Former mayor to lead board of regents at Southeast

The Southeast Missouri State University board of regents recently elected Jay Knudtson, former mayor of Cape Girardeau, as its new president.

Knudtson's appointment became effective March 1. He succeeds Doyle Privett, whose term on the board of regents officially expired Jan. 1.

However, Privett will serve on the board until Gov. Jay Nixon names a replacement, according to Southeast. Kendra Neely-Martin of St. Louis will continue to serve as vice president of the board.

Knudtson is a member of First Missouri State Bank's executive team that launched the bank in 2002. He works as the chief lending officer and bank board director and formerly served as senior vice president of Bank of America in Cape Girardeau for nearly 12 years.

He was born and raised in Minnesota and has spent most of his professional career living and working in Cape Girardeau.

Privett, chief financial officer for Kennett National Bank, was elected president of the board in December 2012. He was first appointed to the board of regents by former governor Mel Carnahan in December 1994 to fill an unexpired term.

He was reappointed to the board in 1997 and served until January 2004. In April 2009, Privett was appointed to the board by Nixon to serve a six-year term.

At a Feb. 28 meeting, when Knudtson was appointed president, the board of regents also named the science lab at Southeast's Kennett campus for Privett.

"During his tenure on the board of regents, Southeast has seen significant growth in each of its regional campuses in Kennett, Malden and Sikeston, Missouri," Southeast president Kenneth Dobbins said in news release. "In fact, without Doyle as a chairperson, our Kennett Regional Campus would not have been established."

The Doyle L. Privett Science Lab opened at the Kennett campus in fall 2004. On the east side of the building, the lab serves students enrolled in biology, microbiology, anatomy I and II, physical science and chemistry courses.

According to Southeast, the 1,212-square-foot lab -- which includes a laboratory area and prep room -- was completed with a Delta Regional Authority grant and private donations made during fundraising efforts in 2002 and 2003.

Marsha Blanchard, director of the Kennett campus, said in the release she's pleased to have Privett's name associated with the science lab.

"Doyle has been actively involved in Southeast Missouri State University-Kennett since the concept was simply an idea," she said. "Doyle's consistent contributions have definitely made an impact on the lives of many who have had the opportunity to earn a university degree at the Kennett campus."