As of the end of this academic year, Missouri Southern will be seeing some change in leadership.

Dr. Brad Kleindl, dean of the school of business, has formally resigned, planning to finish his contract and return to teaching in the fall.

Eligible for retirement in 2010, Kleindl hopes for other opportunities after Southern but wants to be a mentor for his replacement.

“I was the assistant dean for three years and some of the best advice that I received was that it would take me three years to learn my job and that was true,” he said. “I am looking forward to helping someone make that transition.”

Kleindl will take a pay cut, moving back to faculty salary. Currently there is no plan for who will replace him, however the University plans to advertise the position.

“There’s been no call for him to step back. I think that he’s made a decision because of his professional interests, because of whatever he sees as his future,” said University President Bruce Speck. “I would just prefer he stay on, but you try not to force people to do things they don’t want to do and he didn’t ask me.”

Dr. Steven Wagner, acting head of the social science department, assumed the position last spring after Dr. Richard Miller moved up to dean of the school of arts and sciences.

Wagner said his move back to the classroom is “not form of protest” he just prefers teaching.

“I agreed to be head of the social science department on an interim basis, we needed someone willing and able to step up,” he said. “I’d rather concentrate on being a historian, the administrative side of things is interesting but it’s not for me.”

There is no expectation as to who will take the position for next fall.

Dr. Cliff Toliver, director of the first year experience, will likewise move back to the classroom, his position will be temporarily filled by Susan Craig.