MSU names human resources director

Beginning Aug. 24, there will be a new leader of human resources at Missouri State University.

Edward Choate, a 15-year veteran of the human resources field, will replace Mary Routh, who is retiring. Choate most recently served as human resources director at Minnesota State University-Moorhead, a post he held for five years, according to an MSU news release.

Choate has a bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, a master's degree from Southern Connecticut State University and a juris doctorate from University of Notre Dame Law School. Prior to his job at Minnesota State, he was an employment and labor attorney for human resources from 1992-2004 at SCSU, where he also was an adjunct faculty lecturer.

"We are most pleased to have a person of Ed's stature and experience join our team at Missouri State University," said Ken McClure, vice president for administrative and information services, in the release. "Not only is he professionally well-qualified by virtue of his many years of human resources leadership experience in higher education, he also brings an impressive record of service and outreach to his community."

Choate will be responsible for leadership regarding personnel functions including recruitment and employment services; benefits management and counseling; salary administration and job evaluation; training and development; records management; departmental budgeting; labor and employee relations; and human resource information systems.