative officer, shaping the University’s vision, setting its strategic direction and advancing the institution’s mission and long-term success. The Board of Governors also announced membership of a search committee composed of board members, faculty, staff, students and community members.
- Chair: Bill Grimwood, MWSU Board of Governors and Chief Information Officer, Hillyard Companies
- Todd Michalski ’92, MWSU Board of Governors and Senior Vice President-Sales and Marketing, Gray Manufacturing
- Lisa Norton, MWSU Board of Governors and CEO, BioZyme Incorporated
- Natalie Hawn ’00, President & CEO, St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce
- Dr. Kelly Henry, Professor and Department Chair, Psychology
- Kathy Kelly, Past President of Staff Association and Administrative Coordinator, College of Business and Professional Studies
- Jana Laipple, Assistant Vice President of Finance and Administration
- Unyque Mallett, Student Government Association Vice President
- Monty Smith, President of Faculty Senate and Professor of Criminal Justice; Graduate Program Director
- Mike Poore, CEO of Mosaic Life Care
- Zack Workman ’74, retired business owner and President, MoWest Gold Coat Club
Information about the search can be found on MoWest’s Presidential Search website.
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