When John and Neosha Mackey first came to Springfield, Missouri in 1985 as Neosha took the position as the Head of Reference for the Missouri State University Libraries, they couldn’t have guessed how drastically the campus and their connection to the world would change through their nearly three decades at Missouri State.
During their years on campus Neosha served as Associate Dean of Library Services from 1987-2009 and was then named Dean of University Libraries. In that time the Mackeys saw the Meyer Library nearly double in size with a renovation and expansion that was completed in 2002, which included the 140-foot Jane A. Meyer Carillon. This expansion would allow for the housing of nearly one million books, one million government and United Nations documents, 3,500 periodical and newspaper subscriptions, electronic access to over 20,000 periodicals, and an expanded and improved local archives and collections section.
As the face of the Missouri State University Libraries was transformed, Neosha and John also saw a significant change in Missouri State’s international outreach efforts. The international student population at Missouri State University’s Springfield Campus, particularly over the past decade, has seen a dramatic increase. Since 2003, the international student population on the Springfield Campus has nearly tripled, and today one out of every fifteen students at Missouri State University is an international student.
Neosha and John took a strong interest and leadership role in the development of these international programs, particularly programs in China. Neosha spent over a year in China, which she noted as the most significant event in her time at Missouri State, while John spent two years there. Their work and involvement with Chinese students and Missouri State’s campus affiliates in China are changing lives internationally.
Neosha and John felt a particular connection with Qingdao, a city of roughly 8 million people located on China’s northeastern Pacific Coast. Missouri State University has a longstanding relationship and student/faculty exchange program with Qingdao University. In honor of her retirement Neosha and John established the Neosha & John Mackey Qingdao University Student Scholarship Fund for students attending Missouri State from Qingdao University. The scholarship will annually benefit four students from Qingdao University studying at Missouri State in Springfield.
Make a contribution to the Neosha & John Mackey Qingdao University Student Scholarship.
Learn more about Missouri State University International Programs.
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