MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee announced he is stepping down after 25 years of service, and there is a wide variety of reactions.
At the quarterly Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, McPhee highlighted the University’s accomplishments and congratulated students, alumni, faculty and staff as he broke the news that he will abdicate his position this December. The Board of Trustees plans on finding a successor by Jan. 1, 2027. McPhee will remain a part of the MTSU faculty as a tenured professor in the College of Education.
“I will work every remaining day of my term to continue the progress and success of our great university,” McPhee said.
The Student Government Association praised McPhee in a statement following his retirement announcement, citing his decision to include SGA President R.J. Ware on the President’s Cabinet as a student voice. The group said the move reflected a commitment to student representation not commonly seen at other universities.
As the University begins its search for the next president, the SGA urges the Board of Trustees to ensure that students are meaningfully included in the selection process.
“An open and transparent search that engages the broader university community will be essential in identifying a leader who can build on MTSU’s momentum and guide its future,” Ware said in the statement.
The statement also emphasized McPhee’s accomplishments during his tenure, citing $2 billion in facility improvements, the raising of admission standards, the addition of over 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, the creation of two colleges and the establishment of more than 20 institutes and centers.
Former SGA President and current Student Trustee Michai Mosby released a statement on Instagram following the announcement, praising McPhee and highlighting several accomplishments from his tenure.
“His impact is not confined to his years of service,” Mosby said. “It is embedded in the very fabric of this university.”
Mosby described McPhee’s legacy as “deeply personal,” noting that the president served as a mentor who encouraged his leadership and helped build his confidence. Mosby said he hopes to carry forward McPhee’s vision as he participates in the selection of the university’s next president.
“I look forward to celebrating Dr. McPhee’s extraordinary legacy while working alongside institutional leadership to thoughtfully shape what comes next,” Mosby said.
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