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President & Cabinet

Sep 09, 2025

MoWest community mourns Dr. Looney, first president

2025-09-30T17:29:05-05:00

Dr. M.O. Looney Sept. 30, 2025--Dr. Marvin O. Looney, who served as the first president of Missouri Western State University, died Sept. 29 in Mountain Home, Arkansas. He was 97 years old. “There are few figures, if any, more vital than Dr. Looney to the development of Missouri Western State University,” said Dr. [...]

MoWest community mourns Dr. Looney, first president2025-09-30T17:29:05-05:00
Sep 09, 2025

President Kennedy receives inaugural Beacon Award from the SJSD Foundation

2025-09-19T15:30:44-05:00

Kristie Arthur, St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce; Julie Cobb, St. Joseph School District Foundation; Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, Missouri Western State University. Photo courtesy SJSD Foundation Sept. 19, 2025--Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, president of Missouri Western State University, was presented the inaugural Beacon Award for Outstanding Community Partner from the St. Joseph School District Foundation [...]

President Kennedy receives inaugural Beacon Award from the SJSD Foundation2025-09-19T15:30:44-05:00
Aug 08, 2025

MoWest, St. Joseph School District offer direct admission

2025-08-22T12:09:32-05:00

Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, MoWest's president, and Dr. Ashly McGinnis. St. Joseph School District, sign an agreement to launch a direct admit program for St. Joseph School District graduates attending MoWest. Aug. 22, 2025--Missouri Western State University and the St. Joseph School District have partnered to offer direct admission to MoWest for district graduates, [...]

MoWest, St. Joseph School District offer direct admission2025-08-22T12:09:32-05:00
Nov 11, 2024

Missouri Western formally opens innovative technology center

2024-11-15T15:16:03-06:00

Dr. Lenny Klaver, Dr. Ben Boggs, Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, Tim Houlne, State Rep. Brenda Shields and State Rep. Dean Van Schoiack cut the ribbon at the Houlne Center for Convergent Technology. Nov. 15, 2024--Missouri Western State University, North Central Missouri College and numerous public and private partners formally cut the ribbon on the [...]

Missouri Western formally opens innovative technology center2024-11-15T15:16:03-06:00
Jun 06, 2024

Kennedy selected to chair Council on Public Higher Education in Missouri

2024-08-21T11:03:33-05:00

Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, president of Missouri Western State University, will serve as chair of the Council on Public Higher Education in Missouri (COPHE) for two years. “I appreciate my peers for giving me the opportunity to serve in this key leadership role,” acknowledged Kennedy. “We have much to accomplish as we all work together to [...]

Kennedy selected to chair Council on Public Higher Education in Missouri2024-08-21T11:03:33-05:00
May 05, 2023

Sheriff’s investigator named commander of LEA

2023-05-23T16:19:51-05:00

Lonnie Bishop May 23, 2023–A veteran of the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department will lead Missouri Western State University’s Law Enforcement Academy. Lonnie Bishop will begin his duties as commander of the LEA on June 16. “The Law Enforcement Academy is an important way that we serve the region, training the people who keep [...]

Sheriff’s investigator named commander of LEA2023-05-23T16:19:51-05:00
May 05, 2023

Missouri Western celebrates Spring Commencement in the Civic Arena May 6

2023-05-02T11:53:34-05:00

May 2, 2023--More than 400 graduates will be honored during Missouri Western State University’s Spring Commencement Ceremony at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 6 in the St. Joseph Civic Arena, 100 N. 4th Street in Downtown St. Joseph. The public is invited. Doors open at noon. Missouri Western will confer 390 undergraduate and 37 graduate degrees [...]

Missouri Western celebrates Spring Commencement in the Civic Arena May 62023-05-02T11:53:34-05:00
Apr 04, 2022

MWSU names Andrew Carter as Director of Athletics

2022-04-20T18:06:44-05:00

April 20, 2022–Missouri Western State University has named Andrew Carter as the University's next director of athletics. Carter, currently director of athletics at NCAA Division II Minot State University in Minot, North Dakota, will start at Missouri Western on May 2. An introductory press conference will be held that day.  “In visiting with Andy, it [...]

MWSU names Andrew Carter as Director of Athletics2022-04-20T18:06:44-05:00
Mar 03, 2021

Missouri Western plans in-person classes for fall 2021 semester

2021-03-19T17:54:40-05:00

March 11, 2021-Missouri Western State University will return to in-person instruction for the fall 2021 semester. “We are committed to providing an engaging and fulfilling in-person, on-campus experience for every student in the fall semester, always in a safe environment for our entire campus community,” said Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, Missouri Western’s president. The majority of [...]

Missouri Western plans in-person classes for fall 2021 semester2021-03-19T17:54:40-05:00
Feb 02, 2021

Kennedy named Missouri Western’s sixth president

2021-03-17T16:17:13-05:00

Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, President Feb. 25, 2021--The Missouri Western State University Board of Governors voted unanimously on Thursday, Feb. 25, to name Dr. 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 [...]

Kennedy named Missouri Western’s sixth president2021-03-17T16:17:13-05:00