NORTH DAKOTA PICKS KUPCHELLA TO LEAD

Dr. Charles Kupchella has served Southeast Missouri State University well as provost since his arrival in 1993.

But he has his sights set on North Dakota. Kupchella will soon become president of the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. He was chosen from nearly 50 candiates for the position.

The North Dakota campus serves about 11,000 students. The town itself sits on the border of North Dakota and Minnesota and has a population of some 50,000.

Kupchella will be missed by many who have worked closely with him on the campus. His legacy will remain in such projects as the university's strategic plan. He was also instrumental in expanding the university's presence into communities from Kennett to St. Louis with satellite operations.

And he worked closely with such key campus projects as the Polytechnic Institute, River Campus and the Southeast P.M. program. He also helped secure accreditation for the Donald L. Harrison College of Business.

But Kupchella's influence stretched beyond the university campus. He and his wife, Adele, have been active in local efforts to revitalize the downtown, including the Community Pride Coalition, and many other groups.

Kupchella has also been active with other service projects as well. He was recently named president-elect of the American Association for Cancer Education. His professional interest in cancer education dates back more than 20 years when at the University of Louisville. There he worked as an associate director of the Cancer Research Center from 1973-79.

His decision to leave Southeast is not really a surprise. While his time here has been productive and enthusiastic, he has been a finalist in other presidential searches in recent years. It makes sense that those in top university positions would like to spread their wings with increased leadership roles.

We wish Dr. Kupchella well in his new post. His years here certainly underscore the fact that the University of North Dakota has made a fine choice for its 10th president.