Board of Governors appoints Patt Lilly as interim president

May 6, 2026-The Board of Governors at Missouri Western State University has named Patt Lilly as interim president of the University, effective May 11, 2026.

"Having served 12 years of the Board of Governors, including a term as Chair, Lilly is a dedicated, long-standing supporter of the University," said Bill Grimwood, chair of the Board of Governors, in a statement to campus. "Lilly brings decades of executive leadership experience across various sectors including public service, private industry and community development. This depth of experience, combined with a strong understanding of our region and community, uniquely positions Lilly to lead the University during this transition. The Board has full confidence in his ability to guide Missouri Western with clarity, stability and purpose."

Most recently serving as Principal Consultant at Lilly & Associates, he previously led the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce as President and CEO for more than 18 years, where he played a key role in advancing regional growth and economic development. He served as Chief Administrative Officer for Triumph Foods for almost 7 years. In addition, Lilly has held multiple roles in local government serving as City Manager for the City of St. Joseph, as well as, management positions in Texas cities. Lilly began his career in commercial banking. He holds a Master of Arts in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Houston.

"I am honored to support the University at this critical time," Lilly said. "I am committed to maximizing the strength of our faculty and staff to ensure operational continuity. I look forward to working closely with the Board to facilitate a successful transition and the selection of the next president."

Grimwood said MoWest will continue to move forward with confidence.

"Our priorities, supporting student success, advancing applied learning and strengthening our role in the region, remain unchanged," he said. "Day-to-day operations will continue as normal, and our work moving the university forward will not pause."

The full statement from Grimwood is below.

Dear Griffons,

On behalf of the Board, I am writing to share an important leadership update for Missouri Western State University.

We are grateful for Dr. Kennedy's leadership and service, which have helped position Missouri Western for continued success, and we remain firmly focused on building on that momentum as Missouri's premier regional applied learning university.

To ensure continuity and steady leadership, the Board has appointed Patt Lilly as Interim President of Missouri Western State University, effective May 11, 2026.

Having served 12 years on the Board of Governors, including a term as Chair, Lilly is a dedicated, long-standing supporter of the University. Throughout his tenure, he provided leadership across three Missouri Western administrations; working with Presidents Janet Murphy, Jim Scanlon and Robert Vartabedian.

"I am honored to support the University at this critical time. I am committed to maximizing the strength of our faculty and staff to ensure operational continuity. I look forward to working closely with the Board to facilitate a successful transition and the selection of the next president."

Lilly brings decades of executive leadership experience across various sectors including public service, private industry and community development. Most recently serving as Principal Consultant at Lilly & Associates, he previously led the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce as President and CEO for more than 18 years, where he played a key role in advancing regional growth and economic development. He served as Chief Administrative Officer for Triumph Foods for almost 7 years. In addition, Lilly has held multiple roles in local government serving as City Manager for the City of St. Joseph, as well as, management positions in Texas cities. Lilly began his career in commercial banking.

Lilly holds a Master of Arts in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Houston.

This depth of experience, combined with a strong understanding of our region and community, uniquely positions Lilly to lead the University during this transition. The Board has full confidence in his ability to guide Missouri Western with clarity, stability and purpose. This is an active leadership role, and he will have full authority to lead and make decisions on behalf of the institution.

It is important to emphasize that our direction remains clear. Our priorities, supporting student success, advancing applied learning and strengthening our role in the region, remain unchanged. Day-to-day operations will continue as normal, and our work moving the university forward will not pause.

MoWest is in a strong position, and we move forward with confidence in our leadership and in the collective strength of our Griffon community.

Thank you for your continued commitment to our students and to each other.

Sincerely,
Bill Grimwood
Chair, Board of Governors
Missouri Western State University

Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. MoWest is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.