MSSU board votes out president

The Missouri Southern State University Board of Directors has voted unanimously to end the tenure of five-year President Bruce Speck.

The board voted June 14 to approve the action, according to a news release, which noted the Joplin university and Speck were ending their relationship via a mutual agreement. Stephen Smith, MSSU news bureau manager, pointed to the release when asked why Speck vacated his post at the university, declining to say if he left voluntarily or was asked to leave.

“We thank him for the positive initiatives he implemented during his tenure,” MSSU board Chairwoman Sherry Buchanan said in the release.

Speck left a position as provost and vice president for academic and student affairs at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn., to join MSSU in January 2008. While president of MSSU, Speck led initiatives to improve the school's financials, create a strategic plan, develop a master facilities plan and implement program prioritization, according to the release.

An interim president is slated to be named in the near future, according to the university.