Dr. Cale Fessler, vice president for financial planning and administration, is leaving Missouri Western State University to accept the position of associate vice chancellor of budget and financial planning at the University of Arkansas. His last day will be Friday, Feb. 1.
“I would like to thank Dr. Fessler for his years of excellent service at Missouri Western,” said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president. “These have been very challenging financial times, and Cale and his team have met the challenge with creativity and perseverance. I wish him the best of luck in this next chapter of his career.”
Dr. Fessler came to Missouri Western in January, 2013, from William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri, where he had worked since 2004.
“I have enjoyed my six years at Missouri Western, and I appreciate Dr. Vartabedian giving me the opportunity,” Dr. Fessler said. “I’m proud of the work our dedicated employees have done in some pretty tough financial circumstances.”
Under Dr. Fessler’s financial leadership, Missouri Western has managed to make several capital improvements despite relatively flat state appropriations and enrollment.
- Partnerships with community partners funded renovations to the Mosaic Training Fields that helped keep the Kansas City Chiefs summer training camp at Missouri Western in 2015, and renovations and continued operation of the Thomas Eagleton Indoor Pool in 2016.
- Through a guaranteed energy savings project with Schneider Electric, Missouri Western made more than $5 million in energy-saving improvements, funded by utility savings.
- Favorable bond rates allowed Missouri Western to leverage private contributions from Steve Craig and other donors to completely renovate Spratt Memorial Stadium, including the addition of a video scoreboard and the Bill Snyder Pavilion, as well as make other athletic facility improvements.
- Missouri Western and other public universities and community colleges advocated for deferred maintenance needs, ultimately resulting in House Bill 19, which provided $4.8 million to make improvements to every building on campus.
There will be a national search to replace Dr. Fessler.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.