Missouri State University is recognizing the accomplishments of its eighth president, Dr. John Keiser, who died this week at the age of 79.
Keiser served then Southwest Missouri State University from 1993 until 2005, when its name was changed to Missouri State University.
“Missouri State would not be the university it is today without Dr. Keiser’s vision and leadership,” said current President Clifton M. Smart III. “After many years and much effort, the university achieved its name change during his presidency. Dr. Keiser also made achieving our statewide mission in public affairs a priority of his tenure. The mission is what truly sets us apart in higher education.”
Keiser died Tuesday at his home in Boise, Idaho, were he served as president of Boise State University for over 15 years before coming to Springfield.
Under his leadership, the university achieved its statewide mission in public affairs in 1995, and the number of graduate programs and graduate students nearly doubled. Additionally, improved facilities while Keiser was president included the addition of Strong Hall, the Physical Therapy Building, Jane A. Meyer Carillon, Wehr Band Hall and Bear Park South on the Springfield campus, and Lybyer Hall and Melton Hall on the West Plains campus.
Keiser arranged to add the Bronze Bear and the Citizen Scholar statues to campus, and established the Bronze Bear Award to recognize outstanding contributions by alumni and donors. The China campus and extensive China program was begun during Keiser’s administration.
Dr. Jim Baker, vice president for research, economic development and international programs at Missouri State, worked with Keiser at Boise State and came to Missouri State as Keiser’s chief of staff.
Baker said in a statement, “Loyalty and integrity were core values for Dr. Keiser,” said Baker. “He had a huge impact on the way I see the world and on my leadership style. Dr. Keiser always said ‘You get paid to exercise judgment.’ He set high expectations for his leadership team and then trusted us to make good decisions.”
Paul Kincaid worked at Missouri State from 1986-2014 and directed university relations and governmental relations under Keiser.
“Dr. Keiser was different because he had already been a president for 14 years before he came to Missouri State,” said Kincaid. “As a result, it was hard to throw him a curveball that he hadn’t seen already and, usually, knocked out of the park. He was comfortable in his own skin, he was very self-aware, and he had the courage of his convictions.”
According to the school, Keiser will be remembered for his lasting contributions to the development of the university, his dry wit, his disarming candor, and his love and use of the English language.
In November, MSU said goodbye to its sixth president, Duane G. Meyer, who died at the age of 89.
