Biography of Dr. Woodrow Burt President, HLG

Having served in both faculty and administrative positions on several college campuses and having such a rich history with Hannibal-LaGrange College, Dr. Woodrow Burt has brought to the presidency of Hannibal-LaGrange a varied background of experiences. Twenty-five of his thirty-two years in higher education have been devoted to Hannibal-LaGrange College. He has capably served this institution as faculty member, director of admissions, dean of student affairs, academic dean and registrar, chief development officer, executive vice president, interim president, and since 1995 resides as president. Dr. Burt was ordained to the ministry in 1967 and has served in ministry positions throughout the Midwest. Dr. Burt continues to be a well sought-after speaker to audiences across the state and around the country.

Dr. Burt began his career in education as director of admissions, dean of men and instructor of speech at Clarke College in Newton, Mississippi, and later served as vice president for student development and assistant professor of speech at William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. While at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, he held the position of assistant director of development.

During his tenure as academic dean at Hannibal-LaGrange from 1987-1991, he initiated the campus-wide computerization of offices and departments, led in the addition of several new majors, and promoted the establishment of the honors programs and its international study component. Under his leadership in development from 1991 to 1995, the college’s endowment increased by 33 percent, and he instituted the development office’s planned giving emphasis to undergird the future of the college. As president he has directed the addition and renovation of dormitories, the expansion of the athletic program, the addition of the Roland Fine Arts Center and the Carroll Missions Center on campus, and the restructuring of the college’s administrative organization.

A native of Mississippi, Dr. Burt began his academic preparation with two degrees from Mississippi College, the B.A. in speech and Bible and the M.Ed. in speech. After receiving the Educational Specialist degree from the University of Missouri at Columbia in 1983, he earned the Doctor of Philosophy degree in higher and adult education from that institution in 1989.

Dr. Burt has had educational articles published in the University Press, of Columbia, Missouri and has received many honors and awards, including the Distinguished Service Award from Hannibal-LaGrange College.

As a community-minded leader, Dr. Burt is an active member of the Hannibal Lions Club and serves on the executive board and as an ambassador for the Hannibal Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he has been involved in state and national service activities including: chairman for F.A.C.T. (Families and Communities Together), trustee for the Education Commission for the Southern Baptist Convention, president for the Missouri Association of Community Task Forces, and a member of Missouri State Advisory Council to the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse by appointment of the Governor.

He is married to the former Katherine Speed, who is an Assistant Professor of English at Hannibal-LaGrange. The Burt family includes: son Mark, his wife Letizia, and their daughter Caroline; daughter Laura, her husband Bryon, and their son Andrew; and daughter Jennifer.

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