MSU names interim dean for College of Education

provided by Missouri State University

Marjorie Shavers, associate dean of Missouri State University’s College of Education, has been named the interim dean. The change will start July 1.

Marjorie Shavers has repeatedly taken on more responsibilities during her five years at Missouri State University and recently accepted an appointment to serve as interim dean of the College of Education.

She will start July 1 and is expected to serve at least one year.

“Missouri State’s College of Education has been such a leader in teacher ed and such an advocate for public schools, so I feel that is something I can continue to carry on,” Shavers said in a March 9 interview. “We have a good system.”

Shavers, who currently serves as associate dean of the college, said public education is facing challenges and the work of preparing teachers, counselors and others is important.

“We have fantastic leaders, phenomenal faculty, students that are doing incredible things. We are working with community partners more than we ever have in the past,” she said. “To me, it’s a great time to be part of all the different things we’re doing here in the college.”

MSU Provost Clarenda Phillips announced Shavers was moving to the interim leadership post.

In a message to faculty and staff, Phillips said Shavers provided leadership for strategic initiatives, academic programs, faculty development and external engagement. She said Shavers has elevated the college’s visibility and expanded partnerships with K-12 districts and community groups.

“Dr. Shavers brings deep institutional knowledge to this role, along with strong relationships throughout our campus and community and a demonstrated commitment to the mission of Missouri State,” Phillips said, in a March 10 release. “I’m confident in her leadership and delighted that she’ll guide the college forward during this transition.”

Shavers said the College of Education has been asked to come up with a set of goals that align with the MSU strategic plan.

“That will be a big part of the work that we are doing,” she said.

Shavers said growing partnerships with Springfield Public Schools, area districts and others will also remain a priority.

“It will be important for us to continue to evolve as the needs of the schools evolve,” she said. “We are going to need to continue to make sure that we are doing what it is our community needs. For that we are going to have to be thinking about ways we can listen to our community partners, our schools, our parents, our students.”

Shavers has served as the associate dean of the college since 2023. Her salary is $150,980, according to a June 2025 report to the MSU Board of Governors.

In the interim role, Shavers will replace Barri Tinkler, who has served as dean since January 2021. A few months ago, Tinkler announced plans to step aside and transition to a faculty position. Tinkler’s current salary is $175,803, according to the board report.

In the interim role, Shavers said she will continue to build on Tinkler’s work.

“Anytime there is a transition, there are opportunities to look at things fresh and look at things from a new perspective, so what are ways that we can continue to do the work that we do better,” she said.

Shavers said the availability of artificial intelligence and emerging tools and resources will require changes to the way students are trained.

“One of the challenges we have is how to make sure our students are getting the learning they need to be able to show up in a classroom or a community,” she said.

Shavers was hired by MSU in mid-2021, after eight years at Heidelberg University in Ohio. Her initial role was associate professor and department head of counseling, leadership and special education.

She was attracted to the configuration of programs because of a background in counseling in mental health in schools.

On a personal level, she was also looking for an employer, a school district and a community that were accessible to individuals with disabilities or special needs.

She and husband Josh Shavers, who works in information technology, have a 7-year-old son with Down syndrome. He is enrolled in SPS.

“That was what really sold me on looking at Missouri State, was just their reputation for supporting students with disabilities, even though my son – when I moved here – was 2, so he was obviously not coming to Missouri State,” she said. “It was just that understanding of what it takes in order to support all students that I thought ‘This must be a place where I could see myself staying,’ and we have loved being in this community.”