/usr/web/www.marshallindependent.com/wp-content/themes/coreV2/single.php
×

Gores announces retirement

SMSU?president to step down at the end of the academic year

MARSHALL — Southwest Minnesota State University President Dr. Connie Gores has spent a lifetime committed to higher education and believes in its transformative power. Throughout her career, she’s shown strong leadership — even breaking gender barriers by becoming SMSU’s first female president. But now Gores is ready to focus on an equally-important role: being a grandma.

On Thursday, Gores announced her retirement at the end of the 2018-19 academic year.

“It’s been my privilege and honor to serve at SMSU for all these year,” she said. “It’s been a position that’s been among the most fulfilling of my career. The Mustang family is very, very special, so it’s going to be difficult to leave. But my plan is to move closer to my grandchildren on the East Coast. I want to be there for their birthday parties, soccer games, concerts and other activities.”

Along with adult daughters Tempa and Kasha, Gores said she’s thrilled about spending more time and having a more impactful relationship with her two grandchildren — Stuart, who is almost 5, and Avery, who is 3. She plans to work through the month of June and then move closer to her family in July.

“I’ll take a little break and then figure out how best to continue contributing to leadership in higher education, with maybe some consulting or shorter-term assignments or something,” said Gores, who is in her sixth year as president at SMSU. “I just know that my first priority is to be around the little ones that bring me such joy.”

SMSU Communications Director Jim Tate said he can certainly relate to Gores’ desire to move closer to her grandchildren.

“She’s a very proud of her grandchildren, and when you talk to her, she’ll often show you a photo or video,” Tate said. “Though she’s the president of SMSU, her favorite title is ‘Nana.'”

Tate said he has always been impressed with the effort Gores has shown to be involved and approachable on and off campus.

“I tell people she’s like the Energizer Bunny — she keeps going, and going and going,” Tate said. “She makes such an effort to get to athletic events, plays, concerts, speakers and forums. Plus, she’s on many state and national committees on top of all that. SMSU is a very busy place, and President Gores goes above and beyond to show her support of all areas of campus.”

As a native Midwesterner — Gores is from Cando, North Dakota — Tate said she “gets” rural Minnesota.

“Students really have connected with her approachable style and the fact she has a Twitter account,” he said. “They also appreciate her sincere interest in their personal success stories.”

Bill Mulso, who is vice president for Advancement as well as executive director of the SMSU Foundation, has worked closely alongside Gores the past five years and said that students are always at the forefront when Gores is making decision.

“I’ve enjoyed working with her,” Mulso said. “Every decision she makes is with the students’ best interests at heart. I always trust and expect that from Connie.”

With a full academic year still ahead before Gores’ retirement, Mulso said he has no doubt that the university president will continue working hard for the students and for everyone on campus.

Gores said she plans to do everything she can to help make a smooth transition for her successor.

“I’ll do everything I can to put the university in the best possible situation, so the new person can just take off,” she said. “We’ll always do what’s best for the university. It’s too important for me not to do that.”

Looking back on her time at SMSU, Gores said she’s especially proud of the tremendous strides that have taken place in addition to the many collaborations that the institution has been able to be part of. Those points include significant investments made in agriculture programs, impacting the region, state and beyond, an increase in civic engagement on and off campus and a marked growth in the exercise science program.

“With our partnership up in the Twin Cities, we offer degrees up there at three different colleges now,” Gores said.

Other standout points include the expansion of undergraduate research programs and applied research projects, growth in diversity of students and a focus on student success as well as the highest level of faculty and staff giving in the Minnesota State system.

“We’ve got very loyal and supportive faculty and staff,” Gores said. “We should be very proud of that.”

Of course, the 50th anniversary celebration included a year’s worth of events, activities and commemorations, which a lot of people will not soon forget.

“Everything was stupendous,” Gores said. “There were some wonderful things that took place.”

The final point that the president is most proud of is the impressive employment record of SMSU graduates. According to the most recent data, 99 percent of SMSU graduates were employed or in graduate school within six months of graduating.

“It’s been 99 percent for the last two years, so it’s consistent, too,” she said.

Gores said she plans to “work tirelessly on behalf of the entire community” in the 10 months remaining in her tenure.

“We always need to focus on how we can distinguish ourselves from other institutions and how we can always improve,” she said. “We must not lose the momentum of our 50th anniversary. We must continue to find ways to be innovative and creative for the betterment of the University. SMSU is a remarkable place with resilient, intuitive, hard-working individuals, and I look forward to a positive year of focus, dedication and vigor.”

In 2013, Gores became the ninth permanent president at SMSU. Prior to that, she served in a number of public and private colleges and universities, including: Winona State University, Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, Cornish College of the Arts, Willamette University College of Law and Portland State University. She’s also had several consulting roles on projects such as strategic vision, enrollment management, retention and developing effective communications.

“I’ve been at a number of institutions and served in a number of roles,” Gores said. “I’ve been very fortunate to be in higher education. College changes a person, and my life is very, very different from that of my mother’s and from other people’s. I just feel so honored to be here.”

Gores earned her Ph.D from the University of Washington, her master’s degree from Colorado State University and her bachelor’s degree from North Dakota State University. She is a graduate of the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University and participated in the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI) Executive Leadership Program, as well as the Minnesota Partnership for Executive Leadership Development Program.

Gores also serves on the NCAA Division II Presidents Council and is a member of the NCAA Strategic Planning Committee. She was recently awarded Emeritus status on the Women’s Network Executive Council, a national committee of the American Council on Education.

In addition, Gores serves on the board of the Minnesota Campus Compact, where she is Chair of the Governance Committee. She is also a founding board member of the Jared P. Stene Student Leadership Scholarship Board.

“Announcing my retirement is bittersweet to me,” Gores said. “I’m eager to have a new chapter in my life, but I know I’m going to miss SMSU and Marshall more than I can ever imagine. So I’m not thinking about that now because there are 10 more months to continue working together. But I will forever hold dear the prairie, the people and the possibilities.”

Mulso said he’s looking forward to working with Gores this next year. He anticipates that the search for a new president will begin in the near future.

“Change is sometimes difficult, but you have to go through it,” Mulso said. “The (Minnesota State) system office drives those presidential search processes, so at some point (Chancellor Devinder Malhotra) will be out to campus to meet with people and get feedback. Because Connie made this decision early, I think they’ll get moving on the process. But we’ll wait to hear from the system office.”

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today