FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LACOUR LEAVING SOUTHEAST FOR POSITION WITH UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO-GREELEY

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., July 10, 2002 -- James LaCour, assistant to the president for equity issues at Southeast Missouri State University, has accepted a position as director of human resources and employee relations at the University of Northern Colorado-Greeley.

LaCour’s last day at Southeast will be Aug. 14. He begins his new position at the University of Northern Colorado-Greeley on Sept. 1.

“Jim was a tremendous asset to Southeast who made great strides in the area of equity issues and in training employees at Southeast on workplace concerns,” said Dr. Kenneth W. Dobbins, president of Southeast Missouri State University. “We wish him well in his new position at the University of Northern Colorado.”

Dr. Pauline Fox, vice president for administration and enrollment management, will handle LaCour’s duties on an interim basis until the position is filled.

LaCour came to Southeast in fall of 1999. In August 2000, he was sworn in as a member of the Martin Luther King Jr. State Celebration Commission in Missouri. He was appointed to serve on the Commission by the late Gov. Mel Carnahan. The Martin Luther King Jr. State Celebration Commission considers and recommends to individuals and organizations appropriate activities for the recognition and celebration of Martin Luther King Day in Missouri.

Prior to his position at Southeast, LaCour served as director of the Office of Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity and Employment Diversity at the University of Northern Colorado-Greeley. LaCour has been employed for more than 30 years in a broad range of human resources areas, including employee relations, conflict resolution, policy development and skills assessment. He is experienced in the areas of diversity programming, equal opportunity and affirmative action practice and administration, and is skilled in the process of mediation, alternative dispute resolution and complaint investigation and resolution.

Earlier in his career, LaCour served as affirmative action/equal opportunity specialist in the Office of the President at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. He also served as assistant director of human resources at Northern Arizona University. He has been director of personnel and affirmative action officer at Park College in Parkville, Mo., a career counselor at DeVry Institute of Technology and a corporate recruiter with J.E. Wottowa and Associates, both in Kansas City, Mo. He was a guidance counselor with the U.S. Army in Kansas City and served as director of personnel and career development with U.S. Public Health Services in Beaufort Jasper Comprehensive Health Services in Beaufort, S.C.

LaCour holds a master of education degree from Northern Arizona University and a bachelor of science degree in human resources management from Park College.