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Jayasuriya named SMSU president

MARSHALL — Dr. Kumara Jayasuriya has been chosen as the 10th permanent president of Southwest Minnesota State University. Jayasuriya was unanimously approved Wednesday by the Minnesota State Human Resources Committee.

The president-designate is on campus at 8:30 a.m. today in the Conference Center, upper level.

“Dr. Jayasuriya has the academic credentials, the experience, and the leadership skills required to guide Southwest Minnesota State University into the future,” said Devinder Malhotra, chancellor of Minnesota State. “He also has the personal traits that will allow him to not only identify the tasks ahead, but also to work in a collaborative, authentic, and transparent manner to bring about a shared responsibility among each and every member of the Southwest community and take the university to the next level.”

Before talking about Jayasuriya, Chair Michael Vekich gave a “heartfelt acknowledgement for Connie Gores. Dr. Gores has served as president since 2013 and deserves a standing ovation.”

Vekich said the chancellor reviewed the national search for the next president of Southwest Minnesota State University

“I’m pleased to report that we attracted a very strong pool of 63 applicants,” said Vekich. “At the conclusion of the search we heard a recommendation from the chancellor for Dr. Kumara Jayasuriya as president of Southwest Minnesota State University.”

Vekich said “Dr. Jayasuriya has decades of experience.”

“Dr. Jayasuriya has served as the provost and vice president of academic affairs, and as a professor of mathematics, at West Virginia State University since 2014. Previously, he served as associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and Purdue University-North Central Campus, and dean of the School of Natural Science and Mathematics at Indiana University East and other roles as well within the Indiana system.”

Jayasuriya earned his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1993. He has a master’s of science degree from Southern Illinois University and earned his bachelor of science from the University of Colombo-Sri Lanka.

Jayasuriya will start as president July 1, subject to a completion of employment agreement, said Vekich.

Jayasuriya said it was an honor to be selected as SMSU president.

“My heart is filled with gratitude today for so many things including the warm support from the Mustang family when I visited campus,” he said. “I want to take a brief moment to introduce my wife, Salmini, who has been the wind between my wings for 30 years.” Jayasuriya quickly added that the two “got married young.”

The Jayasuriyas have three children — Daniel, Dylan and Devon.

“The 13-year-old tried to convince us it was a worthy reason for him to miss school, but we didn’t let him,” Jayasuriya said.

“SMSU is a great university,” Jayasuriya said, naming a few positive aspects including the financial impact of millions to community and over 4,000 high school students taking college-level courses.

“We have some challenges but we will not accept celebrities’ children with perfect SAT scores,” he joked.

He ended his remarks with a quote from Mahatma Gandi: “You may never know what results come of your actions, but if you do nothing, there will be no results.”

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