HANNIBAL – The search for a new president of Hannibal-LaGrange University (HLGU) has begun.
The search committee met recently and voted to add four new voting members to the committee: a representative each from the faculty, staff, alumni and student senate. The committee also formed three subcommittees: public relations, presidential qualifications and time-line/logistics.
Pat Benson, chairman of the committee, said he felt good about what was accomplished at the meeting and that the committee might seek outside help.
“We are currently looking at the possibility of hiring a search and consulting firm to assist in identifying and recruiting the next president,” he said.
Woodrow “Woody” Burt, who has served as president of HLGU since 1994, informed trustees of his plans to retire effective Aug. 31, 2012, during their board meeting Sept. 9.
The board met in executive session immediately after Burt’s announcement and named the trustees’ executive committee to serve as the presidential search committee during the year leading up to next Aug. 31. Those currently on that committee are: Terry Buster, pastor, First Baptist, Palmyra; Edgar Alms, Hannibal; Milton Baumgardner, pastor of First Baptist, Monroe City; Pat Benson, Hannibal; Mark Boley, pastor of Cedar Grove Baptist, Wyaconda; Charles Brazeale, Paris; Daniel Hale, pastor of First Baptist, Millersville; Archie Hayden, Hannibal; Vinita Henry, St. Charles; Robert Ingram, Bowling Green; Mitch Jackson, pastor of Miner Baptist Church, Sikeston; Jerry Sheridan, Leawood, Kan.; Tim Smith, pastor of First Baptist, Ewing; Matt Tanner, associational missionary for Cane Creek Stoddard Baptist Association in Poplar Bluff; and Sonia Vicars, St. Charles. Benson will serve as the chairman, with Jackson as vice chairman and Baumgardner as secretary. HLGU was unable to provide church membership for the laity on the committee.
Since coming to then-named Hannibal-LaGrange “College” as a professor over 30 years ago, Burt has watched the school grow from a two-year institution with less than 400 students to a four-year university with fall enrollment this fall expected to top 1,200. During his tenure with HLGU, Burt taught speech communications and served as admissions director, dean of students, registrar, academic dean, chief development officer, executive vice president, and president.
Burt’s wife, Katherine, will continue to teach English at HLGU through at least the spring semester of 2013.
The school has continually been lauded by the North American Mission Board in recent years for sending students into the domestic mission field, and has built several new dorms and academic buildings in recent years.
BRIAN KOONCE/staff writer
bkoonce@mobaptist.org