NITZSCHKE NEW SEMO PRESIDENT; EDUCATION CONSULTANT WILL BEGIN JOB JULY 1

The Board of Regents Tuesday unanimously chose Ohio education consultant Dr. Dale Nitzschke as Southeast Missouri State University's new president.

The regents spent about six and one-half hours deliberating over whether to hire Nitzschke, a former president of the University of New Hampshire, or Dr. G. Warren Smith, chemistry professor and former president at Southeastern Louisiana University at Hammond.

The closed-door discussions were sandwiched around an open session at the University Center where regular business was handled.

Regents said they hired the 58-year-old Nitzschke because they wanted a strong leader who would direct the university in reaching out and serving the 25-county region it serves.

Regent Pat Washington of St. Louis said Nitzschke will bring "street smarts and intelligence" to the job.

She and other regents said he has the drive to implement Southeast's strategic plan. The plan focuses on outreach efforts and enrollment growth.

"The key word to me is drive," said board President Donald Harrison of Cape Girardeau.

"I think he is a man of great integrity and experience," said Regent Sarah Long of Poplar Bluff.

"I think he is a go-getter," said Don Dickerson, a regent from Cape Girardeau. Dickerson said Southeast needs a strong leader who will speak his mind.

Nitzschke is scheduled to begin his new job July 1, but will make an appearance on campus later this month, Harrison said.

The salary is still being negotiated, but regents said that should be settled soon.

Reached at his Cincinnati-area home, Nitzschke said he and his wife, Linda, are excited about the move.

"I've got one more great presidency left in me. I like work and I like long days and long weeks if I am engaged in activities and concerns like this," he said.

Nitzschke, who was chosen from among 125 applicants, said he is ready to be a university president again.

"I have been enjoying what I have done and been doing, but the real action is where the students are," he said.

Nitzschke said outreach activities will be a major platform of his administration.

"I quite frankly recognize the board feels the same way. They have every right to expect I am going to deliver on that," he said.

Regent Doyle Privett of Kennett said he expects Nitzschke will visit his town and others throughout the region.

Privett said Southeast needs a president who is highly visible in the region.

Southeast currently doesn't attract a lot of students from Kennett or the surrounding area, he said.

Nitzschke was the choice of many in the Southeast Missouri business community. Harrison said that was an important factor to the regents in looking at who could best direct the school's outreach efforts.