Dr. Melody Smith, former superintendent of the Saint  Joseph School District, has been hired as a program development liaison for the Western Institute at Missouri Western State University.  In this part-time position,  Smith will work on initiatives to help adults complete baccalaureate degrees that they may have started earlier in their lives.

Dr. Gordon Mapley, dean and executive director of the Western Institute, says Smith is the ideal choice to “link  our Back to Western initiative, our $1,000,000 innovation campus grant and our online degree completion programs.”  Smith retired this year after 25 years in the Saint Joseph School District, the last 7 as Superintendent.