Murray State President finalist for Missouri State President position | News

MURRAY, KY (KFVS) - Dr. Randy J. Dunn, president of Murray State University in Kentucky, has been announced as one of two finalists to be the 11th president of Missouri State University in Springfield.

The other finalist for the spot is Clifton M. Smart III who is currently serving at interim president of Missouri State University.

The search for a new Missouri State President became necessary in late June of 2011 when Dr. James E. Cofer, Sr., the 10th president, announced his plans to return to the faculty.

Since May of this year, the search committee has been looking for Cofer's replacement.

The on-campus interviews for the candidates are scheduled for October 7-11. The visits will include interviews with the Board of Governors and individual sessions with faculty, staff, students and the community.

Dunn's on-campus interviews are scheduled for October 7-9 with a full set of meetings, including an open forum from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. October 8 in the Plaster Student Union Theater.

"We had a strong and diverse pool of applicants," said Joe Turner, a member of the search committee. "But during our review of the materials...the two candidates continued to be at the top of the list for our committee. The two finalists are very strong and I believe the campus community and the Springfield community will be impressed with both of them."

Gordon Elliot, chair of the Board of Governors, said the process is on target to meet the goal of having a new president named by November 1.

The application letters, complete resumes and on-campus interview schedules of the two finalists are available on the presidential search web site at: http://www.missouristate.edu/presidentialsearch/.

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