Missouri State University’s College of Business will begin a leadership transition after Dean David Meinert announced plans to retire Dec. 31, concluding nearly 37 years of service at the university.
The retirement was announced by the university, according to a community announcement. Meinert has led the College of Business since 2019 after serving in several academic and administrative roles across the institution.
“I’ll deeply miss working alongside colleagues who are so dedicated to providing our students with a transformative educational experience. I’m especially proud of the college’s commitment to experiential learning, responding to the needs of employers and ensuring our students are prepared not only to succeed, but excel in their careers,”
Meinert said in the announcement. “After investing nearly four decades in the college, I look forward to following its progress and celebrating its continued success for many years to come.”
Meinert joined Missouri State’s faculty in 1990 as an assistant professor of computer information systems. During his academic career, he taught a variety of CIS courses and authored more than 40 scientific articles, papers and technical reports.
He later became associate dean, serving from 2008 to 2017, and helped lead the renovation and expansion of Glass Hall. He was interim dean from 2018 to 2019 before being named dean.
Clarenda Phillips, provost and vice president for academic affairs, credited Meinert with helping expand experiential learning opportunities for students.
“Dean Meinert has been an extraordinary champion for student success, often leading the way as we explore new partners and avenues that help us expand experiential learning opportunities,” Phillips said in the announcement. “His impact on the College of Business will endure and benefit the Missouri State community for years to come.”
Growth during Meinert’s tenure
According to the announcement, several major initiatives were completed or advanced during Meinert’s time as dean.
The college added seven experiential learning spaces in Glass Hall:
- Design Lab by Grooms
- Fashion Design, Merchandising and Branding Studio
- IT Infrastructure and Cybersecurity Lab
- Judy and Mike Breeding Accounting Analytics Lab
- Linda Bailey Interior Design Studio
- McDonald Entrepreneurship Lab
- Security Operations Center cybersecurity lab
University officials also reported an 84% increase in private donor-funded scholarship support, surpassing $500,000 for the 2026-27 academic year. The college also secured naming gifts for capital projects and several seven-figure donations, according to the announcement.
Other projects advanced during Meinert’s leadership included the Kemper Hall Renovation and Addition and the Construction Education Success Center.
The college also increased support for faculty research as Missouri State pursues Carnegie R2 classification, a designation for universities with high levels of research activity.
National search planned
Missouri State officials said in the announcement that a national search is underway to identify the next dean of the College of Business.
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This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri State business school dean to retire after 37-year career
