Floyd names interim head for UMKC

Stephen Lehmkuhle, the top vice president in the University of Missouri System, will serve as interim chancellor for the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for me, and hopefully I can bring to UMKC the day-to-day leadership they need during this transitional period,” said Lehmkuhle, whose appointment by system President Elson Floyd was announced Tuesday.

Lehmkuhle, currently the UM senior vice president for academic affairs, will lead the Kansas City campus, beginning May 2, until a new chancellor is found. No permanent chancellor will be named until Sept. 1, he said.

“Dr. Lehmkuhle’s vast experience as a teacher, researcher and administrator make him an ideal choice to lead our Kansas City campus while we complete our search for a permanent chancellor,” Floyd said in a statement.

Martha W. Gilliland served as UMKC chancellor until she resigned Dec. 31, 2004. In February, Floyd appointed a 21-member chancellor search committee, which continues its work. Lehmkuhle said the search is confidential and did not say whether he is a candidate. The search will run independently of his interim position, he said.

Lehmkuhle said he admires the UMKC campus for its progress in engaging its community.

His yearly salary of $191,000 will not change. He said he will move to Kansas City so that he can fully engage in campus matters.

Lehmkuhle said he will come back to his position as senior vice president for academic affairs after the interim chancellorship. In his absence, Steve Graham, associate vice president of academic affairs, will assume Lehmkuhle’s duties.

Lehmkuhle said the UMKC post works for him because he is familiar with many faculty, staff and administrators.

“Hopefully, I’m not a new face, and I’ll feel comfortable in the situation because I know many of those individuals and have worked with them in the past,” he said.