The University of Missouri has stepped outside of the world of the academy to pick its 22nd President. 
Former Spring-NEXTEL CEO Gary Forsee has been announced as the successor to Elson Floyd, who left last spring.  Forsee is 57, a Missouri native who was born in Kansas City and grew up in Moberly, St. Joseph, and Cape Girardeau.   He graduated from the University of Missouri-Rolla with an engineering degree in 1972 and is a member of UMR’s board of trustees.
Forsee led Sprint-NEXTEL for three years. A downturn in company stock was a factor in his departure from the company in October. He will take over as President of the University of Missouri February 18th. He has asked interim president Gordon Lamb to take the job of Executive Vice President for the rest of 2008 to be advise him during the transition to the school presidency.
Curators’ President Don Walsworth of Marceline says the board was attracted to Forsee’s appreciation for nimble thinking and a high regard for thinkers who make a critical difference.
He’ll be paid $400,000 a year with incentives that could reach $100,000.  The incentive money will be deferred until Forsee has been with the University for three years, the length of his contract.  .
The University of Missouri has four campuses: Columbia, Rolla, St. Louis, and Kansas City. 

 

Download Forsee’s introductory remarks (10:40 mp3)