Magruder named 10th president of A.T. Still University
Posted: July 22, 2008<strong>KIRKSVILLE, Mo.</strong> (Apr. 18, 2008 ) – Dr. Stephen Kardos, D.O., chairman of the ATSU Board of Trustees has announced that the Board has named Dr. Jack Magruder as the 10thPresident of the University. Magruder replaces James J. McGovern, Ph.D., who retired from ATSU on April 1.
According to Dr. Kardos, “Dr. Jack Magruder is absolutely the right man and the right educator for ATSU. The Board of Trustees was unanimous in its decision to ask Jack to take on this leadership position.” Kardos explained that ATSU is now preparing for an upcoming institutional accreditation visit and “Dr. Magruder’s past experiences as a Higher Learning Commission Board member and President of Truman State University uniquely qualify him to lead ATSU as the University prepares for the accreditation visit.
In addition to the upcoming accreditation, Magruder will be focusing his energies on streamlining and strengthening the University’s governance structure, with a special emphasis on bringing faculty and students into the process. “We have such terrific faculty and students; we need to solicit their input and opinions. I want us all to communicate well,” said Magruder.
Magruder, who has been Acting President since February, also said his initial focus will be on student-learning and university-wide assessment. According to Pete Detweiler, president Alliant Bank in Kirksville, MO and a member of the ATSU Board of Trustees, “ATSU has been in Kirksville for over 115 years – but is a relatively new University, having grown rapidly over the last ten to fifteen years. We need to make sure we have University-wide processes and procedures in place to ensure our long term success and the success of our students.”
When asked for the top three reasons he agreed to become President of ATSU, Magruder said “That’s an easy one – the top three reasons are: Students, Faculty and Staff. This is a great institution full of great people and I am proud to be a part of ATSU.
Magruder began his career at Truman State University in 1964 as an assistant professor of chemistry. During his 22 years on the faculty, he achieved the rank of professor before serving as head of the Division of Science from 1986 to 1989. In 1989, Magruder was named acting dean of instruction and was later given the permanent appointment of vice president for academic affairs. On July 1, 1994, Magruder was named the 13th president of Truman State University. Magruder was honored in 1999 by having Truman’s Science Hall building renamed Magruder Hall, and he was granted the emeritus title of President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Chemistry in May 2003, before retiring from the University on June 30, 2003.
Magruder attended Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Truman State University) graduating with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and mathematics. He has a master’s degree in chemistry and science education from the University of Northern Iowa and a doctorate in chemistry and science education from the University of Northern Colorado. Magruder is a 1992 graduate of Harvard University’s Institute of Educational Management. He was honored in 1999 by the University of Northern Colorado as the recipient of the Administration Achievement Award, and was granted an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2002. Magruder was honored most recently by receiving the 2003 Hall of Fame Award from the Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Magruder serves as a member of the Missouri State Fair Foundation Board, and the Community Advisory Committee to the Missouri Foundation for Health. He is past chair of the Blue Ribbon Panel for Accountability, Credibility and Efficiency for the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission. During his time at Truman, he served as a member of the Board of Trustees for The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, past chair of the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education Committee on Transfer and Articulation, past president of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, past president of the Council on Public Higher Education for Missouri, and past president of the Board of Directors of the Truman State University Foundation. Prior to becoming ATSU’s President, Magruder served as a member of the Board of Trustees for ATSU, as well as chair of the Board’s Education/Research Committee.
ATSU enrolls over 4,000 students in its Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, Arizona School of Health Sciences, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, and the online School of Health Management. The University has campuses in Kirksville, Missouri and Mesa, Arizona.
The University offers graduate degrees in Osteopathic Medicine, Dentistry, Human Movement, Athletic Training, Audiology, Physical Therapy, Physician’s Assistant Studies, Health Administration, Health Education, Public Health, Geriatric Health, Health Science, and Occupational Therapy.
Originally established as the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, ATSU is the founding school of osteopathic medicine begun by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, M.D., D.O. in 1892.