Higher education tech expert writing songs in ‘second chapter’

Using Springfield as a home base, David Hinson is often on the road helping higher education institutions address urgent leadership or technology needs.

He stepped down as Drury University’s No. 2 leader in June 2021, and in the nearly five years since, he has worked for colleges and universities in Illinois, Iowa Oklahoma, North Carolina, Tennessee, and other parts of Missouri.

No matter the location, Hinson always returns to family in the Queen City and travels with a guitar.

“I probably travel half to one-third of the time away from home, and it just depends on how many schools I’m representing,” said Hinson, who has been chief information officer at Simpson College in Iowa since November 2025. “Currently, I am representing one but on the cusp of two others.”

The longtime singer and guitar player plugged into the Springfield music scene, becoming a regular at jam sessions, after moving here in 2016. But it is only during this latest chapter of his life – involving many hours on the road – that he started to write Americana and roots rock songs.

“The last six months or so has really afforded me the opportunity to pull together the music vocabulary I’ve developed over the years. I decided to get serious about it,” he said. “Beginning in October and November of last year, I started pulling together song ideas I’ve had for a while.”

Collectively, they resulted in a March 2026 extended play musical recording – shorter than an album – called “Better Late Than Never,” getting radio airplay in the Ozarks and beyond. The EP includes the singles “Better Days” and “Ada to Ozark.”

“It was just kind of a happy accident of all these points where I am professionally and just artistically,” he said. “What I’ve been doing and just the community here in Springfield has affected me greatly.”

Hinson, 64, has been married nearly four decades and lives near Phelps Grove Park. They have two grown sons, including a college student, who also live in Springfield.

“I want to make sure that whatever I do professionally, musically, whatever, I make it count, and I don’t want to waste time,” he said. “I don’t want to waste other people’s time.”

He said writing songs at this juncture in life involves reflecting on time, missed turns and the choices he made, while trying to avoid any hint of nostalgia.

“It’s assessing your humanity at this point,” he said.

Hinson grew up in the Nashville area and ran his own software company before moving into higher education. He was executive vice president and chief information officer at Hendrix College in Arkansas.

In 2016, Hinson started a five-year run as executive vice president, chief of staff, chief operating officer and chief information officer at Drury.

He developed close friendships in Springfield including Justin Larkin, who organized a regular jam called the C-Street Jamboree. He plays multiple instruments and produced Hinson’s EP in his studio, Cosmic Ozarkana.

Larkin said Hinson was a consistent supporter of the jam sessions and other musicians. He said Hinson played guitar and sang with timbre reminiscent of Neil Young.

“He would always pick these really good songs. A lot of people play the low-hanging fruit stuff like ‘Wagon Wheel’ or “Wonderwall’ or whatever,” Larkin said. “But David was playing a lot of cool alternative stuff from the ’90s and deep cuts.”

He said once Hinson started to write songs, he offered to record them.

“He had started this late renaissance of writing songs,” he said. “He’s always been a man of immaculate taste musically, so whenever I found out he was writing, I was like ‘Well, this is probably going to be good,’ and it was.”

After Drury, Hinson became an expert for hire. Colleges and universities bring him on board for a period of time to assess technology or other needs, provide temporary leadership and help chart a path forward.

He said after the pandemic, higher education experienced a loss of leaders as part of a wave of resignations and retirements. Now, many are facing enrollment and funding challenges.

“It’s being about to come in and help schools set the table, strategically think through things and navigate what does the next year look like, the next two years,” he said. “It’s providing an island of stability for schools as they look for some comfort and some guidance.”

Hinson has lived a split existence for years, focusing on technology and leadership during the day and playing music at night or during the weekend.

“To give a sort of fractional lifestyle, the way I do, you give up a lot,” he said.

While traveling for work, Hinson has found a refuge in songwriting. He said it is a chance to look forward and back.

“I hope what comes through in my music is not necessarily regret but reflection,” he said.