kheier – Presidential Search

Presidential Search Update

kheier2026-06-02T16:53:20-05:00

June 3, 2026 A message from the Board of Governors Dear Griffons, I am pleased to report that the national search for the next President of Missouri Western State University is underway. We have posted the position and are now accepting applications. As you will see from the position description, we are seeking a mission-driven servant leader with a deep commitment to public higher education, a person who understands the current higher education environment and can help MoWest be successful in that environment. In addition, we have appointed a search committee composed of representatives from the Board of Governors, faculty, staff, students and the community. Members will be tasked with reviewing all applications and [...]

Presidential Search Updatekheier2026-06-02T16:53:20-05:00

Appointment of Interim President

kheier2026-05-18T14:04:13-05:00

A Message from the Board of Governors May 6, 2026 Dear Griffons, On behalf of the Board, I am writing to share an important leadership update for Missouri Western State University. We are grateful for Dr. Kennedy’s leadership and service, which have helped position Missouri Western for continued success, and we remain firmly focused on building on that momentum as Missouri’s premier regional applied learning university. To ensure continuity and steady leadership, the Board has appointed Patt Lilly as Interim President of Missouri Western State University, effective May 11, 2026. Having served 12 years on the Board of Governors, including a term as Chair, Lilly is a dedicated, long-standing supporter of the University. Throughout his tenure, [...]

Appointment of Interim Presidentkheier2026-05-18T14:04:13-05:00

A message from the MWSU Board of Governors

kheier2026-05-18T14:04:41-05:00

May 1, 2026 Good afternoon, I have some bittersweet news to share with you. After six years of dedicated service, Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy has announced her retirement. I want to be the first to thank Dr. Kennedy for her service to the university, to our community and to the region. Let us acknowledge we are in a better place because of Elizabeth and her leadership. Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy was named Missouri Western State University’s sixth president on February 25, 2021 after serving six months as Interim President. Under President Kennedy’s tenure at Missouri Western, we have seen the MoWest Nursing program rise to be the best in Missouri. We have claimed our rightful spot at [...]

A message from the MWSU Board of Governorskheier2026-05-18T14:04:41-05:00

Presidential search committee names three finalists

kheier2026-05-18T14:49:30-05:00

Feb. 26, 2019—The presidential search committee at Missouri Western State University has announced the names of three finalists to be the University’s fifth president. The finalists will be on campus for in-person interviews in early March. The interview process includes an open forum where all students, faculty, staff and the community can hear a presentation from the candidates and ask questions. “We had an outstanding pool of candidates with a broad range of experiences, and are very excited to have these three finalists visit campus,” said David Liechti, chair of the Missouri Western Board of Governors and the search committee. “The feedback the campus and community provide us through the interview process will be [...]

Presidential search committee names three finalistskheier2026-05-18T14:49:30-05:00

Recruitment phase of the search has begun

kheier2026-05-18T14:49:39-05:00

The search committee met on Monday, December 3, 2018. The recruitment phase of the search has begun and review of applications will begin immediately. The position will be posted with a variety of professional journals and on professional recruitment websites. The search committee will meet again in early January to discuss and continue to evaluate candidates. The position ad is included in the Leadership Profile.

Recruitment phase of the search has begunkheier2026-05-18T14:49:39-05:00

Presidential Search Forums

kheier2026-05-18T14:49:58-05:00

The Missouri Western State University Board of Governors will welcome AGB Executive Search Consultants, Garry Owens, Ph.D. and Kimberly Templeton, J.D., to campus to meet with students, faculty, administrators, alumni and community members to learn more about what Missouri Western is looking for in its next president. There will be two open forums as part of the process at 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 5, in the Kemper Recital Hall, Spratt Hall room 101. This input will be important as we begin developing the profile of our ideal president, and we very much appreciate your participation in one of the forums. Thank you.

Presidential Search Forumskheier2026-05-18T14:49:58-05:00

Board receives clean audit, approves search firm contract

kheier2026-05-18T14:50:07-05:00

The Board of Governors at Missouri Western State University accepted an unmodified, or “clean,” opinion of the University’s financial statements from auditors BKD. There were no findings of material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in the audit. “The audit is a team effort involving units all across campus,” said Dr. Cale Fessler, vice president for financial planning and administration. “Accounting standards are frequently changing and can be pretty complex, especially for federal programs like financial aid. I’m proud of our team’s hard work to make sure we do things the right way, and gratified to see it pay off with a clean audit opinion.” “From the board’s perspective, hats off to management for a job [...]

Board receives clean audit, approves search firm contractkheier2026-05-18T14:50:07-05:00

Board selects search firm

kheier2026-05-18T14:50:15-05:00

The Board of Governors at Missouri Western State University authorized its chairman to negotiate a contract with AGB Search from Washington, D.C. to assist in the search for the next president of the university. The Board heard presentations from four search firms during a special meeting on Oct. 8, including AGB; R. William Funk, of Dallas, Texas; Greenwood/Asher of Miramar Beach, Florida; and Academic Search of Washington, D.C. Once a contract is finalized, AGB will conduct listening sessions on campus to determine what Missouri Western is looking for in its next president, then recruit candidates, assist with the interview process and provide up to a year of transition support once the new president takes [...]

Board selects search firmkheier2026-05-18T14:50:15-05:00

Presidential search committee schedules first meeting

kheier2026-05-18T14:50:24-05:00

The search committee to select the next president of Missouri Western State University will hold its first meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9 in the Blum Student Union Private Dining Room. The meeting is open to the public. The search committee is comprised of Board of Governors members, students, faculty, staff, administrators and community members. The 23 members include: Board of Governors: Dave Liechti, Al Purcell, Debbie Smith, Student Governor Paul Granberry III Students: Austen Hall Faculty: Dr. Mike Cadden, Dr. Jennifer Hegeman, Dr. Mark Mills, Dr. Dan Shepherd Administrators: Josh Looney, Carey McMillian, Latoya Muhammad, Dr. Bob Willenbrink Staff: Kathy Kelly, Fred Nesslage Community Members: Drew Brown, Pete Gray, Todd Meierhoffer, Charlie [...]

Presidential search committee schedules first meetingkheier2026-05-18T14:50:24-05:00

Board discusses presidential search

kheier2026-05-18T14:50:34-05:00

The Board of Governors at Missouri Western State University met in special session to discuss the process for selecting the next president of Missouri Western. The Board voted to appoint a search committee of up to 24 people, chaired by David Liechti, chairman of the Board of Governors. Three other governors will join Liechti on the committee: voting members Al Purcell and Debbie Smith and student representative Paul Granberry III. The remainder of the committee will be comprised of faculty, staff, administrators and members of the community. The search committee will evaluate presidential applicants and help identify finalists to bring to campus for interviews. The ultimate decision on hiring the next president will be [...]

Board discusses presidential searchkheier2026-05-18T14:50:34-05:00

About kheier

June 2026

Presidential Search Update

May 2026