Forsee officially named next UM System president
COLUMBIA — The University of Missouri System’s new president said he is “humbled and honored” to take over leadership of the four-campus system. Gary Forsee, 57, was introduced Thursday by Don Walsworth, chair of the UM Board of Curators. Forsee will take over the position from interim president Gordon Lamb on Feb. 18. Lamb was named executive vice president of the UM System and vowed to help Foresee make the transition to the president’s job.
The announcement was made at the Reynolds Alumni Center to an audience of legislators, media, UM officials, curators and members of the Presidential Selection Advisory Committee.
Forsee, who stepped down from Sprint Nextel Corp. in October, is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Rolla. He agreed to a three-year contract with an annual salary of $400,000. He could also earn $100,000 a year in incentives after completion of his contract.
Forsee, a veteran of the telecommunications industry, said he has a lot to learn about running a system of large, public universities. But he said his skills as a corporate leader will help him make the transition to an academic setting.
“I have to go back to school,” he said, “and I’m prepared to do that.”