University looking for new alumni services director after Burner's exit

A search for a new alumni services director is underway at Southeast Missouri State University.

The application period ended Friday and resume reviews will begin soon, said Bill Holland, director of the Southeast Missouri State University Foundation, who oversees the position.

A search committee will meet Feb. 9 to begin the selection process and some candidates will be invited to campus for interviews.

A replacement for Shad Burner, the current director, will need to be found quickly to ensure the best delivery of services to alumni, Holland said, but the process will take several weeks as the university seeks input from core constituency groups of the alumni association.

Burner announced in January he will leave his position this month to become vice president and director of operations for Broadway Esquire Entertainment Group LLC, the group that owns the Esquire Theater and plans to add more businesses in downtown Cape Girardeau. Burner will also be the director of Eustis Art Studios and sell real estate with Thomas Meyer Realty Associates.

A desire for a position that allows him to travel less and spend more time with family prompted Burner's departure from the university, he said.

Holland said the university is looking for someone who can continue to work on the sound infrastructure Burner added to the association and can maintain good relationships with alumni like Burner's predecessor, Jane Stacy.

Burner's shoes will be big to fill, Holland said, but Burner was in a similar situation when Stacy retired.

"For 35 years, she created a tremendous legacy for alumni association, and Shad was able to bridge that legacy, and take it into the new world of social media and do a lot of things that were logical next steps," Holland said.

Burner said following Stacy was difficult after she spent many years building the numerous relationships with alumni, but that he saw there were opportunities for the alumni association to grow and began to think of ways to start planning for the future.

Integrating social media and other Internet technologies were a large part of his strategy. He began by increasing interest in the association with email marketing including use of email newsletters and gave the association a presence on popular internet sites like LinkedIn, YouTube and Facebook.

Burner also restructured the association's membership program by creating non-dues membership for all graduates of the university.

An initiative Burner would like to see continue with a new director is a mentorship program called One-Minute Mentor, which sets up a connection between students and alumni through the university's Career Linkages. There are benefits for all involved, Burner said, because the connection allows students quick access to job opportunities and keeps alumni involved with the university.

Holland said he has enjoyed working with Burner personally and professionally.

"Shad is going to be sorely missed," he said.

Holland said since the alumni services director position is considered by the university to be a high-profile position, the process to fill it will be conducted thoroughly. The position has been advertised in newspapers in St. Louis and Cape Girardeau and posted on the university's website. Holland also sent an email to 15,000 Southeast alumni, asking if any of them would like to apply.

"We are casting a very wide net here," he said. "There are no inside favorites. We are looking for the best person for the job that can reflect the diverse population that the university has, as well as the alumni association."

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

One University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, MO