MSU chief diversity officer sets retirement date

Wes Pratt, Missouri State University's chief diversity officer, has scheduled his retirement from the school.

Pratt is slated to exit Aug. 1, according to a news release. Chief diversity officer and assistant to the president since 2016, Pratt has been an employee of the university since 2007.

“Wes has been a leader of change at Missouri State and in the community as a whole. He has served the students, faculty and staff, facilitated tough conversations and fought for progress,” MSU President Clif Smart said in the release. “We will miss his wisdom and guidance at MSU.”

Since taking on his current role, Pratt has led MSU in "focusing on inclusive excellence and valuing the inclusion of diversity," officials said in the release.

His previous roles at MSU have included coordinator of diversity, outreach and recruitment and Title IX coordinator.

Pratt is credited with expanding diversity training and professional development at the MSU campus, as well as in the city, region and state. A Missouri Supreme Court-appointed member of the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness, he additionally helped start Student African American Brotherhood’s local chapter, according to the release. He also co-founded the Multicultural Business Association, formerly Minorities in Business, and he was a member of Springfield Business Journal's 2016 class of Men of the Year.

“Wes Pratt is a pillar of our community," Springfield Mayor Ken McClure said in the release. "His strong voice and clarion call has served as our collective conscience as well as a guiding light in our constant efforts to make Springfield a welcoming city for all."

MSU has launched an immediate search for an interim chief diversity officer. An interim leader would serve for a one-year term, after which the university would assess the need for a national search, officials said.