Gov. Jay Nixon recently appointed former Cape Girardeau mayor Jay Knutson to a six-year term on the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents, the board has also elected board member Doyle Privett as its new president.
Nixon appointed Jay Knutson to the board on Jan 3 to replace former board member James Limbaugh, whose term expired Jan 1.
Knutson was the mayor of Cape Girardeau from 2002 until 2010. * Knutson played a role in rallying support for the River Campus that was built in 2007.
"At the time the River Campus required both funding from the university and the city of Cape," Knutson said. "Some people took issue with city funds going into a university project. I worked closely with [university president] Dr. [Kenneth W.] Dobbins to make it happen. I feel the River Campus ended up being a true asset to our city. It was through this experience I developed a true respect for Southeast. I saw the tremendous impact Southeast had on the Cape community. I look forward to working with the board to further improve the campus."
Privett officially became the President of the Board of Regents Dec. 31, 2012. He succeeded * Donald Bedell, who had been president since 2006 . Bedell will still remain a member of the board.
Dobbins said that this is Privett's third appointment to the Board of Regents and he has always been supportive of the university.
"We are looking forward to him leading the Board of Regents," Dobbins said. "He has always provided excellent guidance to the region, making sure our university continues a record of high academic quality and affordability."
Privett has been a member of the Board of Regents from 1995 until 2004 and was most recently appointed by Gov. Jay Nixon in 2009. Privett * is from Kennett, Mo., and graduated with an accounting degree from Southeast in 1973. He is also part of the advisory committee for Southeast's Regional Campus in Kennett.
The Southeast Missouri State Board of Regents is a governing body in charge of approving policies, hiring the university president and approving raises and setting the university's budget. The board is comprised of six members who are usually alumni, and a non-voting student representative. The office of the president is elected by the members every year.
"It's an honor to be elected board president," Privett said. "Bedell was an excellent president and devoted much time and knowledge to the university. I also hope to help make Southeast an even better place to attend college."
Privett said the board has plans to use $90 million in approved bond money for projects across campus this semester.
One of the projects included in this funding is a new residence hall between the Show Me Center and the Polytechnic Building, which should be completed by fall 2013.
Privett also said that the board is looking forward to the reopening of Academic Hall on campus, which has been under renovation since the spring semester of 2012.
"Southeast provides an excellent education," Privett said. "We have great professors. We are the only four-year university that serves all of Southeast Missouri from St. Louis to the bootheel with a quality education at an affordable price. "
