Murray State President Heading to Central Michigan

Central Michigan University announced Murray State President Bob Davies will be their 15th president. He begins his duties September 1. The Mount Pleasant-based research university has more than 23,000 students and competes in the Division One Mid-American Conference. Davies has served as Murray State's president since 2014. He joined MSU amidst several rounds of budget cuts and saw little relief during his tenure due to periods of declining enrollment and state appropriations coupled with rising pension obligations. In a June review, the Board of Regents tasked Davies to find ways to increase revenue, enhance transparency and reallocate time to focus on enrollment. His departure follows the university's top enrollment official and athletics director. Davies said in a letter he was presented with an opportunity he couldn't decline. Board chair Susan Guess wished him success and said the board will move quickly to name an interim president and begin a national search.