SEMO board of regents elects new president

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents has elected Brad Bedell of Sikeston, Mo., as its new president. Cape Girardeau lawyer Al Spradling III was elected as vice president of the board.

Bedell succeeds John Tlapek, whose term on the board expires Dec. 31. Tlapek, of Cape Girardeau, will continue to serve on the board until his replacement is named by Gov. Matt Blunt and confirmed by the Missouri Senate, school officials said in announcing the board changes.

Tlapek has served on the board since 1998. He has headed the board since December 2004.

Other business

In other action, former Southeast Missouri State University president Dr. Dale Nitzschke has received a six-month extension to his contract to lobby the federal government on the school's behalf.

The board of regents approved a new contract behind closed doors late last week. School officials announced the arrangement late Tuesday afternoon.

Board members said university president Dr. Ken Dobbins will become the school's primary representative to federal officials with Nitzschke serving as his main assistant on such lobbying efforts.

Nitzschke will be paid $57,500 from Jan. 1 through June 30. As an independent contractor, he will pay his own business expenses from that fee, school officials said.

Nitzschke, who lives in Ohio, has served as a lobbyist for the university since 1999.

The regents also conferred an honorary title of president emeritus on Nitzschke, who served as president of the university from 1996 to 1999.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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