Governor appoints MSU board member

Gov. Jay Nixon yesterday appointed a Kansas City-area businessman to the Missouri State University Board of Governors.

Gregory Spears, of Greenwood, fills the seat left vacant by Stephen Bough, who was nominated last year by President Barack Obama to fill a federal judgeship for the Western District of Missouri. Spears’ term lasts through Jan. 1, 2019, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

Managing director and Kansas market manager for Wells Fargo Advisors in Kansas City, Spears has held multiple management positions at financial institutions since 1983. That year, he graduated from MSU with a degree in finance.

Spears, whose father-in-law Arthur Mallory is a past president of MSU, said his wife also graduated from the university, as did three of his four sons.

“Our family is deeply rooted with the university going back to the 1950s,” Spears said via email. “My family history is also one of public educators, so public education is in my DNA, and this will provide an opportunity to serve the students and faculty of MSU.”

As a member of the 10-person board, Spears is tasked with voting on issues dealing with the control and management of the university, including personnel, tuition and student fees, and approval of educational programs and services, according to MissouriState.edu.