Northwest names five new department chairs for 2025-26 academic year

Northwest Missouri State University has announced its academic department chairs for the 2025-26 year as it implements restructured schools.

The reorganized academic units are listed below with their leaders. The changes become effective July 1.

"We are excited to begin the 2025-26 academic school year with a new academic structure," said Dr. Jamie Hooyman, Northwest's provost and chief academic officer. "We have so much talent and leadership on this campus. The new structure will uplift that leadership while enhancing communication, gaining efficiencies and elevating interdisciplinary collaboration. I look forward to working with this talented group of leaders."

College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences (Dr. Rod Barr, dean)

• School of Agricultural Sciences (Jacqueline Lacy, chair)
• School of Natural Sciences (Dr. Jeffry Thornsberry, chair)

College of Arts, Communication and Social Sciences (Dr. Elise Hepworth, dean)

• School of Communication and Mass Media (Dr. Matt Walker, chair)
• School of Fine and Performing Arts (Dr. Adam Zrust, chair)
• School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Dr. Jessica Gracey, chair)
• School of Language, Literature and Writing (Dr. Robin Gallaher, chair)

College of Business, Mathematics and Technology (Dr. Ben Blackford, dean)

• Melvin D. and Valorie G. Booth School of Business (Dr. Steve Ludwig, chair)
• School of Computer Science and Information Systems (Dr. Joni Adkins, chair)
• School of Mathematics and Statistics (Dr. Brian Haile, chair)

College of Education, Health and Human Services (Dr. Tim Wall, dean)

• School of Education (Dr. Nissa Ingraham, chair)
• School of Health Science and Wellness (Dr. Rhonda Beemer, chair)

Lacy, Ludwig and Ingraham are filling the chair roles left vacant by the dean appointments of, respectively, Barr, Blackford and Wall.

Department chairs direct and lead academic schools, supervising faculty and staff while managing the day-to-day operations of their respective schools.

Deans serve as a college's chief academic and administrative officer. They are charged with ensuring academic programs, research, faculty development and student outcomes are of the highest quality. Deans also serve their respective colleges as the chief external representative to donors, alumni and the broader community.