Extended Studies
Koonce new Lake of Ozarks coordinator Dr. Jeff Koonce has joined the staff of Central Methodist University’s College of Graduate and Extended Studies in Lake of the Ozarks as site coordinator. The site coordinator handles the daily activities of the Lake of the Ozarks branch, which is a joint endeavor between CMU and State Fair Community College (Sedalia) in Osage Beach, Mo. Koonce is responsible for promoting programs and partnerships, supervising and supporting faculty at the location, advising students, and coordinating with the assistant dean of the Western Region of the state. He will be leading the program and directing faculty as well as staff members Merri Ringen, the site adviser, and Janice Ganther, who will assist him as part-time site coordinator. Koonce has the background to do all these elements of his job successfully. Raised in Troy, Mo., he graduated high school from Buchanan High School. His public education career began with a bachelor’s degree in communi-
cations with English and journalism teaching certification from Truman State Univesity in Kirksville in 1985. His first professional job was as an English teacher in the Owensville (Mo.) R-II School District. In 1992 he completed a master’s in guidance and counseling from Lincoln University in Jefferson City and became a guidance counselor with the Ste. Genevieve, Mo., school system. In 2002 Koonce completed his specialist degree in educational administration from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. He finished his Doctor of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri – Columbia in 2007. Through that time period Koonce became a principal, first with Scott County Central School District near Sikeston, then at Dixon R-1 School District. When he retired from public education in 2014, he had served as superintendent of the Pettis County R-XII School District (2006-08) and then at Miller County R-III School District (2008-14). Koonce brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to his initial teaching position at the Lake of the Ozarks site when he joined it in 2014 after his retirement from public education. He currently lives on a farm north of Dixon. “I am honored to be part of the CMU staff and welcome the opportunity to serve at the Lake of the Ozarks campus,” he says. “We have a wonderful group of students here, and I am looking for ways to reach out to more students in this area to bring them the CMU-Lake of the Ozarks experience.”
Saying thank-you to Noland Photo right: Central Methodist University presented a plaque to longtime State Fair Community College Board of Trustee member Gary Noland (center) during CMU Commencement exercises May 18 on the SFCC-Sedalia campus. CMU Provost Dr. Rita Gulstad (left) and SFCC President Dr. Joanna Anderson (right) were on hand for the presentation. CMU honored Noland for his long-time support of the SFCC-CMU partnership, which dates back to 2004. Noland served SFCC as a faculty member, administrator or Trustee for 44 consecutive years until his retirement from the Board in April. Photo courtesy Dana Page, SFCC
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Fall 2016
Central Methodist University Talon