CANTON, Mo. — The Culver-Stockton College Board of Trustees held a business meeting on June 17, 2020, during which several resolutions were passed, including the decision to confer on Dr. Kelly M. Thompson the title of president emerita.
The trustees also:
- Recognized Dr. Carol Fisher Mathieson, professor of music emerita, for her 45 years of service.
- Acknowledged the hard work and diligence of the employees of Culver-Stockton in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Took a moment to remember the life of Robert F. Stone ‘71 of Hoffman Estates, Ill., a longtime trustee who died in March.
- Thanked R. Kent Clow ‘78 of Olathe, Kan., for his service to the Board of Trustees. Clow retired from the board in May.
Thompson, the 26th president in Culver-Stockton’s 167-year history, is retiring on June 30. She has led the college for six years and was the first woman president of the college.
A resolution passed by the trustees noted that Thompson has “served the College with distinction, integrity, honor and success throughout her term.” Ronald W. Leftwich ’64 is the chairman of the Board of Trustees.
The title of “emerita” (or “emeritus” when given to a male) often is given to a person retired from professional life but permitted to retain the rank of the last office held as an honorary title.
The resolution praised Thompson for leading the “Culver-Stockton: Changing Lives!” comprehensive campaign that was designed to raise $25 million during an eight-year timeframe but far exceeded its goal, raising nearly $35 million and accomplishing most of its goals two years ahead of schedule. She also was congratulated for keeping enrollment numbers consistently strong. Total enrollment has topped more than 1,000 students for five consecutive years.
The resolution lauded Thompson for her efforts to support Culver-Stockton’s 12 plus 3 academic semester calendar and its emphasis on experiential education. Thompson also led the fundraising efforts for the Carolyn L. and Robert W. Brown Residence Center, a $3 million facility that was completed in 2017, and an experiential learning center to be built as an addition to the Gladys Crown Student Center, as well as renovations to nearly every other building on campus.
Dr. Douglas Palmer, who has served as provost, vice president of academic affairs and dean at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio, since 2015, will begin his duties as Thompson’s replacement on July 1, 2020.
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Contact the Marketing & Public Relations Office, at pr@culver.edu or 573-288-6000 ext. 6728 for more information.
NOTE: A number that appears immediately after a person’s name (i.e. Jane Doe ’18) is a reference to the year that person earned their bachelor’s degree from Culver-Stockton.