Curators name interim UM president

According to a University of Missouri press release, 76-year-old Gordon H. Lamb has been named interim president of the UM-System. Lamb's appointment was formally announced last Friday.

Lamb will fill in for outgoing President Elson Floyd, who accepted the president's position at Washington State University.

The decision was approved unanimously by the Board of Curators during an executive session on April 4.

According to Don Walsworth, chairman of the Board of Curators, Lamb was a perfect choice for the position.

"Gordon has a tremendous academic and administrative background," Walsworth said at a Friday press conference. He knows Missouri and he knows the University of Missouri."

Lamb will fill the position while an ongoing national search to replace Floyd permanently continues.

Lamb's pay scale will be comparable to Floyd's, or around $382,000 per year. According to the press release, Lamb is not a candidate for the permanent job.

Lamb, who lives in Columbia, Mo., received his bachelor's degree in music education from Simpson College in 1956. He went on to receive his master's degree in music from the University of Nebraska and his doctorate in philosophy from the University of Iowa.

"Gordon has been an interim chancellor at UM-Kansas City for two years where he did a stellar job," Walsworth said. "He was recommended highly by his peers."

Lamb said he is excited about the opportunity to lead the UM System and its four campuses, Rolla, Columbia, St. Louis and Kansas City, and looks forward to getting to work.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to once again serve this prestigious University of Missouri system," Lamb said. "I have a great regard for the traditions and the people of the University of Missouri."

His job as he sees it, Lamb said, is to pave the way for the new system president and provide a steadying hand during the search.

"I am looking forward to renewing my relationships with our strong team of chancellors," Lamb said. "I've been in their shoes and appreciate the hard work that they do."

Lamb said one of his goals as the interim president of the UM System is to help higher education through some of the obstacles it now faces.

In order to accomplish his goals, Lamb said he intends to work closely with the chancellors of the four schools, as well as the Board of Curators and the state legislature.

"This is going to be a very busy time," Lamb said. "But all of us will be working hard to represent this university throughout the state."

Lamb said he accepted the position because he saw it as an opportunity to serve the residents of Missouri and the Mid-West again.

He said his background in higher education also was a factor in his decision to accept the position.

"It's an opportunity to serve," Lamb said. ""It's an opportunity to serve an institution I know. I know the people of Missouri fairly well, and I know the people of the Mid-West very well, being born and raised in Iowa. Still the main thing in all of this is to make a good, smooth transition to a permanent president."

Floyd will stay on to aid Lamb in his transition in a consultant's capacity.

At the press conference, Walsworth said the search for the new president in progressing, but the vital importance of the position is causing the Board of Curators to take their time to "find the right person for the job."

"This is a person who is going to have a tremendous impact of this university for the next 20, 25 years," Walsworth said.