University Leadership: How Much Longer for Lee, Khayat?

From the Daily Journal

By ANDY KANENGISER

TUPELO - Two pillars of state universities - Mississippi State's Charles Lee and Ole Miss' Robert Khayat - appear to be closing in on retirement, but they're sidestepping questions about how much longer they will stay at the helm.


They and others running the state's eight universities came into the spotlight last week when the state College Board limited how much private boosters could contribute to the presidents' salaries.


MSU president Lee, 67, is not revealing his plans, saying only what's already known: His contract expires in June 2006.


Supporters are encouraging the North Carolina native to stay as the leader at the Starkville-based university.


Under Lee's tenure, MSU gained national applause for hiring Sylvester Croom as the first black head football coach in the history of the Southeastern Conference.


This fall the university opened its first new residence hall on the Starkville campus in more than 35 years and is more than halfway to reaching a $400 million fundraising goal, the biggest in its history.


At the University of Mississippi, Chancellor Khayat said Friday he expects to fulfill his contract, which extends through June 2007.


"Anybody in his 60s is aware of retirement - the time will come,'' said the 67-year-old Khayat, who's led his alma mater for a little more than a decade.


"I want to leave before I'm asked to leave,'' said the former Ole Miss and NFL football star.


During his tenure, he attracted a Phi Beta Kappa chapter to the Oxford campus and successfully steered a $530 million fund drive, the biggest ever at the school. He upgraded the honors college at Ole Miss and is widely credited with providing the impetus for Oxford's accelerating growth.


Lately, Khayat has received criticism for mishandling an Athletics Department snafu dismissing the school's mascot, Colonel Rebel, and ordering a design change for a proposed civil rights memorial on the Oxford campus after nearly a decade of planning.


Lee and Khayat have both brought national recognition to their schools, and now supporters are wondering what's their next move.


"I'd like to see both stay on,'' First District U.S. Rep. Roger Wicker, R-Tupelo, said Friday. "Both have been tremendous assets to the state and economic development.''


Among Mississippi universities, the biggest pay packages go to Lee and Khayat, each receiving $200,000 in state salary. Lee also receives $200,000 from the MSU Foundation, while Khayat gets $160,000 from the Ole Miss Foundation.


Board members "want to be sure there is no question who we report to,'' Khayat said via phone.


"I'm grateful for what the university foundation does, but I work for the College Board. I'm grateful for the compensation.''


Should Khayat and Lee depart soon, it would require the board to fill key vacancies at the state's three biggest institutions. The board is making plans to search for a successor to outgoing University of Southern Mississippi president Shelby Thames, who is under only a two-year contract.


Lee served one year as MSU's interim president before the board gave him a four-year contract to lead the school. At a news conference the day he was hired, Lee said he planned to stay four years. He said he intended to retire to spend more time with his grandchildren and go fishing.


"We Bulldogs love Charles Lee,'' said Rep. Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, who led a petition drive at the Capitol a few years ago to promote Lee to the job. "We respect any decision he would make. We hope he has a much longer tenure.''


Still, Holland said he would understand if Lee retires. " I know the challenges are intense. He's had a spendid career in academia.''


An MSU graduate who will receive a master's in Southern culture from Ole Miss in December, Holland said his comments also apply to Khayat.


"You can't expect the man to work forever,'' Holland said. "He can stay as chancellor as long as he wants to be.''


College Board member Dr. Stacy Davidson Jr. of Cleveland said he hopes the two university leaders stay. "There is no reason to make a change now," he said. "They are in good stead with the board.''


Davidson remembers Lee's initial comments about his plans to stay only four years. "He may still be of that mindset. He's not told the board officially.''


Davidson said the board will know more about Lee's plans in the next three to four months.


Khayat plans to talk to board members next year about his future. "I want to make sure they are comfortable with any transition when the time comes," he said.