January 31, 2025

Office of Public Information
Crowder College

Neosho, MO – The Board of Trustees of Crowder College accepted the resignation of Dr. Katricia Pierson at a special meeting of the Board of Trustees held on Thursday, January 30, 2025. During Dr. Pierson’s tenure at Crowder College, she led the school through several significant initiatives, including the development of a new program review process, the establishment of a program learning outcomes, the creation of a strategic plan, the purchase of a campus in Joplin, a long-range facility plan, and the implementation of policies that will keep Crowder College Fiscally sound. Several of these efforts culminated in our successful completion of a comprehensive ten-year Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accreditation review.

                Also, at this same meeting, the Board of Trustees named Dr. Chett Daniel the interim President of Crowder College. Dr. Daniel obtained his Doctorate in Community Leadership at Murray State University in 2021.  Previously, he obtained his Education Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration at Arkansas State University in 2018, his Master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Kansas State University in 2013, his Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Missouri Southern State University in 2001, and most importantly, his Associate of Arts in General Studies at Crowder College in 1998. Dr. Daniel is currently the Associate Vice President of Career and Technical Education at Crowder College. He previously served as Associate Vice President of Workforce and Innovations, the interim Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Director of Institutional Research and Innovation at Crowder College. During his tenure at Crowder College, Dr. Daniel has engaged with community and regional stakeholders to identify factors that improve community and economic development in the southwest Missouri region. He currently serves on the Neosho Chamber of Commerce Board, the Workforce Investment Board of Southwest Missouri, the Newton County High-Speed Internet Task Force, and the St. Louis Federal Reserve’s Community Development Advisory Council.

                Dr. Daniel will begin his duties as interim President of Crowder College on February 1, 2025.

                Dr. Pierson will continue to provide consultative assistance to Crowder College, as needed, until June 30, 2025.

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Last Updated on January 31, 2025 by Cindy