Resigning Drury president takes Iowa job

Sellars starts July 15.

Before coming to Drury, Sellars held positions at various schools, including a stint as vice president for institutional advancement and associate business professor at Graceland.

“My wife, Bette, and I are excited about returning to Graceland,” Sellars said in a news release. “We served there previously for nine years, and all three of our children graduated from Graceland.”

Sellars will replace Steven L. Anders, who has served as acting president since July. Anders will stay on as vice president of academic affairs and dean of faculty.

“John brings great fund-raising experience as well as administrative abilities, both of which will allow Graceland to achieve the many goals the board of trustees has identified for the near and long term,” said Kenneth McClain, chairman of Graceland’s board, in the release. “We look forward with great expectation to his presidency.”

Graceland is a nonsectarian liberal arts school affiliated with the Community of Christ.

Sellars announced his resignation from Drury in April after serving there for nearly two years. A committee comprising Drury trustees, faculty members and a student is searching for his replacement; Springfield veteran businessman Todd Parnell is filling the role in the interim.