Northwest begins next era with inauguration of Tatum

Pomp, circumstance and the glow of a new beginning on Friday afternoon filled Bearcat Arena as Northwest Missouri State University celebrated the inauguration of its 11th president, Dr. Lance Tatum, with a ceremony that featured well wishes for the new leader’s success while setting a course for the institution’s future.

University faculty, dressed in colorful academic regalia, filled seating on the arena floor as staff, alumni and students packed the bleacher seating, joining community supporters, delegates from across the state and friends of the Tatum family. The ceremony also featured stirring music performed by the Northwest Wind Symphony and Tower Choir.

The day’s culminating moment occurred when Board of Regents Chair Roxanna Swaney and Vice Chair Mel Tjeerdsma placed Northwest’s chain of office and medallion – a new set unveiled for Tatum’s presidency that replaced the one in use since Dr. B.D. Owens’ inauguration in 1977 – over his shoulders. Then, Tatum – flanked by his wife, Jill, and the couple’s children, Thad and Zoe – placed his left hand on a large Bible passed on to the family by Jill’s mother, held up his right hand and accepted the charge read by Swaney to carry out the duties of Northwest’s president.

Upon the action, Tatum was showered with applause and a prolonged standing ovation by the Bearcat Arena crowd.

“Today signals the beginning of my presidency and the continuation of a legacy of excellence and community that defines our institution,” Tatum said as he concluded his inaugural address. “I am deeply committed to the vision of growth, sustainability and empowerment that lies at the heart of our journey forward.”

Northwest’s Board of Regents selected Dr. Lance Tatum to lead the University last year, and he began his tenure June 1, 2023. The inauguration ceremony – a long-standing tradition at colleges and universities to celebrate the installation of presidents and reaffirm an institution’s mission and commitments – marks the climax of Tatum’s first year at Northwest.

In addition to thanking the many people who have supported his personal and professional growth – including family, past teachers and mentors – Tatum thanked Northwest and Maryville community members who have assisted him and Jill during their transition to the University. He thanked Northwest leaders, faculty and staff – past and present – for their encouragement and dedication to the University.

“It was immediately clear to me that students were the focus at Northwest Missouri State University,” Tatum said. “That attribute, a well-developed legacy from the days of this institution's role as a Normal School, spoke to my student experience. An experience connected to committed faculty and hardworking staff. An experience that built and shaped me into who I am today. Through the hard work and support of faculty and staff at Northwest, we will continue to uphold the mission and values of this University. Values of delivering outstanding instruction, meaningful mentorship and committed support to grow and nurture our students so they may achieve their educational and professional goals.”

Thanking Northwest students, Tatum said, “Your willingness to include Jill and me in your campus events and celebrations has given us so many great early memories, and the energy, passion and sense of pride you demonstrate inspires me to remain focused on making your Northwest experience the best it can be.”

Tatum reflected on why he decided to pursue a career in education and attributed that decision to “a profound passion and strong belief in the transformative impact of education.”

“To me, education stands as the cornerstone of progress and advancement within any society,” Tatum said. “It serves as the key that unlocks doors of opportunity and empowers individuals to realize their utmost potential. From the moment I stepped into a classroom, I envisioned myself not merely as a source of knowledge but as a facilitator of learning, arming students with the skills, values and self-assurance necessary to navigate the complexities of our ever-changing world.”

In outlining goals for Northwest during his presidency, Tatum said he is focused on enrollment growth and sustainability, providing students with the best possible collegiate experience, and investing in the University’s people. He pledged to strengthen Northwest’s culture of caring while growing a sense of togetherness and mutual respect for the people who call the University home.

As funding shifts for public universities have made tuition the primary revenue source to support institutions like Northwest, Tatum said the institution must continue its focus on strategic growth and sustainability to maintain its mission of offering accessible higher education in the region.

Several initiatives to meet those goals are underway at Northwest, Tatum noted. Last summer, the University expanded its Bearcat Advantage scholarship program to attract more quality out-of-state students. Also, Northwest is partnering with KC Scholars to expand opportunities to recruit low-income students from Kansas City, and a robust international student population is helping to grow and diversify the University’s enrollment portfolio. Additionally, the University has conducted a comprehensive review of admissions and recruiting approaches to guide its enrollment strategy during the next five years.

Speaking to the collegiate experience, Tatum acknowledged students are learning in different ways today than the students attending colleges and universities decades ago. Still, he said, Northwest remains positioned to help its students cultivate deep connections with faculty, staff and peers that contribute to a holistic education.

“Today, students have the flexibility to enroll in either traditional classroom settings, online or in hybrid formats, blending both,” Tatum said. “Pair this with the ability to engage with friends and peers via social media and various other communication platforms, and the contemporary collegiate experience differs significantly from that of past generations. Nevertheless, irrespective of the mode of connection, the time spent at Northwest should remain the most transformative experience in our students’ lives.”

Tatum added, “Our vibrant campus life is a testament to the spirit of community that defines and shapes our institution. It’s the experiences and interactions with faculty, staff and the campus community that bond our students to Northwest. Once they become alumni, it is this bond that serves as the foundation for their interest in and willingness to support our institutional goals. Our aim is to cultivate a Northwest experience that sparks inspiration, for it is the inspired who inspire others. Lest we forget, once a Bearcat, always a Bearcat.”

Finally, Tatum spoke to his desire to invest in Northwest’s people and nurture a campus environment that is conducive to personal and professional growth. The president said Northwest will explore ways to enhance existing leadership programs and cultivate leaders by allocating resources to professional development, leadership training, mentorship and providing platforms so aspiring individuals may assume leadership roles.

“At Northwest, faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends serve as the backbone, the driving force, and the very essence of our success,” Tatum said. “Investing in people is not just merely a strategic decision; it is a fundamental expression of our belief in the transformative power of education.”

University leaders congratulate, welcome new president

Dr. Jack Hawkins Jr., the chancellor of Troy University in Troy, Alabama, and a valued mentor to Tatum, provided the event’s keynote address. Hawkins has served as Troy’s chancellor since 1989 and is the longest-serving chief executive officer of a public university in the United States.

While emphasizing higher education’s responsibility to preserve culture and values, Hawkins reflected on Tatum’s growth and development as a servant leader.   

“I think one of the greatest challenges we face as an academy is the need for strong leadership – leaders that can make decisions that are in the best interest of students,” Hawkins said. Addressing Tatum, Hawkins added, “I’ve watched you grow up from being a lifeguard at Troy University to a faculty member, to a departmental chair, to a dean and then I can remember asking you to be a vice chancellor and then the chief academic officer of our institution. I’ve been so incredibly proud of the work that you’ve done.”

The ceremony also featured greetings and congratulatory remarks from leaders representing Northwest stakeholder groups, Matt Gaarder, president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors; Elizabeth Motazedi, Northwest’s Student Senate president and student regent; Leisha Barry, president of the Northwest Foundation Board of Directors; Selena Foreman, chair of the Staff Council; and Dr. Rhonda Beemer, president of the Faculty Senate. Chad Mayne, pastor at The Bridge in Maryville, provided an invocation.

“As we stand at the horizon of a new era, it is fitting that we reflect on the values that have defined our University throughout its history – a commitment to academic excellence, dedication to a culture of family and a belief in the transformative power of education,” Barry said. “Dr. Lance Tatum brings a wealth of experience, passion and vision to lead us forward. He has a proven track record of team building and higher education experience, and I look forward to his leadership that will steward Northwest to continue to thrive and evolve.”

In addition to the afternoon inauguration ceremony, the Tatum family and friends gathered during the morning at The Bridge for a prayer brunch. After the inauguration ceremony, attendees had an opportunity to greet and pose for photos with Tatum in the Lamkin Activity Center lobby. Evening activities included a social and dinner at the Agricultural Learning Center, attended by the Tatum family and friends as well as University leaders, prior to the Student Activities Council-sponsored concert featuring Russell Dickerson at the Carl and Cheryl Hughes Fieldhouse.