Smart elected president of statewide college council

Last edited 1:36 p.m., June 4, 2015

Missouri State University President Clif Smart was elected June 2 to lead the Council on Public Higher Education in Missouri.

Smart, who recently completed a two-year term as the council’s vice chairman, will serve two years as president of COPHE, effective June 2, he said via email.

He joins other newly elected COPHE officers Thomas George, chancellor of University of Missouri-St. Louis, vice chairman; and Troy Paino, president of Truman State University, treasurer, according to a news release.

“Tom, Troy and I are humbled that the other presidents elected us to serve as officers of COPHE,” Smart said in the release. “It is important that we coordinate our advocacy efforts and provide as much assistance as we can in charting the course for higher education in Missouri.

“We look forward to partnering with our community colleges, the legislature, the governor and others as we continue to move education at all levels forward in Missouri.”

The nonprofit COPHE, which comprises presidents and chancellors of Missouri’s public four-year universities, serves the interests of the schools by lobbying and advocating on their behalf, according to COPHE.org.[[In-content Ad]]