MATT HAMPTON | Sports Editor
The Board of Trustees approved a former IBM executive as the next president of Lindenwood, and he will take office on July 1, according to an email sent out by interim president Art Johnson.
John R. Porter has worked at IBM for 33 years and holds a master’s in business administration from Washington University in St. Louis. He is also earning a doctor of education degree from Johns Hopkins University.
Since 2018, Porter has worked as the vice president of services at Gulf Business Machines, an IBM partner, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He has previously worked for IBM in South Africa and in the United States.
Porter has also been an adjunct professor, board member, and fundraiser at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri, from which he graduated in 1984 with a bachelor’s in communications. He has also taught at Drury University in Springfield, and his family lives in the Kansas City area.
According to the email, Lindenwood hired Top Gun Ventures for the presidential search, and the process included interviews with deans, the university cabinet, and representatives from student government, staff council, and faculty council.
“When we met with him, he was just very personable. A lot of his answers to our questions were very genuine,” said Daniel Kennebeck, president of Lindenwood Student Government. “I think it’s really interesting that we now have a president who is actually going through higher ed himself as he is in the position.”
Earlier this month, the list was narrowed down to three final candidates.
“While we were soliciting feedback from faculty, staff, students, and board members, a common theme became apparent: leadership,” the email from Johnson said. “Mr. Porter has a proven track record of leading people and processes with integrity and honesty.”
Johnson, the former vice-chairman of the board, became interim president after Dr. Michael Shonrock, the previous president, was put on paid leave in February. Shonrock was then fired for reasons that have not been officially announced.
UPDATED June 1, 2019 at 1:50 p.m. with quote from Kennebeck.
