Southeast will ease new leader into his role

Now that Carlos Vargas-Aburto has been chosen as the next president of Southeast Missouri State University, officials say transitioning into the new role will be his first challenge.

It also will be a transition for Southeast's faculty, staff and students, said Jay Knudtson, president of the board of regents.

"This is a relationship business that we're in, and while he's fully equipped educationally and technically, we owe it to him to open up the right doors -- both internally and externally," Knudtson said. "Along with it, I can't stress this enough: We've got a university campus that's filled with some anxiety, too. There's some fear of the unknown."

Vargas, who is serving as acting president of Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, was announced as the 18th president of Southeast on Wednesday. He will succeed Kenneth Dobbins, who is retiring June 30 after serving as Southeast's president for 16 years.

"No matter what their feelings of Ken Dobbins, the prospect of him leaving has people on edge," Knudtson said. Knudtson added, however, he thinks the announcement of Vargas as president has moved some of the anxiety to excitement.

"I know he was a clear-cut winner in the minds of regents," Knudtson said. "And I know he was probably someone who represented a sense of calm and humility to everyone, even if he wasn't their first choice."

In a phone interview Friday, Vargas said one of the challenges he sees is filling Dobbins' shoes and putting those at ease who never have experienced a presidential transition.

"I want to help minimize the concerns and rather make sure that I help everybody feel excitement about what's happening," he said. "And I think we need to recognize what a great job everybody in the university has done in the past and build from there."

The role of the board of regents also will change, Knudtson said, adding Dobbins has been the face of the university.

"People didn't know who the board members were," he said. "We're going to have to step up in a more visible way, perhaps, and be a face of the university along with Dr. Vargas."

Priorities

Doyle Privett, a member of the board of regents who served as chairman of the presidential search committee, said the board will meet with Vargas to discuss what his goals need to be during his first year in office.

The university also will create a transition team to help guide Vargas as he adjusts to a new area.

Privett said one of Vargas' main tasks will be following up on the strategic plan approved by the board in December.

The five-year plan says the university "faces a new horizon defined by technological innovation, shrinking fiscal support from the state and federal governments, increased globalization and demographic shifts in the student population."

Listed are six of Southeast's priorities: academic experience; student experience; faculty and staff experience; external engagement; fiscal resources; and technology and infrastructure.

Vargas said he's looking forward to working with the university community to implement the plan.

"What I want to do is transition in such a way that we continue to do the things that have been identified and people have put a lot of work into," he said. "We'll continue working toward the strategic plan and make sure we continue to enhance it or adjust it. Any plan is always a plan; it's something that can be adjusted and needs to be adjusted."

Vargas also will focus on programs that have been approved but will not be completed before he becomes president July 1, Privett said.

And there will be state-level challenges, such as continued funding cuts.

"It's an immediate challenge, but also an ongoing challenge and something that he's going to be looking at," Privett said.

Knudtson said Vargas' time as acting president is a valuable experience and will help him overcome some of the challenges he may face.

"Even though he's carried that title of interim, he can say he's been there, done that," Knudtson said. "That's a big deal."

One of the coming challenges Knudtson sees is the number of faculty and staff members who soon will retire.

"With that comes turnover," he said. "People are your greatest asset, so to be faced with the prospect of some of that great talent moving on, we need to plan for that and address that."

Vargas said getting to know the people at Southeast and learning the details of programs will be important.

"I want to make sure that I understand and that I am helpful in optimizing the ability that the students have to be successful at the institution," he said. "You have no idea how much excitement I have, and I am eager to put whatever skills I have to the service of Southeast. I am very impressed with the institution and very impressed with the region."

Background

Vargas was raised in Mexico City, where he received his bachelor's degree in physics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

He then attended the University of Michigan and earned a doctorate in physics and aerospace science.

National Autonomous University of Mexico also is where he began his career in higher education. He was a senior associate researcher for the Institute of Geophysics and held the same role for the university's Institute of Physics.

He started his tenure at Kent State in 1985 as a professor and continued to teach until he left the university. He also was Kent's associate dean for research, interim assistant dean for research and interim assistant dean for the School of Technology.

Before his tenure at Kutztown, Vargas was at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, where he served as provost and vice president for academic affairs.

And he served as the provost and vice president for academic and student affairs before being named acting president.

Vargas said when he takes over the presidency, it will be important to talk about what student-centeredness means to the university and how a plan can be implemented to make sure students feel they are really at the center of attention.

"That's something that has been very useful to me in my current and former jobs, is to let the students know that they're valued and that we care about each one of them," he said. "It's important that the students feel they are treated as individuals, that they're not just a number. That's very critical."

While attending the university in Mexico City, Vargas was among more than 200,000 students.

"There, you really are a number," he said.

Vargas said every institution has different challenges, but "Southeast certainly is not one that has many challenges."

"I am looking forward to being able to understand where it is in more detail," he said, "and also to contribute very soon to help the institution continue to be innovative in its efforts to keep up with the pace and the ever-changing, evolving landscape we're facing."

klamb@semissourian.com

388-3639