SCOTT CITY NATIVE TAGGED FOR TOP FOUNDATION JOB AT SOUTHEAST

A former Scott City resident has been chosen to head up Southeast Missouri State University's fund-raising foundation.

University President Dr. Ken Dobbins on Friday selected Alan Zacharias, 39, who currently is senior vice president for university advancement and chief operating officer of the Concordia University Foundation in River Forest, Ill. Zacharias, who grew up in Scott County, attended Southeast for two years in the 1980s before graduated from Murray State University in 1983.

The selection awaits final approval from the Board of Regents.

Zacharias' salary as vice president of university advancement and executive director of the foundation won't be disclosed until the board approves the appointment, Dobbins said.

Zacharias was one of four finalists for the job. Two of the finalists -- Bruce Mack and William Kiel -- withdrew before Dobbins selected Zacharias.

Kiel, executive director of the St. Francis Medical Center Foundation in Cape Girardeau, withdrew his name earlier this week. Mack, a fund-raiser at Indiana State University, withdrew his name within the past few weeks. Besides Zacharias, the remaining finalist was Michael Slinker, senior communications and marketing officer with Humboldt State University in California.

Dobbins said he chose Zacharias because of his experience in directing capital campaigns. At Concordia, Zacharias secured a gift of $15 million, the largest single gift in the institution's history.

Zacharias said Southeast has a "wonderful reputation." He said he was impressed with the school's many projects, including Southeast's plans for the River Campus arts school.