Several open positions at Missouri Western have been recently filled, including associate vice president for University Advancement, Center for Multicultural Education coordinator and Residential Life director.
Michael Armstrong was named associate vice president for University Advancement and started Jan. 7. He was previously major gift officer at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg.
“Missouri Western is at a pivotal and exciting point in its evolution as an institution,” Armstrong said. “The potential to expand and mature the resource development program here is incredible, and I could not resist the opportunity to be a part of making that happen.”
At Missouri Western, he will help lead the division of University Advancement, which includes Development, Alumni Relations, Public Relations and Marketing, and Campus Printing and Design Services.
As a major gift officer at UCM, Armstrong secured private support from university alumni and constituents, initiating more than 30 new scholarship and endowed funds. He also developed a comprehensive prospect management program that resulted in a 52 percent increase in gifts of more than $10,000 in its first year of implementation.
LaToya Fitzpatrick was named coordinator for the Center for Multicultural Education at Missouri Western in January. Prior to this position, she was the housing coordinator at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla. She was the resident director at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga before joining the Oklahoma State staff.
“This office is important because each student needs to feel like they belong,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s important for this office to connect with students and find out what their needs are so that students can be ready for most of the challenges of the world once they leave college.”
Fitzpatrick, originally from St. Louis, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
A new Residential Life Director also started in January: Nathan Roberts was serving as assistant director of Housing and Residential Life at Oklahoma State University before accepting the position at Missouri Western. He had previously served as residence area coordinator at Oklahoma State.
“As director of Residential Life you have the privilege to help shape the environment that supports college students as they pursue their dreams,” Roberts said. “I take this responsibility very seriously and I make sure to remember how I felt as a 18 year-old freshman when I’m making decisions that could greatly impact students.”
Roberts earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication from Emporia State University, Emporia, Kan., and a Master of Science in Career and Technical Education – Educational Instruction from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich.