MU system leader's job description approved

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A new job description for the next University of Missouri System president states whoever enters the position will be expected to create a vision for the system, assemble a leadership team and lead a statewide conversation about diversity inclusion, equity and respect.

The system presidential search committee discussed minor revisions to the job description before approving it Wednesday, the Columbia Missourian reported.

The system's Board of Curators also approved the job profile after the search committee's meeting.

According to the profile, the future president also must establish social relationships with the state of Missouri and its elected officials and promote the system's mission in a way that's valuable to Missouri taxpayers.

Public forums were held on each of the system's four campuses to discuss desired qualifications.

There were also group sessions and one-on-one interviews to gather information.

The system's former president, Tim Wolfe, resigned last November in the middle of race-related protests on campus. Mike Middleton is serving as interim system president.

Board chairwoman Pamela Henrickson said the search committee and search firm were careful not to sugar-coat the system's challenges when compiling the document.

"The person who sits on top of that (UM System) has a lot of ability to move Missouri forward, and that's what we want to emphasize," she said.

The position profile is a public document that will be used with potential candidates to get them interested in the job, said John Isaacson, chairman of the search firm Isaacson, Miller.

"It's part of the art of persuasion," he said.

The board still plans to hire a new system president by the end of the year, Henrickson said.