Interim president of Crowder College to take top job
NEOSHO, Mo. — The Crowder College board of trustees voted unanimously to forgo a national search for a new president and selected interim President Chett Daniel as the 10th permanent president of the college.
The board voted unanimously to make the appointment in closed session at Monday's regular board meeting.
'Normally the Board of Trustees would do a national search,' Andy Wood, board chair, said in a news release. 'We would be looking for an individual first who is a servant leader. After the Board discussed the matter today, we unanimously agreed we already have that person at Crowder College, and that person is Dr. Daniel. He is a true servant leader. He practices servant leadership every day of every week. He is graduate of Crowder College. He knows Crowder College. He is dedicated to the principles of serving in a community college. He was already a leader for Crowder College in advocating for economic development and education for Southwest Missouri and the region. He has a background in education, business, and the military as a former Marine, and he will be a great president of Crowder College.'
Daniel was named interim president Feb. 1 when then-President Katricia Pierson stepped down. Pierson had led Crowder since 2021.
Prior to Crowder College, Daniel's career included teaching, working in various stores, in logistics and in the home office of Walmart. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps as an infantry machine gunner and combat instructor for nine years.
Daniel began his education by earning his associate degree from Crowder College in 1999 as a first-generation college student. He continued his education earning his bachelor's degree in education at Missouri Southern State University.
Daniel later earned a master's degree in industrial and organizational psychology from Kansas State University, an educational specialist degree in education administration from Arkansas State University, and his doctorate from Murray State University, focusing his research on economic development for rural areas.
He is actively engaged in community service, serving on the Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce board, the Newton County High Speed Internet Task Force, the Southwest Missouri Workforce Investment Board and the St. Louis Federal Reserve's Community Development Advisory Council.
'Crowder College changed the trajectory of my life when I attended here as a first-generation college student nearly 30 years ago,' Daniel said. 'I am humbled and honored to have this opportunity to work alongside Crowder faculty and staff to serve the residents and communities of Southwest Missouri.'
Daniel lives in Neosho with his wife, Crowder alum Melissa Daniel. Together, they have two adult children who are also Crowder College alumni, Brecia and Cade Daniel.
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