Southeast names Rosati new provost

Despite significant cuts in the university's budget, Southeast Missouri State University's new provost said the institution will grow.

"This is just going to make it a little more challenging, but we can handle the challenge," said Dr. Ronald Rosati.

Rosati will replace provost Dr. Jane Stephens, who will retire this month. The

announcement marks the end of a nationwide search to fill the position.

The appointment also comes on the heels of the university's announcement to identify $7.76 million in budget cuts over the next two years.

Compared to other states, he said, Missouri is in better fiscal health.

"The university is in a much stronger position financially than many in the U.S.," he said.

He said most of the budgetary decisions regarding academics will be made before he arrives on campus.

"The current administration is exceptional at financial management," he said.

Rosati, 51, will receive an annual compensation of $175,000, a salary of $155,000 and a $20,000 annuity. Stephens, who held the position since July 2000, received an annual compensation of $180,100, including a salary of $160,100.

Rosati served as vice president for academic affairs at Alfred State College for the past three years and provost for the past two. For nine months in 2007 and 2008, he was the officer-in-charge during the college's presidential search. Alfred State is a college of technology within the State University of New York.

While facing budget cuts at Alfred State, he said, he redirected money internally to increase programming where needed. Those decisions, he said, were based on the academic priorities of the university.

Rosati also previously held administrative positions at Illinois State University and the Kingsville campus of Texas A&M. He worked at both institutions for 10 years each before coming to Alfred State in 2006.

Rosati received a doctorate in agriculture education from Iowa State University and held teaching positions at the Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute and Iowa State.

Since 2000, he oversaw three capital campaigns, which raised more than $20 million. The campaigns, two in Texas and one in New York, were initiated by identifying priorities locally and regionally, he said. Rosati has also worked at securing state and federal appropriations as well as $2.3 million in research grants.

"We'll be working at doing that at Southeast," he said.

Rosati will start at Southeast on Feb. 1. As provost he will be responsible for 10 colleges and schools within the university. The university contracted with Academic Search, a Washington, D.C.-based firm, to help with the application and interview process for the provost search. Southeast paid $65,000 for its services, which began in July.

The university search committee reviewed 56 candidates. Three finalists came to campus for interviews and held forums with faculty and staff.

Southeast president Dr. Ken Dobbins said Rosati's experience, including budgetary issues, will benefit the university. Rosati also received positive reviews from the faculty.

"He's very personable and very thoughtful," he said. "Didn't shoot from the hip."

Rosati said he was drawn to Southeast's strong academic programs, the administration and the university's growing enrollment. A father of three, he said the community was also part of his decision.

"There's more to life than the job," he said. "We looked at the community and we were very pleased with what we saw."

abusch@semissourian.com

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