Drury VP, MSU dean announce retirements

Karen Sweeney, executive vice president at Drury, will retire April 1 after 33 years with the institution, and Curt Lawrence, dean of MSU's University College, will retire June 30 after 32 years with the school.

Sweeney arrived at Drury in 1973 as dean of women, was named dean of students two years later, and in 1977, became vice president of student services and church relations. She was named executive vice president in 2003.

Sweeney has been involved in a number of local organizations, including United Way of the Ozarks, Leadership Springfield and Junior League.

Drury Vice President for Enrollment Management Krystal Compas will replace Sweeney June 1. She will serve as assistant to the president and will be responsible for building and strengthening relationships with donors and alumni.

Compas has a master's degree in education from Drury and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

She joined the Drury staff in 1990 as a special instructor in languages and literature, and in 1995, became director of first-year experience, a student-transition program under Student Affairs. In 2000, she was named associate dean of educational services, and she became Drury's first vice president for enrollment management in 2002.

Drury will conduct a national search to fill Compas' position.

At MSU, Lawrence has spent 11 years as dean of University College.

Lawrence came to MSU in 1974 and joined the faculty in the department of modern and classical languages. He later served as dean of special academic programs and director of Honors College.

In 1994, he was named dean of University College as part of a universitywide reorganization. The college includes the General Education program, Advisement Center, International Studies/Study Away program, the Honors College and the Writing Center.

For the 2004-2005 school year, Lawrence served as acting dean for the College of Arts and Letters.

With Lawrence's retirement, MSU President Michael Nietzel said he anticipates making changes in the organizational structure of the programs in University College.

“With the development of the provost model and with our need to reduce administrative costs wherever possible, I think it is an opportune time to study and reorganize these programs into the office of the provost,” he said in a news release.

Nietzel said he hopes to announce changes by July 1.