Our PRESIDENT

Jack Magruder was born August 7, 1935, in rural Lentner, Mo., located in Shelby County. He and his family moved to Kirksville in 1943. Dr. Magruder attended Northeast Missouri State Teachers College -- now Truman State University -- and graduated with a bachelor's degree in chemistry and mathematics. He holds a master’s degree in chemistry and science education from the University of Northern Iowa, and he received his doctorate in chemistry and science education from the University of Northern Colorado. He completed additional graduate work at Louisiana State University.

Dr. Magruder is a 1992 graduate of Harvard University's Institute of Educational Management. He was honored in 1999 by the University of Northern Colorado as the recipient of the Administration Achievement Award and was granted an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2002. Dr. Magruder was honored most recently by receiving the 2003 Hall of Fame Award from the Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce and as a 2007 honorary member of the KCOM Alumni Association.

Dr. Magruder taught chemistry at Truman State University for 22 years before becoming Head of the Science Division there.  He later became Vice President for Academic Affairs at Truman before becoming Truman’s president for nine years, during which he served as a member of the Board of Trustees for The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, chair of the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education Committee on Transfer and Articulation, president of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, president of the Council on Public Higher Education for Missouri, and president of the Board of Directors of the Truman State University Foundation.  After he retired from Truman he was appointed to the Board of Trustees for A.T. Still University.  He became President of ATSU in February of 2008.

Dr. Magruder serves as a member of the Community Advisory Committee to the Missouri Foundation for Health. He is past chair of the Blue Ribbon Panel for Accountability, Credibility, and Efficiency for the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission and past member of the Missouri State Fair Commission and the Missouri State Fair Foundation Board.

Dr. Magruder is married to Sue Brimer Magruder, who is a graduate (both B.S. and M.A.) of Truman State University. She met Dr. Magruder on that campus on June 4, 1954. The Magruders have three children — Julie Magruder Lochbaum, Kerry Magruder, and Laura Magruder Mann — all of whom are Truman graduates. The couple also has nine grandchildren. 

Dr. Magruder's hobbies include reading, raising and riding Missouri Fox Trotter horses, driving a team of Haflingers, traveling, and camping. Mrs. Magruder enjoys traveling, reading, fishing, and doing jigsaw puzzles. The Magruders live on their 57-acre family farm located east of Kirksville.