Missouri State Vice Presidents & Faculty Representative
COFeR President First Year at Missouri State
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Dr. James E. Cofer, Sr., began his first year as president of Missouri State University on August 2. He was introduced to the campus and Springfield community as the school’s 10th president on May 14, following a nationwide search. Cofer came to Springfield after serving as president of the University of Louisiana at Monroe since 2002. He replaced Dr. Michael T. Nietzel, who had been MSU’s president since July 2005. Additionally, Cofer will be a tenured professor in MSU’s College of Business Administration. “I am deeply honored by the Board’s decision and its confidence in me,” Cofer said on May 14. “I have been a fan of Missouri State University for many years and I look forward to continuing the good work that has been done here. Working with the faculty, staff, students, community, governmental leaders and all other constituent groups, I think we can create and achieve a shared vision for the university.” Cofer earned a reputation as the leader of an “extraordinary renaissance” at the University of Louisiana at Monroe over his eight years as president. When he and his wife, Deborah, arrived at ULM in 2002, they immediately began the “Reclaiming Our Campus” campaign, which involved more than 2,000 students, faculty, staff, community leaders, and area citizens who cleaned, planted flowers and repainted the campus. Shortly thereafter, Cofer developed an ambitious visionary plan that included more than $80 million in new construction and renovations on campus. Students, whose academic achievements continue to proliferate every year, now enjoy the newest, up-to-date residence halls, state-of-the-art “smart classrooms,” a completely-renovated Student Union Building and multiple campus security improvements. In 2007, students rated ULM higher than ever before – breaking a record for student satisfaction at the institution and surpassing student satisfaction at the national level. With the help of engaged faculty, ULM also patterned its mathematics and English course redesigns after the National Center for Academic Transformation’s Roadmap to Redesign philosophy, utilizing sound methodology, student-centered learning, clear assessment criteria and effective technology incorporation in 2007. To further encourage student success, ULM implemented living-learning communities, peer and faculty mentoring programs, extensive undergraduate research initiatives and advanced technological modalities. Cognizant of adult learners and today’s busy student, Cofer advocated “anytime, anywhere, anyplace instruction,” resulting in additional online courses and degree programs at ULM. Cofer earned his Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in December 1998. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1971 and his MBA in 1975, both from Mississippi State University. Prior to becoming president of the University of Louisiana at Monroe in March of 2002, Cofer served as vice president for finance and administration for the University of Missouri System from 1998-2002. Prior to that, he was vice president for finance and administration for the University of Arkansas System from 1995-98; Eisenhower Fellow in Budapest, Hungary, in 1995-96; and vice chancellor for fiscal affairs and treasurer of the Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia from 1991-95. He also has held positions in finance and administration with the Mississippi Power and Light Company; Murray State University; the State of Mississippi; and the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. Cofer and his wife, Deborah, have two children and two grandchildren. Missouri State University
Dr. Belinda McCarthy
Ken McClure
Provost
Vice President for Administrative and Information Services
Dr. Jim Baker
Dr. Earle Doman
Vice President for Research and Economic Development
Brent Dunn
Vice President for University Advancement
Vice President for Student Affairs
Dr. Bruce Johnson
Chairman, Faculty Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics
University Administrative Council Dr. James E. Cofer President
Dr. Carey Adams
Dean, College of Arts and Letters
Dr. Jim Baker
V.P. for Research and Economic Development
Dr. Drew Bennett
Chancellor, Missouri State-West Plains
Dr. Earle Doman
V.P. for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Brent Dunn
V.P. for University Advancement
Nila Hayes
Chief Financial Officer
Paul Kincaid
Chief of Staff/Asst. to President for Univ. Relations
John McAlear
Secretary to the Board of Governors
Dr. Belinda McCarthy Provost
Ken McClure
V.P. for Administrative and Information Services
June McHaney
Director, Internal Audit
Kyle Moats
Director of Athletics
Dr. Helen Reid
Dean, College of Health and Human Services
Clif Smart
General Counsel
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