Southeast Missouri State University begins hunt for new president

Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) officially began the search for its next president following the announcement that current president Carlos Vargas will not return for the next academic year.

The university’s Board of Governors has formed a Presidential Search Advisor Committee (PSAC) to lead the search for SEMO’s 19th president. The committee includes representatives from the board, faculty, staff, students, Foundation, alumni and the external community.

Presidential Search Advisory Committee Members:

• Jim Limbaugh ‘76, vice president, SEMO Board of Governors, Chair PSAC
• Tina Klocke ‘82, President, SEMO Board of Governors
• Lloyd Smith ‘73, SEMO Board of Governors
• Jenny Cropp, chair, faculty Senate
• Brad Deken, moderator, Chair’s Forum
• Erin Fluegge ‘02, past chair, faculty senate
• Dustin Hopkins ‘04, chair, professional staff council
• Tom Matukewicz, head football coach, SEMO athletics
• Dayna Northington ‘97, chair, CTS staff council
• Lydia Pobst, President, Student Government Association
• Maureen Clancy-May ‘79, chair, Southeast Missouri University Foundation Board, retired superintendent
• The Honorable Abbie Crites-Leoni ‘93, President Emeritus, SEMO Alumni Association Board, U.S. Magistrate Judge, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
• Jeff Davis ‘94, President Emeritus, SEMO Alumni Association Board, Director of State Affairs, BNSF Railway
• Charles “Bud” Hilburn, III ‘19, alumni & company representative, Baker Implement Company
• Erica Wilson ‘01, alumna & community representative, VP of Global Security and Privacy Risk Management, Reinsurance Group of American Inc.
• Chris Martin, SEMO general counsel & board secretary (ex-officio)

The Board has also partnered with Greenwood Asher & Associates, a national search firm specializing in higher education, to assist with the search process.

The University declined interviews with committee members but said in a statement over email that updates would be shared with campus and community as the process progresses.

The search will remain confidential, whereas ten years ago, Southeast Missourian archives show the university publicly released the names of four finalists before deciding on Vargas.

According to the SEMO website, the search will follow a five-stage timeline:

• Stage One (September-October 2024): Pre-search planning and initial steps
• Stage Two (October-November 2024): Candidate recruitment
• Stage Three (November 2024-January 2025): Application review and interviews
• Stage Four (February-March 2025): Appointment of the new president
• Stage Five (July 2025): The new president assumed office.

SEMO has pledged to keep the campus community informed via emails from PSAC leadership. Additionally, representatives from Greenwood Asher & Associates will be on campus in early October to hold listening sessions for those who want to share input.