Southeast Missouri State University announces sole finalist for president role

Southeast Missouri State University’s Presidential Search Advisory Committee (PSAC) announced in an email to faculty and students Wednesday, Feb. 5, that it has unanimously chosen a sole finalist to replace Carlos Vargas as university president.

The committee has recommended the Board of Governors invite Brad Hodson, current executive vice president at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, to campus and approve him as president designee. In the announcement, the PSAC expressed confidence in Hodson’s ability to lead the university as its 19th president.

“He has demonstrated significant experience raising external resources, working with the Legislature, making important hiring decisions, supervising critical campus units, engaging with students and so many other strengths that are important to the position of University President,” PSAC chairman Jim Limbaugh said in the email.

The PSAC has invited Hodson to visit campus Wednesday, Feb. 12, for two open forums and an opportunity to meet with students, faculty and individuals from outside the university. The forums will take place from 9 to 10 a.m. and noon to 1 p.m. at Glenn Auditorium in Dempster Hall. His curriculum vitae (CV) will be posted on the campus's internal portal for students, faculty and staff Tuesday, Feb. 11, as will an online feedback form, which is due by 5 p.m. Feb. 12.

Hodson has worked at Missouri Southern since February 2015 and also serves as executive director of the university foundation. Before beginning his tenure at MSSU, Hodson spent 11 years at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas, serving as director of university development from November 2003 to September 2006 and as vice president for University Advancement from September 2006 to February 2015. He also spent time as director of development at Eastern Michigan University’s College of Business from from August 2002 to November 2003.

A native of Carl Junction, Hodson received a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance from Missouri Southern in 1991. He later received a Master of Business Administration in 1993 from Pittsburg State, and earned a Doctorate of Philosophy in Higher Education and Higher Education Administration from University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2005.

The committee — consisting of 16 members representing faculty, staff, students, the SEMO Foundation, alumni and community members — was formed in September after Vargas announced his contract would not be renewed. Vargas began his tenure as the 18th university president in July 2015. His final day will be Monday, June 30.

Greenwood Asher and Associates, a search firm hired by the university to assist with hiring, hosted listening sessions Oct. 3 and 4 to gather input on the position profile, and officially launched a national search the week of Oct. 7.

As president, Vargas secured a 10-year reaffirmation of accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, launched innovative academic programs such as industrial and systems engineering and unmanned aircraft systems and established the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. He also earned statewide recognition for SEMO’s visual and performing arts, computer science and cybersecurity programs. In addition, he implemented a Strategic Action Plan and an enrollment management initiative, oversaw the university’s largest infrastructure investment, launched the “Transforming Lives” capital campaign and secured more than $100 million in funding for key initiatives.