Lou Anna Kimsey Simon is the current president of Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, USA as of 2005. She is married and lives in East Lansing.

Education

President Simon got her Bachelor of Arts in mathematics from Indiana State University in 1969. She earned a Master of Science in student personnel and counseling, Indiana State University in 1970 She got a doctorate in philosophy, administration and higher education from MSU in 1974.

Career

Simon served as Michigan State University provost and vice president for academic affairs from 1993-2004 She has also has served as associate provost, assistant provost for general academic administration, assistant director of the office of institutional research, as well as an MSU faculty member.

President Simon served as Michigan State's interim president during the period from May 2003 to May 2004 that then-President Peter McPherson served as a representative of President George W. Bush in reconstructing the economy of Iraq following the toppling of Saddam Hussein's government.

In 2004, the MSU Board of Trustees awarded Simon a three-year, US$340,000-a-year contract to oversee the 44,800-student university and its US$715 million annual budget.