Dr. Bruce W. Speck

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2008

CONTACT: Public Information Office (417) 625-9399

 

Dr. Bruce W. Speck

JOPLIN, MO (SNS) - Missouri Southern State University today announced the selection of Bruce W. Speck, Ph.D., as President of Missouri Southern State University.

 

The announcement was made by Chairman of the MSSU Board of Governors, Mr. Dwight Douglas, at a news conference on campus.

Dr. Speck is currently Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at Austin Peay State University (APSU) in Clarksville, Tenn., one of six universities in the Tennessee Board of Regents System. From 2001-2005, Dr. Speck served as Vice President for Academic Affairs and tenured Professor of English at APSU.

Mr. Douglas said Dr. Speck was chosen with the unanimous approval of the Board of Governors and the Search Committee as well as a vote of confidence from the MSSU Faculty Senate.

Dr. Speck thanked former Missouri Southern President, Dr. Julio León and his wife, Vivian, for the work they had done at the University over the years. He also thanked Dr. Terri Agee who has served as Acting President since last August.

Before joining APSU, Dr. Speck served at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Professor of English and Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (1999-2000) and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of English (2000-2001).

Dr. Speck's academic credentials include a Ph.D. in English with emphasis in Rhetoric and Composition, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1980-1984), a Master of Arts in English from Wayne State College in Nebraska (1978-1980), and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Northern Colorado (1973-1975).

Special guests at the news conference included area legislators, members of the search committee, community representatives and Speck's wife, Carmen. Dr. Speck and his wife have three grown children, Heidi, Ryan and Rose-Marie.

Dr. Speck will receive an annual base salary of $180,000. Mr. Douglas said he will begin work as Missouri Southern President on or before March 1.

Dr. Speck announced that Dr. Agee will serve as Senior Vice President and Dr. John Messick will serve as Vice President of Academic Affairs. Dr. Messick fills the post being vacated by Dr. Richard McCallum, who will be the new President at Dickinson State University (N.D.).

 

 

 

 

 

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