Lincoln University begins search for new president

More than a dozen people gathered on Lincoln University’s campus Wednesday for the first meeting of the presidential search committee.

Former University President Dr. Kevin Rome resigned from the position at the end of June to begin a new position as president of Fisk University.

Each member of the committee has been influenced in some way by the university and came together for the first time to learn about the search process and discuss what kind of a president they hope to hire.

Three representatives of the search firm Isaacson, Miller broke down the committee’s role in the search and what the search firm will be accomplishing. Confidentiality will be maintained throughout the process and will continue long after that.

Lincoln has faced several challenges recently, including a continued drop in enrollment and a lower-than-average graduation rate, according to federal statistics.

Additionally, the university is facing a budget shortfall due to statewide budget cuts to higher education and is in the process of cutting 23 faculty positions. The university had planned a pay cut across the board by 0.5 percent, but it was able to find the money elsewhere and the pay cut will not happen.

Many of these concerns were brought up by members of the search committee as things the new president should be aware of and work to solve.

Rita Heard-Days, a Missouri congresswoman until 2011 and a Lincoln University graduate, suggested the president be someone who would have the ability to ramp up fundraising efforts. Historically, the university has not received its fair share of land grant matches from the state government and members agreed they needed to find someone who understood the importance of fighting for those funds.

“We need what we are due,” said committee member Alfred Harris, who is also a member of the university’s board of directors.

Member Hardy Dorsey said the new president needs to be someone who can raise money, improve enrollment numbers and engage with the Jefferson City community.

Some members said campus-wide communication needed to be better. Fourth ward councilman Carlos Graham said he has heard over and over again about the lack of communication and said the channels have to be open so everyone knows exactly what’s going on.

Faculty Senate chair Stephanie Clark said Wednesday morning that the faculty is optimistic and has been heartened by interim president Mike Middleton’s efforts to reach out one-on-one to the faculty to hear their thoughts and hope that process continues. The faculty took a vote of no confidence in Provost Said Sewell last year before he took an extended leave of absence for personal reasons. They cited communication issues and felt their voices were not being heard.

“We want to be treated like professionals,” she said. “With this change now the morale is up.”

The process will continue through the fall and the consultants estimated they could be doing final interviews at the end of January and making a final decision at the end of February or in March.