MSSU president Léon announces retirement

Léon, who has served as president for 25 years and been with the school in one capacity or another for a total of 38 years, told his fellow teachers and educators that “it’s the right thing to do and it’s time.”

“I want to let you know that when I first came to this university I didn’t expect to be here very long,” Léon told the crowd gathered in Webster Hall auditorium. “It didn’t take Vivian (his wife) and I long to realize we had come to a very special place with very special people. That’s why we’ve stayed here this long.”

Léon was MSSU’s third president and is one of the longest-serving university presidents in the nation. There are only about 100 out of 1,478 four-year college presidents in the nation who have served 15 years in office, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education — and less than 40 have served in the same capacity for more than 20 years.

Léon spoke about some of the memories he would carry with him as he thanked the people who had supported him over the years. He said there were many things that he was proud of accomplishing during his tenure with the university, most especially how he was able to help the school weather some rough patches.

“We had to go through three major national economic recessions and state cutbacks and withholdings,” he said. “But we managed to keep this institution together and never had to lay off a single employee. That’s one of the things I’m most proud of.”

Léon also mentioned the international mission that he helped institute on campus and which has become one of the recognizable traits of the university by peers around the world. The fall 2007 semester is being dubbed the China semester in honor of the first international semester 10 years ago, which also focused on China. Other semesters have features Africa, Cuba, Latin America, the United States, Japan, India, Mexico, France and Russia.

Léon first began steps toward the international mission in 1990. Eventually he received state approval and funding and new courses and programs were added to incorporate a more global focus.

“Of course I’m proud of the international mission and our distance learning program,” Léon said. “I’m also very proud to have been associated with each one of you,” he told the crowd. “I want to say a special thanks to the faculty and staff of this institution. No president can stay on the job unless the faculty wants him or her on the job.”

Léon first came to Missouri Southern in 1969 as an assistant professor of business administration. He was promoted to Dean of the school of business administration in 1976.

The board of regents appointed him president of the college in December 1982 after a short stint of five months as interim president.

Among the changes that have taken place during Léon’s tenure as president are the addition of more than 20 new buildings and an increase of diplomas from 350 to 800 a year from when he first started in 1969 to today. Enrollment is nearing 6,000 students a year, almost double what it was in 1969.

Léon and his wife, Vivian, have also been active in the tri-state community and in 1993 were named “Citizens of the Year” by the Joplin Chamber of Commerce. Vivian Léon is also director of the Missouri Southern International Piano Competition, of which Julio Léon made mention in his speech to the fall conference.

“In 25 years you have conducted yourself as an exemplary first lady,” Léon said to his wife. “It’s very difficult to be the spouse of a president or a first lady of anything, but over the years you have conducted yourself with grace and class. You have dignified this institution. Our son was 1 year old when we started and you managed to also raise our son to be an exemplary citizen. And you took the International Piano Competition and made it into a world-class event.

“Together we have managed to play an important role in this institution,” he said. “I know this institution has a bright future. I look and see each one of you and I have confidence that you will continue to give the person who replaces me all your support and energies.”

Terri Agee, vice president of business affairs at MSSU, has been named acting president of the university by the Board of

Governors.