Dr. Lance Tatum, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs and chief academic officer at Troy University 
in Troy, Alabama, was selected as the next president of Northwest Missouri State University. Tatum, joined by his wife, Jill, began his tenure at Northwest on June 1.
The University formally introduced him as president during a March 16 news conference.
In fall 2022, Anthem Executive, in collaboration with Northwest's Presidential Search Committee, produced a national search prospectus that detailed the opportunity available at Northwest for prospective presidential candidates as well as the requirements of the role and the next president’s desired traits and experiences.
The Presidential Search Committee partnered with Anthem Executive, a leading higher education search firm.
Anthem Executive gathered input to build a profile of the University’s ideal presidential candidate, finalized the search strategy, conducted a market analysis, identified viable contenders for the role, and placed regional and national advertising to attract a diverse candidate pool. It screened candidates and arranged interviews and campus visits in addition to helping onboard the successful candidate.
The Presidential Search Committee was charged with leading a transparent, inclusive and successful search to identify a candidate to become Northwest’s 11th president. The committee consisted of 15 members, led by four members of the Board of Regents, who represent varied stakeholders within Northwest community.
The chair of the Presidential Search Committee was John Moore, who was chair of the Board of Regents and a 1978 Northwest alumnus.
The Presidential Search Committee considered input from members of the Northwest community throughout all stages of the search process.
The search firm and Presidential Search Committee hosted a series of input sessions and shared an online survey to gather information from the Northwest community.
The position prospectus and search website were published, and the search process begins.
The Presidential Search Committee began its review of applicants.
The Presidential Search Committee conducted initial interviews with candidates.
The Presidential Search Committee hosted a series of public forums on the Northwest campus with finalists.
Northwest announced Dr. Lance Tatum as its 11th president.
