JVIC director Allen Kunkel to retire after 19 years at MSU  

As a leader at Missouri State University, Allen Kunkel has transformed and advanced key initiatives in downtown Springfield. He will retire from the university on June 30. 

Kunkel has been associate vice president for economic development since 2007 and director of the Jordan Valley Innovation Center since 2010. 

He has played roles in expanding JVIC, advancing IDEA Commons and growing the Efactory, officials say. 

“It has been an honor and privilege to work for Missouri State, and I’m fortunate to have been able to work for and with so many wonderful people,” Kunkel said in a news release. 

“I’ve been blessed with a tremendous staff team who are extremely capable to take JVIC, Efactory and IDEA Commons to the next level. There are so many opportunities, and I’ll enjoy watching their continued success.” 

Reached by phone, Kunkel said he has been contemplating retirement in recent years but wanted to complete key projects first.  

“It’s the time for me to step away and see what else is out there,” he said. 

Kunkel previously worked for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and the Missouri Department of Economic Development. His salary for the 2024-25 academic year, the most recent available, was $156,818, according to MSU records. 

The university credited Kunkel for expanding JVIC by building relationships with corporate partners and tenants that conduct research and bring new technologies to the market. 

JVIC was selected in 2022 as one of only three locations nationwide to house a NextFlex Node as part of America’s Flexible Hybrid Electronics Manufacturing Institute.  

Kunkel also supported the vision of IDEA Commons, an urban innovation park in downtown Springfield where people can live, shop, learn, create and work. 

He was also instrumental in establishing and expanding the Efactory, the university’s entrepreneurship and small-business outreach center. 

Kunkel also oversaw the establishment of the university’s composite braider facility. This is a specialized advanced manufacturing center for developing large-scale components, especially for hypersonic vehicles, funded by the U.S. Air Force.  

Brad Bodenhausen, vice president for community and global partnerships at MSU, said Kunkel’s leadership has impacted the university and community. 

“He’s an outstanding economic developer – someone who has the experience and skills to take a vision and make it reality. That’s what he’s done here in Springfield’s center city,” Bodenhausen said in the release. 

“For almost 20 years, he has devoted his energies to implementing the university’s vision for JVIC, Efactory and IDEA Commons. As a result, we now have excellent facilities and a talented team working with business and community partners to support innovation and advanced manufacturing.” 

The university has not yet decided if it will replace Kunkel or retool the position, according to an MSU spokesperson. 

Kunkel has served in other leadership roles, including: 

• MSU’s liaison to the Springfield Innovation Inc. board, which provides advisory oversight for JVIC and the Efactory 

• Board member of the Missouri Biotechnology Association, Downtown Springfield Community Improvement District and the Southwest Missouri Council of Governments 

• Appointment by Gov. Mike Kehoe to the Missouri Technology Corp. board 

• Part of the International Economic Development Council, the Heartland Economic Development Course board and the Missouri Economic Development Council