Forsee starts as University of Missouri system president

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Former Sprint Nextel chief executive Gary Forsee starts work Monday as the new University of Missouri system president.

He replaces Elson Floyd, who left Columbia last year for the presidency of Washington State University. Gordon Lamb, who filled in for Floyd temporarily until Forsee's hire, will remain on board as executive vice president.

Forsee, 57, is a Kansas City native and 1972 graduate of the University of Missouri-Rolla. He grew up in Moberly, St. Joseph and Cape Girardeau, where he graduated high school, and has also lived in Hannibal, Joplin, Springfield, Charleston and St. Louis.