Office of University Communications 

Nietzel to serve on leadership and global competitiveness commission

SPRINGFIELD — Missouri State University President Michael T. Nietzel has been selected to serve on the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Commission on Presidential Leadership and Global Competitiveness. 

Composed of 12 AASCU presidents and chancellors, the commission will work to assess and project the impact of global economic, political and technological changes on America’s public universities. The commission, chaired by Bruce Shepard, former University of Wisconsin-Green Bay chancellor and president-designate of Western Washington University, will recommend initiatives to presidents and chancellors that will strengthen the success of their institutions in insuring graduates are globally competitive.

“Global competition affects our nation’s economic, political, social and environmental landscape. And the reality is we are just beginning to understand the significant challenge this presents for America,” said Constantine W. Curris, AASCU president. “The commission’s objective is to answer the question, ‘how should public colleges and universities respond to global competitiveness to ensure that both our students and our country can meet the challenges as well as seize the opportunities presented by globalization.’”

In addition to Nietzel, the commission’s members are: President Susan C. Aldridge, University of Maryland University College; President Donald Betz, Northeastern State University (Okla.); President Robert A. Corrigan, San Francisco State University (Calif.); President Helen Giles-Gee, Keene State College (N.H.); Chancellor Jack Hawkins, Jr., Troy University (Ala.); President Robert W. Kustra, Boise State University (Idaho); President Dorothy Leland, Georgia College & State University; President P. Kay Norton, University of Northern Colorado; President Denise M. Trauth, Texas State University-San Marcos; Chancellor Jorge Ivan Velez-Arocho, University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez; and President Leslie E. Wong, Northern Michigan University.

“I am honored to have been appointed to this group. We have important work to do on behalf of our students and nation so I look forward to participating on this commission,” said Nietzel.

AASCU is the leadership association of 430 public colleges and universities. Enrolling more than 3 million students, these institutions fulfill the expectations of a public university by working for the public good through education, stewardship and engagement, thereby improving the lives of people in their community, their region and their state.