Southeast Missouri State president Dobbins to retire in 2015

Dr. Kenneth Dobbins, who has been president of Southeast Missouri State University since 1999, announced his retirement effective June 30 during his State of the University address Monday at Academic Hall.

Dobbins plans to do some higher education consulting for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities' Penson Center for Professional Development. He said he felt the time is right for his wife, Jeanine, and him to spend more time with family and on other endeavors.

During his tenure as the university's 17th president, Dobbins has guided the institution through milestones in enrollment, academic partnerships, programs and construction. The university's most recent enrollment numbers show total student head count at 11,580, up 2 percent from this time last year. Southeast's fall semester began Aug. 25.

Dobbins, who turned 65 Monday, became the 17th president of Southeast on July 1, 1999, after serving as its vice president of finance and administration from 1991 to 1993, and executive vice president from 1993 until his appointment as president.

His base salary is $235,000, and he receives an annuity of $65,000; on-campus housing also is provided by the university.

Dobbins previously held several positions in higher education administration at Kent State University in Ohio.

Board of regents president Doyle Privett indicated the new president would be selected by the board in spring 2015 to begin officially at the university on July 1.

Privett said Parker Executive Search has been hired to help find the right candidate. A 16-member presidential search and advisory committee also will be involved. Five members will be faculty; one will be a professional staff member; one will be on the clerical staff; one will be a Southeast Missouri University Foundation board member; two will be students; three community selections; and three will be board of regents members.

Privett said regents on the committee will include himself as chairman, Jay B. Knudtson and Kendra Neely-Martin, board of regents vice president.

Privett said Dobbins' announcement was not a surprise to the board, as they had already talked about it. "But we will miss him greatly," he said. "He has been one of the best presidents that any university could have ever had. He's done a great job here. ..."

Privett also paid tribute to Jeanine Dobbins, saying, "Jeanine has contributed to our university by building relationships and sharing ideas with people and groups when attending or co-hosting numerous university-related activities. From 1991 to 2010, [she worked] in our College of Education, including her founding and directing the Missouri Early Literacy Intervention Program. This program has assisted more than 250,000 Missouri elementary students with reading difficulties."

Knudtson said it's a melancholy feeling to hear Dobbins' announcement. He said Dobbins has led the university with "tremendous class and dignity."

"This has been a difficult day for him leading up to this, but it's been on his terms; it's on his birthday. It's [at] a time that he's ready to move on in his career, and now we need to shift the focus of the university to moving on ourselves. This is a real opportunity for us to build on the foundation and to build on the stability that Dr. Dobbins has created here and I look forward to that," Knudtson. "That will be a daunting task to fill those shoes, ... but it's a very exciting time for Southeast Missouri State."

Board of regents member Tom Meyer said Dobbins has been dedicated and sincere, which students appreciate.

State Rep. Kathy Swan, a former chairwoman of the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education, said she has admired Dobbins' financial acumen and his focus on academics.

"I applaud his decision and congratulate him on a great career in higher education," Swan said.

Dobbins said the announcement at the State of the University address was important because the board of regents needs "a good 10 months" to identify candidates to select a new president. "So this is the time that we thought would be best," he said. He added he's been thinking about stepping down for a year and a half or so.

Following his announcement, Dobbins said he felt "really wonderful," although he will miss his job.

"As I mentioned in my presentation, this is a position of a lifetime, and Jeanine and I have been here 24 years, and this is my 16th year as president. ... We love what we do; we love the students. You saw in the video when I shake hands with those that are graduating, that's the best day in the president's life. But it's time for new leadership. We've done a lot. The board has been great, so I'm very pleased that we've announced. Jeanine and I are going to have fun with our grandkids and our son and daughter-in-law in St. Louis, and I'm going to do some consulting, Jeanine's going to do some other things," Dobbins said.

"Southeast has outstanding academic programs," he added. " ... We have enrollment growth. We have a board that's outstanding, and financially we're in very good condition, so this position, this presidency, will attract high-quality individuals, and they'll do a wonderful job as president."

The Dobbinses have two grandchildren, Lincoln Kenneth Dobbins, 5, and Brady Larson Dobbins, 18 months. They plan to move to their home in Lake St. Louis in June.

Dobbins' tenure

During Dobbins' tenure, academic programs have been enhanced including the establishment of the College of Science, Technology, and Agriculture and the Earl and Margie Holland School of Visual and Performing Arts, which opened in fall 2007 on the River Campus. A comprehensive review of all academic and nonacademic programs has been accomplished to maintain quality and minimize student fee increases in the face of state appropriation reductions.

Enrollment increased during Dobbins' university tenure, with enrollment at 8,716 in fall 1991, and a record enrollment of almost 12,000 for the fall 2014 semester. Enrollment has increased for 20 consecutive years with record enrollments occurring for the past 14 years. Additionally, record enrollments have occurred in the university's service region during his tenure due to the establishment of new regional campuses in Sikeston and Kennett and a higher education center at Perryville serving place-bound students in and near those rural communities.

More than $400 million in capital construction and building improvement projects have enhanced the university since Dobbins was named president in 1999. The Seabaugh Polytechnic Building and the $58 million River Campus were constructed. In 2005, the Douglas C. Greene Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship was opened, followed by the dedication of the state-of-the-art David M. Barton Agriculture Research Center in 2009, and the University's Autism Center for Diagnosis and Treatment in 2010.

Southeast has modern residence halls, with Vandiver Hall completed in 2002, Merick Hall in 2009, and LaFerla Hall dedicated in the fall of 2013.

More than $90 million in capital renovation projects were completed in 2013, including the renovation of the historic 108-year-old Academic Hall, and the remodeling and upgrades to the Magill and Rhodes sciences complex. Additionally, Southeast opened the River Campus Center, a new academic and residence hall center, at the River Campus in fall 2014.

Dobbins has served a two-year term as president of the Missouri Council on Public Higher Education, the organization for presidents and chancellors of Missouri's public colleges and universities, and is the senior member of the organization.

In 2007, he was selected to serve a three-year term on the American Association of State Colleges and Universities board of directors, an organization that represents over 420 U.S. public college and university members and more than 3.7 million students or 56 percent of the enrollment at all public four-year institutions. He was elected secretary-treasurer of the organization in 2008, chaired the organization in 2010-2011, and again serves on the AASCU board. Also, for the past 10 years, he has served as one of five faculty members for the weeklong AASCU New Presidents' Academy, and currently chairs the Finance Committee of the American Academic Leadership Institute.

He previously served three years as president of the Ohio Valley Conference and is a member of the conference finance subcommittee. In addition, he is the vice president for membership on the executive board of the Greater St. Louis Council, Boy Scouts of America, and was elected by local council associates to serve on the National Council, Boy Scouts of America. In 2010, he was awarded the Silver Beaver Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a Boy Scout volunteer by a council.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

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