Park University President Greg Gunderson, Ph.D., has been elected by his peers to serve as president of Independent Colleges and Universities of Missouri. He succeeds Central Methodist University President Roger Drake, Ph.D., who has served as ICUM’s president since 2015.
ICUM is the statewide association that proudly represents Missouri’s nonprofit independent sector. The association’s role is to support and advance the missions of independent institutions while increasing understanding and appreciation for the value and importance of the sector’s impact on higher education, the public and the state at-large. ICUM represents a diverse array of four-year and two-year independent colleges and universities, educating an equally diverse group of students.
Gunderson, who was unanimously elected to serve a one-year term, was formally affirmed during ICUM’s membership meeting on Thursday.
Drake was elected to serve as past president. Kimberly Paddock O’Reilly, Ph.D., Logan University, was elected vice president. Rose Windmiller, Washington University, was elected secretary-treasurer.
“Our Board of Directors, including our newest elected president, reflect the collective power of leadership who come together to focus on the critical issues facing our sector, as well as higher education and our state,” ICUM Executive Director William Gamble said. “We are grateful to Dr. Drake for his invaluable guidance and the tremendous impact that he has had on our sector during his tenure. We welcome the depth of insight that Dr. Gunderson brings to the role and are confident that he will accelerate our continuing efforts to strengthen the understanding of the importance of higher education and the collective impact that our institutions provide in moving our state forward.”
Gunderson became Park’s 17th president on Jan. 15, 2016, after serving as vice president and chief financial officer at Webster University in St. Louis since 2011.
“I am excited to take on this role, especially given the strong relationship between the State of Missouri and its independent colleges and universities,” Gunderson said. “As a group, we have proven to be flexible and nimble meeting the changing environment and needs of our students, which is needed more now than ever before.”
Under Gunderson’s leadership, Park University, which has offered online classes since 1996, has expanded innovative instruction methods, including serving students stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base and Fort Leonard Wood, and at Park’s military installation campuses across the country.
ICUM members are: Avila University, Central Methodist University, College of the Ozarks, Columbia College, Culver-Stockton College, Drury University, Hannibal-LaGrange University, Lindenwood University, Logan University, Maryville University, Missouri Baptist University, Missouri Valley College, Park University, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, Saint Louis University, Southwest Baptist University, Washington University, Webster University, Westminster College, and William Woods University.
Learn more about Independent Colleges and Universities of Missouri at icum.org