Lamb prepares for his interim presidency
April 20, 2007
While UM system President Elson Floyd prepares to leave for a job at Washington State University, interim UM system President Gordon Lamb is filling his second interim position within the UM system and the third of his career.
"I didn't mean to make a career of interim positions," Lamb said.
Lamb served as UM-Kansas City interim chancellor from February 1999-March 2000 and was an interim chancellor in the University of Wisconsin system.
"This one came about through a variety of reasons," he said of the MU position.
He said his residency in Columbia was one of the reasons he was chosen. Because of his previous experience within the system, Lamb said he knows the people he is working with and how things operate.
"I know the people, some of the curators, what it's about," he said.
Lamb will fulfill the duties of UM system president until the UM system Board of Curators, the nine-member governing board of the UM system, chooses a permanent president.
Lamb has removed himself from candidacy for permanent presidency.
"I'm just not interested in it," he said. "It's not because it's not a wonderful position. They need someone who is going to look to doing this for five to 10 years."
He said his job is to get the system ready for a permanent president.
"My purpose as interim president is to steer the UM system in the point of transition and to pave the way for a permanent president," he said.
He said this includes legislative issues, funding and UM presence in state.
Lamb said the difference between an interim position and a regular position is that he will not see some of the things he begins to culminate in the position because he won't be around to see some projects reach completion.
Lamb said even though he has previous experience with the UM system, he plans to meet with the chancellor at each university to look at the state of the system. He is also planning to visit each of the campuses to talk to students, faculty and staff about the university.
"I think the most important thing for everyone to know is that the University of Missouri is an outstanding university," Lamb said. "My purpose is to lead the university in time of transition and make it as ready as possible for the permanent president."
Floyd, who announced his resignation Dec. 13, will serve in an advisory capacity until April 30.
Lamb said he has spoken to Floyd several times, which provided him with an excellent opportunity to learn about current projects in the system.
Lamb has an extensive background in higher education, including service as vice president and professor in the University of Texas system, president of Northeastern Illinois University and professor in the University of Wisconsin system.
The president is the executive leader of the UM system, which includes MU, UMKC, UM-Rolla and UM-St. Louis.
Lamb said he'll prepare even more this summer for the job as interim president instead of doing some of his hobbies: golf and fishing.
"None of which I will get to do this summer, a wonderful time to get outdoors," Lamb said. "Mostly I'm going to be right here."
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