Local University Announces interim President

ST. JOSEPH, Mo (KQTV) -- Missouri Western State University announces Patt Lilly as the Interim President after Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy's departure.

Lilly has officially been the Interim President as of Sunday, May 11th.

He is the former President of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, St. Joseph City Manager, and Chief Administrative Officer for Triumph Foods.

Despite being retired, Lilly is excited to oversee MoWest as the interim president.

"I have a real fondness and respect for people working in the public sector," Lilly said. "I could have always said no, but I felt it was something that I could step in and do, and be effective and help the university."

MoWest's Chair of the Board of Governors, Bill Grimwood is confident in Lilly's ability to lead the University until a new President is chosen.

"Patt is the perfect person to steady the ship and keep this moving," Grimwood said. "Several of us know him from working with him from the Chamber of Commerce, and he was the perfect choice."

Lilly has expressed that he will only be the Interim President, and will hand the leadership of MoWest over to a full time president.