Richard “Biff” Williams, the next president of Missouri State University, wants to be here for the long haul.
Williams said today, March 4, he wants this new chapter to take him into retirement.
“I plan on being at Missouri State — if you'll keep me,” Williams said in a Zoom interview with the media March 4. At the time of the interview, he was in Utah, where he was president of Utah Tech for nine and half years until resigning in January 2024 to seek career advancement.
“I plan on being at MSU a very long time and creating that consistency,” Williams said. “From what I saw from my interview, and from my study, it's just a great place. And it would be a great place to end my career if I'm allowed to do that.
“I believe that to really make a difference you need to put some time into that institution,” he said. “I believe my first priority is to listen — to listen and to learn.”
Williams, 52, starts his new job in Springfield July 1, replacing Clif Smart, president since 2011. Smart will step down at the end this academic semester.
Williams has a five-year contract with a starting annual salary of $475,000; a $50,000 annual housing allowance; and is eligible for up to $50,000 in annual incentive pay.
MSU ‘has it all,' Williams says
Williams said he and his wife Kristin “fell in love” with MSU.
“To me, it has it all,” he said. “It has great academics. It has great research. It has great athletics. Performing arts. It really values diversity and inclusion. I love that we meet students where they are.
“President Clif Smart has done a tremendous job of leading this university. When we looked at the administration that's here — the faculty, the staff, the students, at all levels, it was exciting.
“I've been in the Midwest 16 of my 25 years (in higher education) and I've been able to watch Missouri State University from afar,” Williams said. “I just have a tremendous respect and pride and inspiration from the rich history of this institution.”
Williams was profiled in the Hauxeda on Feb. 11. In that story, the chairman of the faculty senate at Utah Tech described him as “confident, competent and capable.”
Williams is a hot property for good reason, said Julie Chew, president of the Utah Tech Faculty Senate Committee. He was an outstanding leader and a tremendous president at Utah Tech, she said.
“He is very comfortable in his own skin,” Chew said.
Williams one of three finalists
Williams was one of three finalists, although the candidacy of one of the three — MSU Provost John Jasinski — lost traction last week.
Jasinski was president of Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville from 2009 to June 2022, when his contract was not extended. Smart hired him as interim provost at MSU. Jasinski quickly became provost.
Jason Klindt, a regent at Northwest, came forward to charge that Jasinski has been providing a false narrative as to why he was not retained at Northwest.
The third finalist was Roger Thompson, 57, who has been vice president for student services and enrollment management at the University of Oregon since 2016. He has been at the university since 2010. He has also worked at Indiana University and the University of Alabama.
Thompson was profiled in a Feb. 25 story in the Hauxeda.
Jasinski was profiled in the Hauxeda on Feb. 22.
A ‘people person' who will be part of the community, region and state
“It's a very exciting day for Missouri State University as we announce and celebrate our next president,” said Lynn Parman, chairperson of the Missouri State University Board of Governors.
Rob Fulp, who chaired the MSU Presidential Search Committee, echoed that.
“Biff has been very successful in leading Utah Tech and is a people person that takes a tremendous amount of pride in being embedded in the community, the region and the state,” said Fulp, who works at Great Southern Bank. “I think this is a great day for all three of those.”
Fulp praised Smart.
“We would not be here today if not for the success and hard work that both Clif and Gail provided over the years,” Fulp said.
Gail Smart is the wife of Clif Smart.
Businessman was fond of Thompson, but pleased with Williams
Businessman Loren Cook II, president of manufacturer Loren Cook Co. in Springfield, said he viewed Williams and Thompson as the strongest candidates.
“I am thrilled that one of those two got the job,” Cook said. “I am thrilled that Biff got the job. He is a gentleman and he has integrity.
“I connected with Roger (Thompson) probably from more of a sports background,” Cook said.
Cook is interested in improving MSU's athletic programs. Cook was not on the search committee, but he heard presentations from the finalists and talked to Thompson on the phone.
“I think the thing that probably set Biff apart from Roger is that he is very savvy from the state-legislative standpoint,” Cook said. “He (Biff) went and visited every single state legislator, whether it was having a coffee or a Coke at their home, in a restaurant or in the Utah capitol.”
Springfield Mayor Ken McClure praised the selection of Williams.
“I think the board (of governors) made a good choice,” McClure said. “I think he will continue to move the university forward[...] I look forward to getting to know him.”
Williams also a finalist at New Mexico State University
Williams was first named a finalist here at Missouri State and a week later was named one of five finalists to become the next president of New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. Williams received his doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction from New Mexico State.
In fact, Williams made two public appearance at New Mexico State University last week.
Parman was asked if the MSU Board of Governors felt it had to move quickly to hire Williams because of the interest in him at New Mexico State University.
She said no. “We followed our process.”
Parman said MSU does not have a presidential residence and that is why Williams will receive a $50,000 annual housing alliance.
She was asked if she knew if Williams planned to speak to Jasinski, the MSU provost.
She did not know, but added that Jasinski has a strong record as MSU provost.
