Final presidential candidate brings aspirational message at Southeast

Benjamin Ola. Akande on Wednesday said he wants to be the next Southeast Missouri State University president so he can take Southeast from success to significance.

"Significance means you become the benchmark," he said. "Significance means that you get to move that mission of student success to a whole different level.

"Significance says to us that we're not just a Southeast Missouri State University -- we're a Southeast Missouri State University that has an obligation to this area. Because charity begins at home, but we also offer opportunities to the world."

Akande was the last of four candidates to visit Southeast, where he participated in an open forum with staff, students and the public Wednesday afternoon.

He is dean of George Herbert Walker School of Business and Technology at Webster University in St. Louis. He also is chief of the Webster University Office of Corporate Partnerships.

Akande said he sees himself as an American story. Raised in Nigeria, his journey was enabled through the generosity of an American philanthropist who provided a scholarship and tuition support for Akande and his sister.

He earned a doctorate in economics at the University of Oklahoma in 1995. He also has a master of arts degree in economics and a master's degree in public administration.

"I share with you my journey, because I want to give relevance and perspective to why I'm standing in front of you today," he said. "I am the product of what higher education can do. I am the product of what generosity is all about."

Akande said while the world may seem unpredictable at times, especially for a college student, Southeast is on solid ground.

He cited the accomplishments made by current university president Kenneth Dobbins, and said Dobbins has strengthened the Southeast's mission to empower students.

"It is the task, I believe, of the next president to build on the last 16 years and lead SEMO to a higher ground," he said. "And there are new challenges to face, new opportunities to pursue, and we have to do it together."

Akande said no matter what the challenge is, it's the president's responsibility to move the institution forward collectively.

"The role of the president of SEMO is to hold the door open," he said. "Open to possibilities, to the university, to the world and to invite people to look for ways to engage together.

"I want to be that president. I want to be that president because I affirm these qualities of leadership."

The remaining candidates -- Margaret Madden, Paul Plotkowski and Carlos Vargas-Aburto -- have completed their on-campus interviews.

Doyle Privett, chairman of the university's presidential search committee and president of the board of regents, said the board will meet Saturday to discuss the candidates.

"And we hope to maybe make a selection that day," he said, adding then an offer would be made to a candidate and a contract would be discussed.

He said the board hopes the decision will be finalized by the middle of March, when the new president would be announced during a news conference.

No public announcements will be made at Saturday's meeting, Privett said.

The university is encouraging those who participated in the interviews to provide feedback on each candidate via an electronic survey available online at semo.edu/presidentialsearch.

All feedback must be received by 5 p.m. Thursday, and the board of regents will review the comments before making a final decision.

klamb@semissourian.com

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