Nixon appoints new Northwest regents

Gov. Jay Nixon has appointed Marilou Joyner, a Kansas City Democrat, and Richard N. Smith, a Republican from Coffey, to the Northwest Missouri State University Board of Regents, Nixon’s office announced Tuesday afternoon.

The board acts as the university’s governing council and is charged with setting policy and exercising fiscal oversight.

Joyner is the CEO and owner/administrator of Cameron Group Care Inc., which provides services under the Medicaid waiver program and through an intermediate care home for developmentally disabled adults.

She is a longtime educator in northwest Missouri public schools, and was assistant commissioner for the Division of School Services within the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Joyner obtained undergraduate, master’s, and education specialist degrees from Northwest and holds a doctorate from the University of Kansas. She was appointed to a term ending Jan. 1, 2021.

Smith is currently part-time superintendent of schools for the Cainsville R-I School District and served as superintendent of the South Harrison R-II School District in Bethany from 2004-08. He was also a principal and teacher in that district from 1973 to 2004.

Like Joyner, Smith is a Northwest alumnus, and earned undergraduate, master’s and education specialist degrees there. He was appointed to a term ending Jan. 1, 2019.

Both nominations are subject to confirmation by the Missouri Senate.

When at full strength, the panel consists of eight members, four Republicans and four Democrats.

Joyner will fill the seat of Dr. Mark H. Hargens and Smith will fill the seat of Dr. Douglas A. Wyckoff. Hargens’ term ended Jan. 1, and Wyckoff’s term ended in January 2013.

Other voting regents include Joseph B. Bosse of St. Louis, Gene Dorrel of Maryville, Dr. Pat Harr, of Maryville and John Richmond, of Albany.

The governor also appoints a student to serve as a ninth, non-voting member. The sitting student regent is Ve’Shawn Dixon of Kansas City, Kansas.