SFCC Plans Inauguration For Sixth President

State Fair Community College will hold a public inauguration for the college’s sixth president, Dr. Brent Bates, at 2 p.m. Oct. 23 in the Stauffacher Center for the Fine Arts Theatre on the Sedalia campus.

A reception is planned immediately after the ceremony. The community is invited to attend.

Representatives of the SFCC Board of Trustees, Student Government Association and presidents of the college’s Classified, Professional and Faculty associations will make remarks. Bates will deliver an inaugural address.

Bates took over July 1 as president. Before taking this position, he was SFCC’s Educational and Student Support Services vice president for 20 years overseeing deans and directors and core services such as academic affairs, technical programs, student support, institutional research, extended campuses, and athletic programs.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from Ft. Hayes State University in Kansas, a Master of Arts degree in Communication from Pittsburg State University in Kansas and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Kansas State University in Manhattan.

Bates is married to Marqueta Kay Bates, and they have a son, Jackson, who is a freshman at Smith-Cotton High School. He also has two step-children, seven step-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren, most of whom live in the Sedalia area.