Dr. Mark Scully was inaugurated as the 10th president of Southeast Missouri State College in 1956. Dr. Scully graduated from the College in 1935 with a Bachelors of Science degree in education and history; he received a Masters of Arts degree in history from Peabody College in 1936 and a Ph.D. in education from Columbia University in 1951. Dr. Scully led a successful effort to change the name of the College to Southeast Missouri State University during his tenure.

Dr. Robert Leestamper was inaugurated as the 11th president of Southeast Missouri State University in 1975 after serving as president of Worcester State College since 1970. Prior to this, he also served as a professor and director of student affairs at Northland College, director of institutional studies at New Mexico State University, and assistant executive director of the Minnesota Higher Education Coordination Commission.

Dr. Bill Stacy became the interim president of Southeast Missouri State University in 1979, a year later he was inaugurated as the University’s 12th president. A 1960 graduate of Southeast Missouri State College, Dr. Stacy received his Ph.D. in speech communication from Southern Illinois University in 1968. He returned to Southeast Missouri State University in 1967 and taught in the Speech Communication and Theater Department. Dr. Stacy also served as dean of the School of Graduate Studies from 1976-1979 before becoming president.

Dr. Kala Stroup was inaugurated as the 14th president of Southeast Missouri State University in 1990. The first female president of the University, Dr. Stroup earned her Ph.D. in speech communication and human relations from the University of Kansas. Prior to her tenure as president, she was the vice president for academic affairs at Emporia State University from 1978-1983 and president of Murray State University from 1983-1989.

Dr. Dale Nitzschke was inaugurated as the 16th president of Southeast Missouri State University in 1996. Dr. Nitzschke received a Ph.D. in guidance and counseling from Ohio University. He was the president of Marshall University from 1984-1990 and the University of New Hampshire from 1990-1994 prior to assuming the same post at Southeast Missouri State University.

Dr. Kenneth Dobbins was inaugurated as the 17th president of Southeast Missouri State University in 1999. Dr. Dobbins received a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Kent State University in 1987. After holding multiple positions at Kent State, he came to Southeast Missouri State University in 1991 as the Vice President for Finance and Administration and was promoted to Executive Vice President in 1993 before becoming president.