Dr. Kathleen O’Connor was named dean of the University’s College of Professional Studies and began her duties July 1.
Dr. O’Connor began at Missouri Western as a nursing instructor in 1980. She became an assistant professor in 1987, then an associate professor and chair of the department of nursing in 1998. As chair, Dr. O’Connor led the development of Missouri Western’s Master of Science in Nursing: Health Care Leadership degree. She also helped create a partnership with Metropolitan Community College for an RN-to-BSN program at MCC’s Penn Valley campus.
She is a past recipient of the Alumni Association Distinguished Faculty Award and the University’s Jesse Lee Myers Excellence in Teaching Award.
The College of Professional Studies includes the departments of criminal justice, legal studies and social work; education; engineering technology; health, physical education and recreation; military science; and nursing and allied health.
This past July, Dr. Bob Willenbrink and Dr. Michael Lane were hired as deans and joined Missouri Western in August. Dr. Willenbrink is the founding dean of the School of Fine Arts and Dr. Lane is the dean of the Craig School of Business. More information on them will follow in the Winter 2014 issue.