Springfield universities continue presidential searches

Drury names search committee while SMSU narrowsqualifications

Southwest Missouri State and Drury universities continue to make progress in the search for successors for their schools' top ofcials.

SMSU's Presidential Search Committee Oct. 21 narrowed its questions and requirements for candidates. Requirements are credentials and achievements; communication skills; fundraising skills; skill with internal and external constituencies; diversity; vision and commitment to public affairs; administrative experience; leadership record; and understanding of and commitment to academic quality.

The committee has received 57 applications and nominations, and more are expected before the Nov. 8 deadline.

"The easy part is behind us in terms of commitment, workload and signicance of decisions," said committee chair Michael Franks in a university news release. "From November 8 until February 1, we have a lot of work to do to get the pool down to the nal three."

The committee will screen the current batch of applicants down to 18. Three nalists will then be forwarded to the university board of governors for consideration.

After 12 years at the helm, SMSU President John Keiser plans to retire June 30, 2005. He will act as president emeritus for one-year following his retirement, receiving his full base pay of $162,000 plus benets.

Drury begins search

At Drury, the board of trustees Oct. 29 named a 13-member search committee to nd the school's next president. Current university President John E. Moore Jr. has announced plans to retire in the spring of 2006. He has served as president for 23 years.

The committee comprises eight trustees, three members of the faculty, one student and one administrator.

The eight trustees are John Beuerlein of St. Louis, committee chair; Shaila Airy, of Annapolis, Md.; Loren Broaddus of Springeld; Robert Cox of St. Louis; Charles German of Kansas City; Ilene Gipson of Boston; William F. Lester of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Ronald Neville of Springeld; and Carol Williamson of Springeld.

Faculty members are Penny Clayton, associate professor of accounting; Lisa Esposito, associate professor and chair of religion and philosophy; and Mark Wood, associate professor and chair of chemistry. Other members are student Kent Otto of St. Anthony and administrator Deirdre Hirner, vice president for development and alumni relations.

"We will keep the search process as open and transparent as possible, while also understanding and respecting the need for condentiality about who has expressed interest," Beuerlein said in a Drury press release.

To assist in the search, Drury has established a link on its Web site www.drury.edu/presidentialsearch for information about the search.

No nal timeline has been set for the search, but Beuerlein said that he expects a formal posting in early 2005.