Presidents U: University chiefs discuss rigors of job

In the wake of the sudden June 27 resignation of President James Cofer at Missouri State University, administrators at the state’s second largest university plan to begin by year’s end their third nationwide search for a leader since 2004. As the school contemplates its next move, other area college presidents offer glimpses into their own institutions and priorities. The common thread: service to the larger community.

Community strengths
Todd Parnell, a longtime banking executive and Drury alumnus, accepted the president’s duties on an interim basis in May 2007 before officially becoming Drury president in 2008. While students’ interests are always his top priority, Parnell said communicating with all of the constituencies that relate to Drury and promoting community involvement through campus are necessary considerations, too.

“I was raised on the philosophy that an institution is only as strong as its community,” Parnell said.

Robert Spence, president of Evangel University since 1974, agrees. His extensive community involvement has included roles on the CoxHealth board of directors and the Greene County Board for the Developmentally Disabled. He said Evangel aims to cultivate a connection among students with their community.

“Springfield is their home while they’re here in school and we want them to feel a sense of attachment and involvement in the local community and not look upon (the community) as a non-entity. I feel like that one of the best ways to help students get involved is to be involved myself – to not just say, ‘You should do this,’ but to demonstrate involvement on my part,” said Spence, who plans to retire in April 2014.

Parnell said Drury is aligning its strategic plan with the city of Springfield, a move that will produce a university presence on Commercial Street by the fall. The initiative, dubbed Drury on C-Street, follows the city’s desire to de-emphasize the north-south divide in Springfield by encouraging development and participation by local businesses and organizations on the north end of town.

“MSU has done a marvelous job of adding stability to the downtown area, and we hope to add energy and entrepreneurship to the Commercial Street area,” Parnell said.

Ozarks Technical Community College Chancellor Hal Higdon said it’s important for someone in his position to be engaged in the community, and it’s particularly crucial early on.

“I think in the first year, you have to spend a tremendous amount of time in the community,” said Higdon, who has held the top spot at the school since January 2006. “In Springfield, in particular, everything is very community-oriented. If you want to be effective, you’ve got to know the government leaders, the local civic leaders, the local business leaders. You’ve got to be on a first-name basis with everybody.”

‘Constituents at every level’
Southwest Baptist University President Pat Taylor said his position requires a total commitment to the university and its goals, which might mean stretching his time to satisfy the needs of trustees, supporters, alumni, faculty, staff or students.

“You’ve got constituents at every level,” Taylor said, adding that he probably spends more than 50 percent of his time with donors, including events in Bolivar and Springfield. “There are certain events that I have to be at … and that is very much a part of being president at SBU.”

Even at church functions, Taylor is approached by people in the community to talk about issues at SBU, which is all just part of the job.

“With any of those groups, if you neglect them, eventually, it will bite you,” Taylor said. “In order to be effective … you don’t have much in the way of personal time.”

Higdon said each institution is different. “If you have big internal issues, then obviously, you’re going to favor fixing those internal issues over your community time. But you can’t ignore either one. You have to really balance it,” Higdon said. i

For Spence, the school’s seasons determine his balance. At the start of a semester, he spends more time on campus, but as the school year progresses, he attends fundraising events that require travel nationwide.

Parnell said transparency and communication are important tools in his work to serve the students’ interests first.

“My door is always open. I encourage anybody on campus from students to faculty to staff to come and talk to me any time I’m there with any questions or suggestions or problems they have,” Parnell said.

One way he promotes transparency is by using Jack Stack’s open-book management style.

“I share the financial results with the whole campus, anybody who will listen, every month,” Parnell said.

Taylor said it also is important for university presidents to remember their bosses, even if they only see them a few times a year.

“I think those of us who have survived a long time – and I think 15 years is a long time – understand that we have a group that we are accountable to,” he said, referring to his board of trustees.

Each president said having a good supporting cast is vital. And ultimately, they say it’s important to remember what their work is all about.

“You always have to remind yourself why you are doing this, why are you sitting in this airplane seat traveling to go talk to a donor – it’s all about the kids. It’s all about the students,” Taylor said.[[In-content Ad]]