New Leaders in Academic Affairs

Dr. Marjorie Shavers is a familiar presence at MoState. She’s now in a new role: interim dean of the College of Education. In our recent Q&A, she told us, “We can all advocate for the kind of educational system we believe will best serve our communities. We can talk about the value of teachers’ work, and we can practice empathy for every family who’s trying to navigate the system. If we’re strong advocates for all kids, then, when they move into college, they’ll be better prepared to succeed. We all have a part to play.”

Dr. Magdalena Toda joined us July 1 as the new dean of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences. She recently spoke with us about her priorities for the year, her enthusiasm for interdisciplinary collaboration and experiential learning, and the “youthful spirit” she sees on campus. “It’s clear that, here, students are at the center of everything,” she shared.

On August 1, we’ll welcome Dr. P. Brandon Johnson as associate provost for student success and Dr. Barri Tinkler as interim chief academic strategy officer. Keep an eye out for our upcoming Q&As with each of these leaders.

Need to Know

• The Higher Learning Commission reaffirmed our accreditation for another 10 years. “I’m incredibly proud of our faculty, staff and students, whose commitment to academic excellence, continuous improvement and our public affairs mission made this achievement possible,” said President Richard B. Williams.
• The fall 2026 semester brings changes in the registration and course fee refund schedule. As Registrar Angela Young shared, we’re simplifying things to allow “students to really settle into their schedule.” Get all the details on this change, and as you’re preparing for the new semester, review these registration and grading how-tos.
• You may have noticed that Faculty Success has a new look. An upgraded interface rolled out in July. Learn about the changes.
• As of this spring, the Testing Center has a new director, Dr. Lance Renner. “We’re very open to potential collaborations,” he says. “This summer, we’re working with SOAR to offer the math placement exam. Another example happened recently when a faculty member in one of our health care programs reached out about the certification exam her students must take to enter their profession. They had to go elsewhere to take that exam, and now, we’re going to start offering it here.”
• If you haven’t yet downloaded the Bear Shield app, you’ll want to check out this post about its features and benefits. And consider mentioning it in your syllabi or class announcements to help make students aware of this important safety resource.

Start Strong

Begin the new academic year with fellowship, professional development and tradition. Whether you’re new to campus or celebrating your 30th Marooniversary, you’ll enjoy this set of welcome-back events.