Photo by Samantha Davis Southwest Minnesota State University President Kumara Jayasuriya announced his retirement in April, effective after Saturday’s graduation ceremony. Jayasuriya came to Marshall in 2019 and helped the university reach greater enrollment rates.

MARSHALL — With his retirement quickly approaching, Southwest Minnesota State University President Kumara Jayasuriya has taken his final few days in office to reflect on the milestones reached, relationships built and the path that led him along the way.

Jayasuriya announced his retirement as president of SMSU on April 17, effective after this Saturday’s Class of 2025 commencement.

“I am a Mustang for life,” Jayasuriya said. “I wasn’t really planning on retiring … But, we felt like it’s time for us to get closer to our kids. Time goes fast, and I am happy to leave on a high note. Things are going super well … I thought this is a really good time to leave, when everything is at the top.”

Jayasuriya came to SMSU in July 2019 as the 10th permanent president of the university. Prior, he held various academic positions throughout the country.

Jayasuriya served as a mathematics professor for numerous years between Indiana University East, Purdue University North Central and most recently at West Virginia State University before coming to Marshall. He also worked in other roles across the three universities like chair of the Mathematics Department, as a dean, vice chancellor and vice president.

Holding a bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degree all in mathematics, Jayasuriya always had goals to teach, which led him to other opportunities.

“I wanted to do a Ph.D. and be a professor at a university. That was my goal, so I did that. Then, other things just came to me,” Jayasuriya said. “I wasn’t going to move (from West Virginia). But, we did so well (as provost and vice president of Academic Affairs at WVSU), and people came to talk to me about how well we are doing and things like that. So, I thought maybe I can go and do this at another place.”

Jayasuriya also noted it was never a clear goal of his to become president of a university, until he started to fall into the higher administration roles at his previous institutions.

“I knew the head hunting firm that the system hired (to pursue a candidate for the SMSU president job), … She called and asked me to apply for it. My first reaction was, ‘I am not going to Minnesota,’ … I was thinking, ‘Oh my God, it’s very cold throughout the year,'” Jayasuriya said. “She said, ‘No Kumara, this is a good opportunity for you.’ … Then after reading it (the job posting), I got super excited about it. I sent in my application, went through the search process and was picked.”

Jayasuriya is a native of Sri Lanka, and first came to the United States in 1985 to pursue his master’s degree at Southern Illinois University. He obtained his bachelor’s from the University of Colombo in Sri Lanka, and his doctorate at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.

“I really enjoyed working with people. That’s the sad part about leaving,” Jayasuriya said. “It’s really not what I have done, but as a team, I think it’s reversing the enrollment (is what I am proud of) …. Not only did we turn it around, we actually have been growing and increasing our rate (of enrollment). It’s going well, so I am pretty proud of our team for that.”

SMSU recorded its highest enrollment in 14 years this past fall semester, with a 14.9% headcount increase from the start of the 2023-24 school year.

For the current spring semester, SMSU saw a 17.8% enrollment increase from last spring. The news also came after the university announced it will be moving forward to develop a bachelor of science and master of social work program, both targeted to launch in fall 2026.

“I was so fortunate to work with all of them (staff). They supported me and helped me, we work very well as a team,” Jayasuriya said. “I would say, just keep working the same way with the new administration and people, and get the university to the next level of recognition.”

SMSU also started the Run Together: Imagine the Impact university campaign in 2019, raising money for academic opportunities, resources and scholarships, which Jayasuriya said in his retirement announcement has now raised nearly $24 of its $30 million goal.

Along with watching the campus body grow, Jayasuriya will also carry along some fun memories he’s made at SMSU.

“(A few years ago), we canceled our (university) gala, but there were like 10 people who met at a house and they were having their own gala. I heard about it, so I thought, ‘I’m going to send them a little package with a bottle of wine, and a handwritten note to thank them,'” Jayasuriya said. “Around 10:30 p.m., they decided to come to our house to thank me. The bell rang, it was funny … My dog was barking outside, I thought maybe somebody called the police because the dog was disturbing them, but it was 10 people who came to thank me … My wife and I were totally surprised.”

When it comes to passing along a message to current and incoming SMSU students, Jayasuriya advises to stay the path and focus on reaching their goals.

“They (students) need to understand the transformational power their university degree has, and that holds the key to success,” Jayasuriya said. “I would just advise them to stay in school and get their degrees done.”

Regarding plans after retirement, Jayasuriya’s top priority is making up for lost time with his family. He has two children in West Virginia, along with his wife and youngest son living in Marshall with him.

“I am going to go close to my children and spend time with them. My two older kids are doctors, so they don’t have that much free time. It’s easier for us to get together when I am closer to them … It’s been difficult for six years in that sense. I’m excited to be close to them,” Jayasuriya said. “I’m also planning to go to my home country, Sri Lanka, for a longer period.”

From his first day six years ago to his final week in office, Jayasuriya leaves with gratitude to SMSU faculty, students and the Marshall community for the welcoming effort and joining in part with university successes.

“One thing I would like to say to the community is thank you for believing in me, in our mission and everything, and supporting me … I was worried when I came here, because I’m not from Minnesota, and I’m not even from this country, and I didn’t know how they would take me,” Jayasuriya said. “But, everybody has been so nice to me, and it’s been wonderful to work here. I think watching how our community supports our students and SMSU has been one of the most rewarding things at my time at SMSU. I just want to thank the community for that.”