MSU board of governors elects new chairwoman

The Missouri State University Board of Governors elected a Lebanon nonprofit executive as its 2014 chairwoman.

Beverly Miller was chosen for a MSU board officer term starting next year, according to a news release. Miller is the volunteer executive director of the Lebanon office of the American Red Cross who also has been on the board of the Greater Ozarks American Red Cross.

During the MSU board's Oct. 18 meeting, the governors also elected Stephen Hoven, corporate vice president for public affairs for St. Louis-based SSM Health Care, as vice chairman; MSU Chief Financial Officer Steve Foucart as treasurer; and John McAlear, MSU staff emeritus, as secretary.

All new officers begin their one-year terms Jan. 1, the release said.

Auditor vote
The MSU Board of Governors voted unanimously to hire Donna Christian as director of internal audit of the university.

Christian, who has more than 24 years of auditing experience, is slated to start her duties Jan. 1 with a salary of $95,000, according to a news release.

Christian has experience with the state of Missouri auditor's office, including managing the Springfield satellite office. At MSU, she will report directly to the board of governors and work closely with MSU President Clif Smart and other school officials.

“Both the search committee and the full board were impressed with Ms. Christian’s credentials, experience and ideas,” MSU Board of Governors Chairman Orv Kimbrough said in the release. “This is a key position at the university, and we look forward to having her join our team.”

Christian succeeds June McHaney, who retired after seven years with MSU. As director of internal audit, Christian is tasked with reviewing and analyzing transactions, documents and accounts related to university operations and functions, as well as preparing reports of audit findings, according to the release.

Bronze Bear
The MSU board voted to award the annual Bronze Bear Award to former university President Arthur Mallory.

Presented to those who have supported MSU, Mallory is slated to receive the award at the Dec. 13 commencement ceremony at JQH Arena.

"There is no one more deserving of this honor than Mallory, not only for his successful tenure as president at Missouri State, but also for his role in advancing education statewide," MSU President Clif Smart said in a news release.

Mallory served as the school's fifth president 1964-1971 at age 31, the youngest leader in the university's history. From 1971-1987, Mallory served as commissioner of education for the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. He returned to MSU to serve as dean of its College of Education 1991-94. He currently works as director of Parents as Teachers National Center Inc.