Saying goodbye: Southeast president prepares to hand over reins

In less than two months, Kenneth Dobbins, Southeast Missouri State University's president of 16 years, will retire after more than two decades of working at the university.

During his tenure, academic programs have been expanded and enhanced, enrollment has increased and more than $400 million in capital construction and building improvement projects have been completed.

Dobbins said he doesn't deserve all the credit.

"I didn't do the presidency by myself. I did it with my wife of 43 years," he said of Jeanine Larson Dobbins. "She puts up with a lot of stuff and is very supportive. That's why we're ready to step back and take it easy. Jeanine and I have some things we want to do together."

The Dobbinses have a son, daughter-in-law and two grandsons who live in St. Louis. Five years ago, the couple purchased a home at Lake St. Louis, Missouri, knowing that's where they planned to live during retirement.

Dobbins will retire as university president June 30, and Carlos Vargas-Aburto will assume the presidency July 1.

After retiring, Dobbins said he will continue working with the AASCU-Penson Center for Professional Development as a consultant for other university presidents and governing boards of higher-education institutions.

If asked by Vargas to visit Southeast, Dobbins said he would be more than happy to do so.

"But he needs to be the new president," Dobbins said, adding he has seen situations when a former president remains in the same city and people ask: "Do you know what the new president did? Well, you wouldn't have done it that way."

"Carlos is not Ken Dobbins, and Ken Dobbins is not Carlos," Dobbins said. "He'll do things differently, and that's OK. He's going to be the president. He needs to be able to make decisions based on the information he gets, just like I do now."

Careers in education

From 1991 until her retirement in 2010, Jeanine Dobbins brought innovative, research-based approaches to teaching reading to Missouri students.

She is the founder and director emeritus of the Missouri Early Literacy Intervention Program, and she worked to ensure Missouri children received a firm foundation in reading.

Under her leadership, the program educated more than 700 teachers and helped more than 275,000 Missouri elementary students with reading difficulties.

In 1999, Kenneth Dobbins became the 17th president of Southeast.

He served as the university's vice president of finance and administration from 1991 to 1993 and executive vice president from 1993 until his appointment as president.

Lasting legacies

With his retirement fast approaching, Dobbins said he is asked: What is the one thing you want to be known for? His response: There really isn't just one.

"There are over 30,000 of them," he said. "I've been able to shake the hands of over 30,000 students as they crossed the stage and congratulate them on a job well done and give them a degree."

Dobbins also has been involved in capital construction and renovation projects during his tenure as president. One of his most well-known projects is the $58 million River Campus, which opened in 2014.

"My wife lovingly calls the River Campus my nine-year pregnancy," he said.

More than $90 million in capital renovation projects were completed in 2013, including renovation of the 108-year-old Academic Hall, and the remodeling and upgrades to the Magill science complex.

Dobbins said it would be difficult to say there's one project of which he's most proud.

"There are a lot," he said. "I've been very fortunate to be a part of that."

During Jeanine Dobbins' career, she planned, coordinated, helped to conduct, analyzed and presented research to the administrations of four Missouri governors and the corresponding General Assemblies, resulting in state grants exceeding $5.7 million.

She traveled throughout the state as the Southeast Missouri State University Reading Recovery and Missouri Early Literacy Intervention programs' representative, collaborating with school districts.

She led statewide efforts for positive systemic change in literacy education and has been recognized with several awards and honors.

Partnership

Jay Knudtson worked with the Dobbinses as former mayor of Cape Girardeau. He also serves as president of the board of regents.

"Their fingerprints, together, are all over Southeast Missouri State University, as well as the city of Cape Girardeau," Knudtson said.

"It could be one of the best examples of a husband-wife partnership that I have ever witnessed."

When Knudtson was mayor, he and Kenneth Dobbins spoke nearly daily, he said.

"We disagreed on certain issues but always came away with a handshake, and I have a deep respect for him," Knudtson said. "I learned early on it was clear his love and passion for Southeast was absolutely undeniable."

Doyle Privett, a member of the board of regents for 16 years and former board president, said he thinks Dobbins is one of the best university presidents in the United States.

"He has stayed with Southeast because he loves the university," Privett said. "He loved where he worked and loved what he did. He has been a huge asset to Southeast Missouri State University, and we will miss his guidance."

Privett added Jeanine Dobbins' loyalty and respect for Southeast are unparalleled.

"She couldn't have been any better, either," he said.

Dobbins said he and his wife want to thank everyone for all they've done to make Southeast not just a good university, but a great university.

"And that goes for the students, because you've got to have student leadership; the faculty, because they see those students every day; the staff, from the executive staff, the deans, the custodians -- everybody has a job, and they do it well," he said.

"The city and our legislators, we've had a great town-and-gown relationship. And, of course, our donors. I want to thank all of those people who've made my life fulfilled."

Dobbins said he thinks the board of regents did an excellent job selecting Southeast's next president.

"Dr. Vargas cares about students, and he cares about academic programs and the excellence of academic programs," Dobbins said. "He loves people and interacting with people, and he will do a wonderful job as president. Southeast is in very good hands."

klamb@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address:

One University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, Mo.