Gores to retire from SMSU at end of year
Southwest Minnesota State University President Dr. Connie J. Gores, has announced her retirement at the end of the 2018-2019 academic year.President Gores is the ninth permanent president of SMSU, and its first female president. She came to SMSU in 2013, and is in her sixth year as president.
In announcing her decision, President Gores said she plans to move closer to her daughters, and especially her grandchildren, on the East Coast. “I want to be there for birthday parties, soccer games, school concerts and other special activities,” she wrote in a letter distributed campus-wide. “As many of you know, my most coveted title is ‘Nana.’ Once I get settled, I will determine how best to continue contributing to leadership in higher education.”
President Gores has been an inspirational leader since her arrival, and the University has made tremendous strides under her leadership, including:
• Significant investment in agriculture programs impacting the region, state, and beyond
• Marked growth in Exercise Science program partnerships in the Twin Cities
• An increase in civic engagement on and off campus
• Expansion of undergraduate research programs and applied research projects
• The highest levels of faculty and staff giving in the Minnesota State system
• Growth in diversity of the University student body and a focus on student success
• A celebratory 50th anniversary year of events, activities, and commemorations
• An impressive employment record of SMSU graduates: 99% of SMSU graduates were employed or in graduate school within six months of graduating (most recent data).
“I want everyone to know how how much I truly enjoy serving as your President,” she said. “Thank you to everyone for embracing me as a member of the Mustang Family. I will forever hold dear the prairie, the people and the possibilities. Once a Mustang, always a Mustang!”
President Gores is a Cando, N.D., native and knows firsthand the transformative power of higher education. She believes that education changes lives, and points to herself as a prime example.
She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Washington; her master’s degree from Colorado State University; and her bachelor’s degree from North Dakota State University. She is a graduate of the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University and participated in the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI) Executive Leadership Program, as well as the Minnesota Partnership for Executive Leadership Development Program. She serves on the NCAA Division II Presidents Council and is a member of the NCAA Strategic Planning Committee. She was recently awarded Emeritus status on the Women’s Network Executive Council, a national committee of the American Council on Education. She also serves on the board of the Minnesota Campus Compact, where she serves as Chair of the Governance Committee. She is a founding board member of the Jared P. Stene Student Leadership Scholarship Board.
“I will continue to work tirelessly on behalf of the entire community this coming year,” she said. “We must not lose the momentum of our 50th Anniversary. We must continue to find ways to be innovative and creative for the betterment of the University. SMSU is a remarkable place with resilient, intuitive, hard-working individuals, and I look forward to a positive year of focus, dedication and vigor.”