Third provost candidate makes stop at SEMO

The third of five provost candidates at Southeast Missouri State University participated in an open forum Thursday at Academic Hall, where he discussed what attracted him to the university and how he would handle his first few months as chief academic officer.

Provost candidate Robert Knight is dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts at California State University in Chico.

He was raised in Normal, Illinois, and spent most of his professional career in the Midwest, where he hopes to return, he said.

He formerly served as interim associate vice chancellor of academic affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire from July 2011 to July 2013.

Knight earned a doctor of music degree in voice performance at Northwestern University in 1988. This year, he completed the Harvard Institute for Management and Leadership in Education program.

"I was somewhat familiar with Southeast. Then when I started to dig a little bit more into it, I discovered some surprising things that made Southeast Missouri stand out," he said. "First, your enrollment has been ticking up. ... The second part that caught my eye is your retention in first- and second-year (students) has ticked up also."

Knight also highlighted the university's diverse programs and transparent budgeting system.

He outlined what he would do during his first few months as Southeast's provost.

"I would be spending the first three months in a lot of classrooms just watching teachers teach," he said. "Because if I have to explain what Southeast Missouri is like to a legislator, a trustee, a donor ... an administrator, anybody, has to have stories to tell. I don't like to depend on reports coming in to me from other people; I have to experience them."

At the end of the three-month period, he would have "pulse sessions" at each department to listen to concerns, celebrations and things that, as a provost, he might best be able to affect, he said. Then he would talk to the president.

"The provost is the operations manager for the president," he said. "The president has a vision. The provost's job is to help implement it. And, in the area of academic affairs, ensure there is academic quality, as well as support for programs that exist on campus."

Knight took several questions from the audience and also asked what they think a successful provost would look like one year from now.

Some said they are looking for consistency.

Others added they would like to have a provost who supports staff and faculty and understands it's about the students.

Another provost candidate, Elizabeth Throop, will begin her Southeast visit today.

Throop, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Education at the University of Wisconsin, is scheduled to participate in open forums at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. today at Academic Hall Auditorium.

To view each candidate's curriculum vitae, visit semo.edu/president/provost-search.html.

klamb@semissourian.com

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