{"id":2365,"date":"2018-09-26T17:54:02","date_gmt":"2018-09-26T17:54:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/yearbook\/?p=2365"},"modified":"2020-02-07T15:03:59","modified_gmt":"2020-02-07T21:03:59","slug":"griffon-at-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/yearbook\/2018\/09\/26\/griffon-at-heart\/","title":{"rendered":"Griffon at Heart"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Mary Beth Rosenauer & Chase Merwin<\/span><\/p>\n

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Jeanne Daffron retired from Western after serving the university for over 40 years. <\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Daffron began teaching in the nursing department in 1977 then soon helped develop programs both in her field of study and across other academic areas. Her efforts served as a driving force to bolster the opportunities available for students at Western.<\/span><\/p>\n

President Robert Vartabedian has worked with Daffron by his side for the past nine years.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI tired to talk her out of it, but I guess when you’ve been here for 41 years you have the right to call your own shots,\u201d Vartabedian said. \u201cI\u2019m very very sorry to see her retire. In my career I only know a very small handful of people who have been at the same institution for that number of years.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Associate Provost for Research, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness Doug Davenport, who served as the interim provost after Daffron, believes that her departure will be a noticeable change. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe has been outstanding,\u201d Davenport said. \u201cShe\u2019s very caring, she\u2019s a servant leader and it will indeed be a loss for the institution.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Daffron, who has served as provost since 2009, is proud of the progress that Western has made over the years. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI am so proud of this institution, and of our faculty, staff and students who have worked so hard to make Missouri Western the wonderful place that it is,\u201d Daffron said. \u201cIt has been very rewarding to watch the institution mature.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Under Daffron\u2019s leadership many academic opportunities were created such as new programs, internships and research. She worked to create a partnership with Metropolitan Community College, which allowed Western to implement an RN-to-BSN program for its nursing students. The program has evolved to now offer both bachelor\u2019s and master\u2019s degrees in several different areas of health services.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other leadership roles include: nursing department chair from 1996-1997; Dean of the College of Professional Studies from 1997-2004; Assistant vice president for academic and student affairs in 2004; twice served as interim provost and vice president before being named to the position permanently in 2009; interim dean of graduate studies when the first graduate degree programs were offered in 2007.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been such a blessing to me,\u201d Daffron said. \u201cEvery time I\u2019ve been ready for a new challenge, there was a new opportunity for me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jennie McDonald, Daffron\u2019s administrative assistant, said Daffron\u2019s impact on the university has been far-reaching. One key triumph of Daffron\u2019s, for McDonald, was the encouragement and guidance she provided for faculty and students. McDonald also attested to the positive work environment that was cultivated under the productive leadership of Daffron. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe wouldn\u2019t let us consider her as our \u2018boss;\u2019 we worked more as co-workers,\u201d McDonald said. \u201cEven with a heavy meeting schedule, Dr. Daffron always made time to listen to a staff member, faculty member or student about any concern.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

McDonald said Daffron always made sure to acknowledge and congratulate the many successes of Western students. Through this, Daffron has embodied the Griffon spirit fully.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe is a true Griffon at heart,\u201d McDonald said. \u201cAnd I know that will never change.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t