The effects of dramatic cuts in state funding are being felt at Missouri Western State University. The school announced Tuesday it will not renew the contract of Dr. Esther Peralez, vice president for student affairs.

Effective immediately, Dr. Jeanne Daffron, provost and vice president for academic affairs, will work closely with Dr. Judy Grimes, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students, to lead the division.

In a news release, University President Dr. Robert A. Vartabedian wished Peralez well.

“We appreciate Esther’s service to the students of Missouri Western, and wish her well in the future,” Dr. Vartabedian said.

“Because of the current financial climate, we will not immediately fill the position. I am grateful that Dr. Daffron and Dr. Grimes have agreed to lead the division of student affairs.”

Prior to the creation of the position of vice president for student affairs and the arrival of Dr. Perález in January 2010, Dr. Daffron led the division of academic and student affairs. Dr. Daffron will establish office hours in the division of student affairs office in the Blum Student Union.

Dr. Daffron has been provost and vice president for academic affairs at Western since September 2009. She previously served a number of administrative positions at the university, including the positions of interim vice president, interim graduate dean, associate provost, dean of the College of Professional Studies and chair of the department of nursing. She started at Western in 1977 as a faculty member in the department of nursing.

Dr. Daffron received an associate’s degree in nursing and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Western, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Northwest Missouri State University, a master of public administration degree with an emphasis in health policy and planning from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a doctorate in nursing from Texas Women’s University.

Dr. Grimes has been at Western since 1996, previously serving as dean of student services, director of student success programs and director of the freshman year experience before taking her current position in 2010. Prior to coming to Western, she served as director of the Applied Language Institute, a joint program of the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Metropolitan Community Colleges. Dr. Grimes also spent 11 years at the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, ending as director of bilingual education and foreign language education.

Dr. Grimes received a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of Texas-Austin, and a master’s degree and doctorate in higher education from the University of Missouri-Columbia, with additional concentrations in linguistics (language acquisition), reading and adult education. She received her Missouri teaching certification in Spanish through Missouri Western.

The division of student affairs includes health and wellness services, student academic support services, student development and student services.