MSU interim president joins CoxHealth board

Clif Smart, interim president of Missouri State University, has been appointed to serve on CoxHealth's board of directors. He fills a vacancy left by John Squires, who recently retired, according to a news release.

Smart, MSU general counsel since December 2007, stepped in as interim president June 27 after the sudden resignation of James Cofer, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

The release noted that during Smart's time as general counsel, he provided legal counsel to the university's board of directors, president, faculty, staff and administrators; led the school's response to the October 2010 audit report by State Auditor Susan Montee; and served on the JQH Arena Task Force.

Smart worked at Springfield-based The Strong Law Firm PC for 15 years before joining MSU. He was a shareholder and vice president of the firm. Smart also is currently serving a five-year term as one of the two lawyer members of the 31st Circuit Judicial Commission, according to his MSU biography.

"He brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our organization, and we look forward to his involvement," CoxHealth President and CEO Bob Bezanson said in the release.[[In-content Ad]]