Former MSU president Keiser dies at 79

John Keiser, the eighth president of Missouri State University, died Jan. 19 at his home in Boise, Idaho. He was 79.

Keiser, who served as the university’s president 1993-2005, led the school through its name change from Southwest Missouri State University the year he retired from the post, according to an MSU news release.

“Missouri State would not be the university it is today without Keiser’s vision and leadership,” MSU President Clif Smart said in the release. “After many years and much effort, the university achieved its name change during his presidency.

“Keiser also made achieving our statewide mission in public affairs a priority of his tenure. The mission is what truly sets us apart in higher education.”

Prior to working at MSU, Keiser served as the president of Boise State University in Idaho from 1978 to 1993. He also was a professor at Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.; Westminster College, Fulton; Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Ill.; and the University of Illinois at Springfield, where he served as acting president prior to his appointment in Boise.

Under Keiser’s 12-year tenure as MSU’s president, the university doubled its number of graduate programs and nearly doubled the number of enrolled graduate students. The Springfield campus saw the addition of Strong Hall, the Physical Therapy Building, Jane A. Meyer Carillon, Wehr Band Hall, the Bear Park South parking structure and the Bronze Bear and Citizen Scholar statues. At the MSU-West Plains campus, the school added the Lybyer Enhanced Technology Center and Melton Hall.

Keiser also established the school’s Bronze Bear Award, recognizing outstanding contributions from alumni and donors. During his administration, the university founded its campus and programs with Liaoning Normal University in Dalian, China.

Keiser’s death follows that of MSU’s sixth president, Duane Meyer, who died on Nov. 22 at 89.