St. Joseph Post
She is interim president no longer.
The Missouri Western State Board of Governors voted unanimously on Thursday to name Elizabeth Kennedy Missouri Western’s sixth president.
“I and other members of the Board have been very impressed with Dr. Kennedy’s capable and steady leadership during this very challenging time,” said Lee Tieman, Board of Governors chair in a release.
“Our Board received substantial input from students, alumni, faculty, staff and the community regarding adding stability and direction to the leadership of the University. We believe this is a tremendous step forward in addressing those objectives. While considering all options available to lead this outstanding institution, we came to the unanimous conclusion that the best leader for us already occupied the position.”
Kennedy served as Missouri Western Vice Provost before being named interim president in early August last year when President Matt Wilson left the school to become dean of Temple University Japan.
“Missouri Western is moving forward with sure direction and clear purpose, and I’m honored and humbled to be a part of that,” Kennedy said in a written statement. “I believe there is much hope in the future of Missouri Western, and I am very confident and excited about what that will mean for us.”
A welcome and celebration event will be planned in the future, depending on COVID-19 protocol. Tieman and Kennedy will speak in a news conference at 9 a.m. Friday, which will be streamed live here.
Kennedy became Missouri Western’s vice provost in January 2020, after being selected through a nationwide search.
Before coming to Missouri Western, Kennedy was dean of the College of Applied Science and Technology and interim dean of the College of Health Professions at the University of Akron. She had been at the University of Akron since 1997, beginning as an assistant professor of social science
Her administrative experience began as a department chair in 2002. She became associate dean of the College of Applied Science and Technology in 2014, becoming dean in 2016.
Kennedy grew up in Kansas City, and graduated from Ruskin High School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Master of Arts in Psychology, Graduate Certificate in Gerontology and Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology, Applied Cognitive Aging, all from the University of Akron.