By Laura Spencer
Kansas City, MO – Native Missourian and former Sprint Nextel CEO Gary Forsee was appointed Thursday as the 22nd President of the four-campus University of Missouri system. The Board of Curators voted unanimously during an executive session to hire Forsee with an initial three-year contract. Forsee says it's his first time heading a higher learning institution, but with more than 35 years in telecommunications, he is an experienced leader.
Gary Forsee: "At the end of the day it will be about leadership... I come into this with a lot to learn. I need to go back to school if you will. But I am eager and have a deep appreciation and respect for what's represented by the academic responsibilities of this university."
Forsee begins his new job on February 18, 2008 and succeeds Interim President Gordon H. Lamb, who's served since April. Forsee's expected salary is $400,000 a year plus up to $100,000 in incentive pay, deferred until he's completed three years as president.