Contact: Jennifer Hollingshead
Office: (573) 882-0601
E-mail: hollingsheadj@umsystem.edu
University of Missouri President Elson S. Floyd was introduced on Wednesday, Dec. 13, in Pullman, Wash., as the next president of Washington State University. He was hired as president of the University of Missouri's four-campus system on Nov. 11, 2002, and took office the following January.
The University of Missouri Board of Curators has not met to discuss President Floyd’s hiring by Washington State and no plans to search for a successor have been set. The Board is to conduct its regularly scheduled meeting on the Columbia campus this Thursday and Friday, Dec. 14-15.
President Floyd today sent the following letter to members of the University of Missouri community:
"It is with considerable mixed emotions that today I made the decision to leave the University of Missouri for Washington State University. I remain exceptionally proud of our four campuses, University of Missouri Health Care and the central administration for providing unparalleled service, quality and excellence in all that we do. I leave the University in the capable hands of the finest collection of chancellors in the country, and a CEO of University of Missouri Health Care who understands financial sustainability and excellence in patient care."
"Working together, we have accomplished so much during the last four years. The University has moved through very tough budget times toward a promising and significant state reinvestment in public higher education. We have created scholarships to improve student access, and we are committed to doing more. We have made the University a more efficient organization through thoughtful reallocation of resources to strengthen our academic mission. We have formally added the mission of economic development, to help our great state fulfill its global potential. We have nurtured excellent relations with our students, faculty and staff. And I have personally made so many friends while traveling to every corner of our state to tell the positive story of the University of Missouri."
"Returning to the state of Washington is somewhat of a homecoming, having served as the executive director of the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board and as Executive Vice President at Eastern Washington University. Washington State is a remarkable land-grant and research university and I am proud to have been asked by the Board of Regents to serve as its tenth president. I will discuss with the Board of Curators at its upcoming meeting my official transition from the University of Missouri. For now, thank you for your continued commitment and service to the University. We are better because of it."
Reviewed 2010-06-16