JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- An executive at the University of Missouri has been chosen as the state's interim commissioner for higher education.
The Coordinating Board for Higher Education said Thursday that it chose David Russell to serve as its interim leader when Commissioner Robert Stein retires on July 1.
Russell currently is the senior associate vice president and chief of staff for the University of Missouri system.
It's unclear how long Russell will be the interim higher education commissioner.
Gov. Jay Nixon and some lawmakers have proposed merging the Department of Higher Education with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. That would require voters to approve a constitutional amendment.
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