Welcome to the Office of the President!
The president of Southeast Missouri State University is Dr. Carlos Vargas. The University president is the chief administrative officer of Southeast, serving 10,000 students and 1,200 faculty and staff members. The president reports to the Board of Governors and leads an Executive Staff of seven staff members responsible for the University’s Academic Affairs, Administrative Divisions, and Redhawk Athletics.
Dr. Vargas has served the University since 2015, focused intently on students and student success. For the University faculty and staff, he challenges us to consider each decision from the perspective of its impact on students. For students, he encourages them to be bold, to take action, to succeed, often citing a poem by Guillaume Apollinaire:
“Come to the edge," he said.
"We can't, we're afraid!" they responded.
"Come to the edge," he said.
"We can't, We will fall!" they responded.
"Come to the edge," he said.
And so they came.
And he pushed them.
And they flew."
Let’s Soar.
Dr. Carlos Vargas
Southeast Shoutouts
Dr. Vargas takes pride in the campus’ will to do. We consider it part of our culture to celebrate those successes together. And, he's stopped into classrooms and offices to spread some SEMO cheer when he hears about members of our campus community going above and beyond.
Wildwood
One of the oldest university president’s homes in the U.S., Wildwood served as residence for eight presidents. Today, it used for many University events.
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701