MSSU Board of Governors approves faculty promotions

(From Southern News Service)

The Board of Governors at Missouri Southern State University voted to approve promotion and tenure recommendations for nine faculty members during a meeting Friday, March 18.

The promotion of the following individuals will be effective with their 2016-17 contracts:

Instructor to Assistant Professor

Matthew Cowdin: Law Enforcement Academy (Director)

Assistant Professor to Associate Professor

Dr. Alla Barry: Biology and Environmental Health

Dr. Brad Creamer: Biology and Environmental Health

Dr. Jennifer Dennis: Biology and Environmental Health

Associate Professor to Full Professor

Dr. Jill Greer: Social Science (Anthropology)

Dr. Thomas Schmidt: Business Administration (Marketing & Management)

Dr. Wendy McGrane: Academic Affairs

The tenure of the following individuals will be effective with their 2016-17 contracts:

Tenure

Dr. William Delehanty: Social Science (Political Science)

Devon Estes: Art (Associate professor)

Dr. Paula Carson, provost/vice president for academic affairs, said the promotion and tenure process at Missouri Southern is something to be recognized.

“It’s a special honor for these professors to be promoted in this fashion,” she said. “We are very proud of their dedication to their discipline and their students.”

In other business, board members heard a presentation on the performing arts at Missouri Southern by Dr. Jim Lile, head of the Theater Department, and Dr. David Sharlow, associate professor of music. The Missouri Southern Chamber Singers also offered a short performance.

There are currently a combined 120 students majoring in the performing arts, offering a wide variety of theater productions and concerts each year on campus and in the community.

“We have a very strong performing arts program here at Missouri Southern,” said Lile. “For many people, these students are the face of the university and the performances are of great cultural and community importance.”

The board also approved adoption of an updated Jasper & Newton Bi-County Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan is designed as a tool for the counties in controlling the hazardous effects of natural disasters and to improve public awareness of probable natural disasters. The original plan, adopted by the board in 2011, expired this year.