New president of Missouri State takes over

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- The new president of Missouri State University takes over the state's second largest public university at a time of financing challenges.

James Cofer is the 10th president of Missouri State University, and begins in the new job Sunday.

The Springfield News Leader reports that the MSU Board of Governors picked the 61-year-old Cofer out of four finalists in May to succeed outgoing president Mike Nietzel.

Cofer will be in charge of MSU's $250 million annual budget at a time when public higher education is faced with challenges. State funding for the institution could drop by 15 percent or more for 2011-2012, and Cofer said he will engage the campus in preparing for the 2011-2012 budget.

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Information from: Springfield News-Leader, http://www.news-leader.com