SEMO establishes Presidential Search Advisory Committee

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – The Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) Board of Governors unanimously voted to authorize negotiations with an executive search firm to finalize a contract to aid in its search for the university’s 19th President and to establish a Presidential Search Advisory Committee (PSAC).

This comes after Southeast Missouri State University’s president announced he will leave after the 2024-2025 school year. President Carlos Vargas, Ph.D., announced he will be leaving his role as president at the university effective on June 30, 2025.

The Board of Governors voted to authorized negotiations on September 3. The board reviewed proposals and interviewed selected firms. The board finalized a contract with Greenwood Asher & Associates (GA&A), a national firm with extensive experience in higher education presidential searches.

“GA&A has successfully completed hundreds of presidential searches for higher education institutions across the country, and the Board is confident in their ability to help identity the University’s next president,” said Board of Governors President Tina Klocke.

The PSAC will assist in reviewing applications, interviewing candidates and making finalist recommendations to the Board of Governors.

“It was important to the Board that the committee include as many representative groups as possible; specifically, faculty, staff, students, Foundation, alumni, and the external community, said Klocke.”

The committe is not to exceed 15 people.

The PSAC will be chaired by Mr. Jim Limbaugh ’76, vice president of the Board of Governors.

The Presidential Search Advisory Committee members are:

• 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
• Dr. Jenny Cropp, Chair, Faculty Senate
• Dr. Brad Deken, Moderator, Chair’s Forum
• Dr. 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
• Dr. Maureen Clancy-May ’79, Chair, Southeast Missouri Univ. 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 & Community 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)

“I look forward to working with the entire committee during this process,” said PSAC Chair Jim Limbaugh. “In identifying potential committee members, the Board of Governors made intentional decisions to identify individuals that could represent multiple constituencies and geographic locations to ensure a good cross section of our SEMO community is represented.”

In the coming weeks, the university community will have an opportunity to participate in the search process.

Representatives from the search firm will be on campus the first week of October to host listening sessions to gather feedback from internal and external constituents regarding qualities and characteristics they feel the next president should embody.

The university community will also be kept informed about the progress of the search through periodic emails from the chair of the PSAC.

The committee will also establish a presidential search webpage that will serve as the primary source for news and information regarding the search. The webpage will include a listing of the PSAC members, search updates and other pertinent communications, a tentative search timeline, and potentially other information.

“Under President Vargas’ leadership, Southeast Missouri State University has achieved many successes and many more opportunities lie ahead. From affirmation of institutional reaccreditation, new innovative academic programs, the successful launch of the Transforming Lives capital campaign, the celebration of the University’s 150th anniversary, and much more, SEMO is on solid ground, and we are well positioned to continue soaring to new heights. We look forward to moving ahead together as we write the next chapter for Southeast Missouri State University,” said Klocke.

The university’s 19th president is anticipated to begin July 1, 2025.

Related story:

Southeast Missouri State President Dr. Vargas announces final year as president