Interim MSU Darr College of Agriculture leader becomes dean

Melissa Bledsoe has been named the permanent dean of Missouri State University’s William H. Darr College of Agriculture after holding the role in an interim capacity for nearly a year.

Bledsoe is stepping into the dean's role on a permanent basis starting May 1, according to a news release. She's been interim dean since summer 2023.

“The momentum of the Darr College of Agriculture is fueled by many opportunities on the horizon. I look forward to working with colleagues and the ag community to develop our programs to support the agriculture industry,” she said in the release. “It’s all for our students to learn, grow and lead the future of agriculture. What an exciting time to be dean.”

Bledsoe joined the Darr College of Agriculture in 2013 as an assistant professor and became associate professor in 2019. She took on the interim associate dean role in January 2023 before becoming interim dean, according to the release.

Ronald Del Vecchio, the college's former dean, died in April 2022 of cancer, according to past reporting.