Praise heaped on Kegel at hearing

In a special meeting with Montana State University system president Waded Cruzado, many testimonials were given in favor of the work Montana State University-Northern interim chancellor has done, but further discussion will be had.

The Hensler Auditorium in the Applied Technology Building at MSU-Northern had a full house, although Kegel himself did not attend. Staff, faculty and community members were standing in the aisles for lack of seating.

Cruzado visited the university Thursday morning to have a discussion about the hiring process for chancellors. The floor was opened for those in the audience who wanted to speak to the matter and for much of the allotted hour and half time limit for the meeting praise of Kegel and urges to instate him as permanent chancellor at the university were delivered.

After former chancellor James Limbaugh resigned from his position in the spring semester of 2014, Cruzado appointed Kegel as interim chancellor. He was the dean of the College of Technical Sciences and a long-time MSU-Northern employee.

Cruzado said she will be bringing the proposal of making an exception for Kegel at the board of regents meeting in May.

"I need sufficient time to make a decision," she said, adding that she will be in touch with the university on how it unfolds.

Sherry Kegel, the interim chancellor's wife, admitted she did not know the meeting would come to such sentiments and said she felt a little awkward sitting through the sentiments about her husband. The admission incited laughter in the audience.

"I'm humbled," Sherry Kegel said. "If Greg were standing here, he would be very humbled too. ... You guys have said some wonderful things about my husband."

Kegel was in his office in Cowan Hall during the meeting.

Serry Kegel, and Cruzado as well, urged the audience that if anyone had anything negative to say about pursuing Kegel's permanent instatement, to contact Cruzado with their thoughts.

Greg Kegel was touted for his adeptness at fundraising for the university, namely the new automotive and diesel building - the construction of which is slated to begin this year. Community members and his co-workers spoke fondly of the way Kegel carried himself with other people and his humbled form of leadership.

Dave Henry, the director of Northern Montana Hospital said the decision to on whether to make Kegel chancellor is an easy choice to make.

"It's a no-brainer," Henry said. " ... Let's keep the momentum we've got. Let's make him chancellor."

He joked that if Kegel was not given the position, he should be written a check worth how much he has raised in the last year.

MSU-Northern Provost William Rugg also spoke in favor of Kegel. When Rugg interviewed for the position, Kegel was on the interviewing committee, as he was still dean when Rugg came to the university.

"Now he's my boss ... ," Rugg said. "He's the perfect person for the position."

He said that over night, they were informed that Kegel would act as interim chancellor and the community came together to throw a celebration without any preplanning.

"I think that says a lot about the kind of person we have here," Rugg said, adding that in all his time in education administration, he had never seen so much turmoil on a campus as there was before Kegel.

"We're on a great path here," Rugg said. "You've made an excellent choice."