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The Northwest community gathered Thursday morning in front of the Administration Building to welcome the Tatum family to Northwest. (Photo by Lauren Adams/Northwest Missouri State University)
Northwest Missouri State University ushered in its next era Thursday as Dr. Lance Tatum began his work as the institution’s 11th president.
A crowd of Northwest employees, students, alumni and community members gathered on the lawn in front of the Administration Building at 8:30 a.m. as Tatum – with his wife, Jill, and children, Thad and Zoe – walked from the building’s east circle drive to provide an introduction of the family.
The University introduced Tatum as its 11th president in March, concluding a search process that began last year.
Dr. Lance Tatum introduced his family - son Thad, wife Jill and daughter Zoe - to the Northwest community after arriving for his first day of work. (Photo by Lauren Adams/Northwest Missouri State University)
Bobby Bearcat escorted the Tatum family into the Administration Building as Dr. Lance Tatum began his first day as Northwest's president. (Photo by Lauren Adams/Northwest Missouri State University)
“Over the last three months, I’ve had the great privilege of being introduced to Northwest’s history and its culture,” Tatum told the crowd. “I can tell you that I quickly have learned that the part that makes the Bearcat community so powerful are the strong connections that exist at this University, and I am looking forward to building upon that strength. I could not be more humbled and grateful to the Board of Regents and the Northwest community for trusting me with the profound responsibility of leading this University. Since March, the outpouring of kindness and the many warm welcomes have been really just overwhelming. We truly feel blessed, and we are excited to finally be in Maryville.”
Tatum continued, “It was Plato who said, ‘The beginning is the most important part of the work.’ Today is our beginning. Today the work officially begins, but we will need your help to continue moving Northwest Missouri State forward.”
He thanked the crowd for joining the welcoming ceremony and concluded his remarks, in part, by saying, “I look forward to the opportunity to meeting you in the coming days as we begin the important work of serving students, supporting our faculty and staff, serving this community and serving the state of Missouri.”
The Tatum family is pictured in front of the historic Thomas Gaunt House, which serves as the presidential residence on the Northwest campus. (Photo by Todd Weddle/Northwest Missouri State University)
Tatum previously had served as senior vice chancellor for academic affairs and chief academic officer at Troy University in Troy, Alabama, since January 2019 while holding the rank of professor in its Sorrell College of Business—School of Hospitality, Sport and Tourism Management.
He joined Troy University as a faculty member in 1998 and went on to serve as vice chancellor for its campus in Montgomery, Alabama; vice chancellor for its Global Campus; dean of the College of Education; and chairperson of the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion as well as a Faculty Athletics Representative. Throughout his career, he has held faculty positions in sport and fitness management at Troy University, and he began his academic career as an assistant professor of physical education at Gordon College in Barnesville, Georgia.
He earned a Ph.D. in sport management at Florida State University. He has a Master of Science in Education degree in foundations of education and a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education, both from Troy University.
For more information about Northwest’s presidential search, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/presidentsearch/.
