TRUMAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Kirksville, Missouri
August 2009

The Truman State University Board of Governors and its presidential search committee have launched a search for the 16th president of the University. The presidential search committee seeks an energetic, visionary leader with a significant record of executive experience who can work cooperatively with diverse constituencies to guide this unique institution’s continuing development as a nationally recognized liberal arts university. The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications and attributes.

• Strong support for Truman’s statewide mission and history as a highly selective public university that provides excellent educational opportunities to very well-prepared students at a public sector price.
• Demonstrated commitment to support and preserve Truman’s core institutional values which are:
  1. Strong focus on students and student learning;
  2. Intellectual challenge in a nurturing, diverse environment;
  3. Affordability that promotes financial access to educational excellence; and
  4. Commitment to assessment for continuous improvement and accountability.
• Knowledge and appreciation of the liberal arts coupled with an understanding of their continuing relevance and value to citizenship and society.
• Record of accomplishment in using assessment to foster change and continuous improvement.
• Commitment to collegial governance and to broad-based, consultative decision-making.
• Strong leadership for the continuing development of a diverse, inclusive campus community.
• Solid understanding of contemporary higher education issues as well as the role of a highly selective public institution in the social and cultural development of Missouri and its citizens.
• Active participation in the campus community by being accessible, by being a good listener, and by being caring and compassionate.
• Experience in working with alumni and employees to open up networks and contacts for students and to bring resources to the institution.
• Appreciation of, and strong commitment to, the developmental roles of the co-curriculum and of student affairs at a residential university serving traditional, college-age students.
• Ability and desire to build strong, working relationships with elected officials and higher education policy makers to secure essential public resources and to foster public policies that will sustain the continuing development of Truman’s statewide mission.
• Significant commitment to, and record of accomplishment in, institutional advancement through the development of viable, long-term relationships with alumni and the cultivation of foundations, corporations, and other potential friends of the University.
• Ability to think creatively and strategically in the context of long-range planning for the future development of the University, including innovative curricular development, aggressive recruitment of outstanding students and faculty, resource management, and facility development.
• Deep appreciation of the work of faculty in their roles as teacher and scholar.
• Strong commitment to professional development for faculty and staff.
• Capacity to lead the Truman community through example by demonstrating a passion for the liberal arts, a joy in life-long learning, and an enthusiasm for the role of higher education in modern society.

The membership of the fifteen-person search committee, appointed by Truman’s Board of Governors, includes the ten members of the Board of Governors, two faculty members, one staff member, and a representative each from the Truman State University Foundation Board of Directors and the Alumni Association Board of Directors. The chair of the committee is Board Member Kenneth L. Read, a Kirksville businessman who was appointed to the Board in June 2007. Warren Wells, general counsel, and Traci Hill, executive secretary to the president, serve as staff for the committee. A presidential search committee email (presidentialsearch@truman.edu) and website (http://governors.truman.edu/presidentialsearchcommittee.asp) have been established. The search committee will begin review of applications on October 30, 2009 and will continue until an appointment is made. The successful candidate is expected to assume office in the summer of 2010.

To apply, candidates should address a thoughtful letter of interest to the search committee, addressing as appropriate the desired presidential characteristics stated above. Include also a current resume and the names and phone numbers of at least five references (these will be called at a later, semi-final stage, with your foreknowledge). Letters of nomination and reference are not necessary. Information from and about all candidates will be held in confidence.  Send materials to:

Mr. Kenneth L. Read, Chair
Presidential Search Committee
Truman State University
at presidentialsearch@truman.edu
or P.O. Box 650
Kirksville, MO 63501-0650
(660) 785-4100; (660) 785-4030 (fax)

Truman State University is an equal employment opportunity, affirmative action employer committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Truman State University website

City of Kirksville website

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