Federation of Illinois Independent Colleges and Universities

MacMurray College selects new president

	Released: 5/7/2007
	Springfield Journal-Register MacMurray selects new president Lawrence Bryan will retire at end of academic year By BUFORD GREEN STAFF WRITER Published Monday, May 07, 2007 JACKSONVILLE - Dr. Colleen Hester has been selected to become the new president of MacMurray College. Hester, who will take over prior to the fall semester, will be the first woman president of the 161-year-old college. Hester currently is vice president of strategic planning, institutional research and evaluation at the University of St. Thomas in Houston. She was unanimously picked from about 60 applicants by the school’s board of trustees, according to a news release from the school Sunday. She will succeed Lawrence Bryan, who will retire at the end of the current academic year after 10 years as president. “I am deeply honored to have been selected by the MacMurray College Board of Trustees and the community to serve this fine institution as its 15th president,” Hester said in a statement. “I am inspired by MacMurray College’s legacy of transforming students’ lives by empowering them with strong critical thinking skills, effective communication skills, a rich understanding of the historic human experiences and a working moral compass. MacMurray prepares leaders and citizens for life success.” MacMurray trustee John Blythe of Springfield, co-chair of the search committee, said the board’s goal was to identify the right person to lead MacMurray “We are sure that Dr. Hester is that right person. The search was very thorough. We wanted to find someone with the skills needed to lead the college, but also someone who could fit in with all the intangible qualities that make MacMurray a special place. We found that person.” Hester was selected from among four finalists who visited the campus for two days in April. Hester has been vice president at the University of St. Thomas since 1999, working with academic and non-academic units on strategic planning, institutional effectiveness, outcomes assessment, institutional research, evaluation and accreditation. Hester began her professional career at the University of Houston in 1982. A licensed psychologist, Hester has had a practice in psychological accreditation and licensing. She has degrees from Murray State University in Kentucky, Southeast Missouri State University and University of Missouri-Columbia. She and her husband, Dr. Jerry Osborne, will move to Jacksonville during the summer. MacMurray College, founded in 1846, is a private, four-year liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Buford Green can be reached at 245-6023 or buford.green@sj-r.com.