Missouri State University veteran Paul Kincaid, the school's chief of staff and assistant to the president for university relations, has set an Oct. 1, 2014, retirement date.
The 2013-14 academic year is 60-year-old Kincaid's 28th and final year at the university, according to a news release.
“Coming to this decision was extremely personal and very difficult,” said Kincaid, who is earning a 2013-14 salary of $136,548, in the release. “As with any decision of this magnitude, there were 50 or 75 or 100 factors, but really only one reason: I sincerely believe this is the right timing both for me and for the university."
Kincaid is slated to stay on with his full-time role until the starting date of his successor, expected between July 1 and Aug. 15, 2014. After his replacement begins work, Kincaid will continue to work on special assignments until his official retirement date. MSU President Clif Smart, who was informed of Kincaid's retirement plans last week, has asked his chief of staff to stay on as a part-time employee after his retirement, an offer Kincaid said he would consider if it benefits the university.
“I was deeply saddened to learn of Paul’s desire to retire from Missouri State University,” Smart said in the release. “He has been a great friend, adviser, historian and confidant since I assumed this position. I have never known anyone more committed to his job or who worked harder. I literally could not have done this job without him the first year. I will miss seeing him every day, but I am confident he will remain involved with the university he loves after retirement.”
Kincaid started at MSU in 1986 as the school's first full-time director of university relations. In 1993, Kincaid added the role of coordinator of governmental relations, and was named chief of staff by President Michael Nietzel in 2005.
Kincaid is known for fostering the university's statewide mission for public affairs in 1995 and helping push the school's name change to MSU from Southwest Missouri State University in 2005, according to the release.
Kincaid said though he is retiring from MSU, he is planning to continue working in public relations, marketing and communications.
"I will be retiring from Missouri State, but not from work," he said in the release.[[In-content Ad]]
