President's Council

Roger J. Best was named the 16th president of the University of Central Missouri by the Board of Governors on Nov. 5, 2018, after having served as UCM’s interim president since Aug. 1 of the same year.

Best joined UCM in August 1995 as an Assistant Professor of Finance and was promoted through the faculty ranks to become a Professor in 2005. He was named Chair of the Department of Economics and Finance in 2003, Associate Dean of the Harmon College of Business Administration in 2008, and Dean of the college in 2010. Following extensive restructuring of academic programs, Best was named Dean of the newly formed Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies in 2011. He began serving as Interim Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration in August 2017, and concurrent with a university administrative reorganization, he was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in January 2018.

Throughout his UCM service, Best has supported innovative programs that enrich the student experience and remains a firm believer in education that is informed by real-world experience and perspectives. As president, he provided leadership in a campus-wide strategic planning initiative to serve as a blueprint for the university’s future, initiated a new master plan for campus grounds and facilities, oversaw successful reaccreditation of the university by the Higher Learning Commission, and worked to secure donor, state and federal funding for numerous capital projects and infrastructure upgrades on campus.

The first in his family to earn a college degree, Best graduated from Georgia College in Milledgeville, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in Management. Advanced study led to a Ph.D. in Finance from Florida State University in Tallahassee.

During his tenure as president for the university, Best also has served as chair for the Council on Public Higher Education (COPHE) in Missouri; chair for the CEO Council of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Conference; as a member of the Boards of Directors for Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kansas City PBS, Kansas City Area Development Council and Johnson County (Missouri) Economic Development Corporation; and as a delegate to the AASCU Council of State Representatives.

Shari Bax was appointed Vice Provost for Student Experience and Engagement (SEE) on Aug. 1, 2011, and Vice President for Student Experience and Engagement in July 2019. Bax came to UCM in 1997 as an Associate Professor of Political Science and was promoted to Professor in 2011. Her previous administrative responsibilities include serving as the campus coordinator for the American Democracy Project, the academic consultant and curriculum coordinator for Missouri Boys State and Missouri Girls State and as the coordinator for Political Science. As a faculty member, Bax advised multiple student activities and helped organize a wide array of programs and activities.

She has received several awards including Advisor of the Year from the Office of Student Activities; Greek Advisor of the Year (twice) from Fraternity and Sorority Life; Faculty Achievement Award and Meritorious Service Award from the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; the Governor’s Excellence in Teaching Award; the James C. Kirkpatrick Excellence in Governance Award; and most recently Ingram’s Magazine Icons of Education Award.

Bax holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of the South and a Master of Arts and Doctorate of Philosophy in Political Science from the University of Tennessee.

In her current role, she reports to the President and works with the directors of departments and offices within student services, student auxiliaries, student activities and recreation, The Center and Public Safety. Bax also serves as the manager for the university’s emergency operations center.

The Student Experience and Engagement division’s mission is to facilitate student success by providing student-centered programs, facilities and services that promote educational, professional and personal development.

Lindsay Chapman has worked with UCM since 2016. She was named General Counsel in July 2018. Chapman holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management, secondary major in Industrial and Labor Relations, and a minor in French from Kansas State University; a Certificate of European Union Law Studies from the Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium; and a Juris Doctorate from Saint Louis University. 

Prior to joining UCM, Chapman clerked for a federal judge, worked for firms in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Kansas City, Missouri, and served in-house at an R-1 university. She is a frequent lecturer on higher education and employment law matters, having presented at more than 20 conferences. She currently serves on the Virtual Programming Committee for the National Association of College and University Attorneys.

As General Counsel, Chapman reports to the Board of Governors and serves on the President’s Council. The General Counsel team represents the university and anyone acting on its behalf, giving legal advice with a focus on preventive law. They also provide vigorous representation of the university in matters that enter litigation or other dispute resolution processes, select and manage outside counsel, handle insurance and risk management issues, as well as play an active role in policy development and coordination. In addition to the Office of General Counsel, UCM’s Offices of Environmental Health and Safety and Accessibility Services fall under Chapman’s oversight. 

Chapman and her husband, Justin, reside in Warrensburg with their two children.

Tim Crowley was appointed Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs on Nov. 1, 2024. He joined UCM as Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Dean of Graduate Studies and Research in April 2022 after 22 years of service at Fort Hays State University (FHSU) in Hays, Kansas. He served in multiple administrative roles at FHSU, including Chair of the Department of Music, Graduate Dean, Assistant Provost for Internationalization, Assistant Provost of Academic Programs and Student Success, and Associate Provost for Academic Affairs. He also served as a tenured Professor of Music. 

He began his academic career at Texas A&M University as a Visiting Professor of Music and began his first tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of Music at Cameron University. He completed his Bachelor of Music degree from Bradley University and his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas. 

Today, at UCM, Crowley works with people, resources and ideas every day to help make the institution better. The musical training he was fortunate to receive provides much of the foundation for his work today – discipline, creativity, initiative, collaboration and the ability to reframe problems and develop solutions.

Courtney Goddard joined the UCM Alumni Foundation administrative team following a two-decade career practicing law in the area of higher education. Goddard represented more than 40 higher education clients in a nationwide private legal practice. She then spent 11 years at Park University as legal counsel and then as Vice President and General Counsel prior to joining UCM. 

She has a Bachelor of Science in Criminology from Florida State University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Goddard also has experience in the areas of higher education development, special events, alumni programming, external relations and philanthropy. In her current role, Goddard works with the President and Alumni Foundation Board of Directors to raise, manage and distribute resources to benefit UCM. She also oversees alumni programming, university events and external engagement and partnerships.

Bill Hawley joined the university in August 2018 as Interim Chief Financial Officer and was named Vice President for Finance and Operations in April 2019. Hawley has more than 30 years of experience in finance, primarily in healthcare organizations, both for-profit and not-for-profit. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration with an Accounting concentration, both from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

As the Vice President for Finance and Operations, Hawley provides oversight of Accounting Services, Budget and Finance, Human Resources, University Analytics and Institutional Research, Office of Technology and Facilities Planning and Operations. In addition, he serves as treasurer for the Board of Governors. 

Hawley and his wife, Toni, reside in Warrensburg.

Matt Howdeshell joined UCM as its Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics in June 2023. With nearly two decades of intercollegiate athletic leadership experience, he leads all aspects of UCM’s NCAA Division II athletic programs. He works collaboratively with coaches, staff and more than 500 student-athletes to position UCM Athletics for success.

Howdeshell has established UCM Athletics on a positive, upward trajectory through the development of a shared vision for the future by finalizing a long-term strategic vision and a master facility plan, implementing several student-athlete welfare improvements, ensuring athletic and academic excellence, leading facility enhancements, enhancing the fan experience, driving revenue growth and serving on national and conference committees while engaging the Warrensburg community.

Prior to arriving at UCM, Howdeshell had an impressive 12-year tenure at Northern Arizona University (NAU), where he was part of an athletic program that won 83 conference championships, over 100 post-season appearances, six national championships, numerous coach-of-the-year recipients and a multitude of academic and athletic all-conference honorees. Howdeshell served NAU as Senior Associate Athletic Director, Associate Athletic Director, Assistant Athletic Director and Director of Football Operations. He began his athletics career as a student manager and video coordinator at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri.

Howdeshell, who hails from Cuba, Missouri, is the son of two first-generation, nontraditional college students. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Missouri State University in History Education and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and a Doctor of Educational Leadership, with distinction, from NAU. 

Howdeshell and his wife, Hiliary, have three sons: Peter, Benjamin and Max.

A longtime Warrensburg resident who has served both his community and his home state, David Pearce has served as the Executive Director for Governmental Relations since October 2019. In this capacity, he works closely with the university president and senior administrators to craft legislative priorities and communicate them. He helps identify state and federal fiscal resources for which UCM may be eligible; provides legislative reports to the Board of Governors; summarizes legislative bills and potential impact on UCM; and coordinates responses to legislators’ and governor’s office inquiries.

Pearce’s long record of public service in Missouri government includes eight years in the Missouri Senate, where he represented constituents from the 21st and 31st senatorial districts. He also served for six years in the Missouri House of Representatives before becoming a senator.

His political work included chairing the Senate Education Committee, and while he was serving as a state representative in 2003, he was appointed as a commissioner to the Missouri Higher Education Compact (MHEC). He was reappointed in 2011, 2013 and 2015, and held leadership posts that include serving as vice chair, treasurer and chair of the Compact. Gov. Michael Parson appointed Pearce to serve on the Midwestern Higher Education Compact again in June 2022 for a four-year term. Pearce is a member of the Chambers of Commerce in Kansas City, Lee’s Summit and Warrensburg. He also serves on the boards of the Whiteman Area Leadership Council, Warrensburg Depot Renovation and Johnson County Spirit Trails.

Prior to joining UCM, Pearce served from January 2017 to September 2019 in the office of State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick and his predecessor, Eric Schmitt.

A graduate of the University of Missouri, Pearce also attended UCM.

Kristen Plummer began serving as the Executive Assistant to the President/Assistant Board Secretary in April 2024. Prior to this, Plummer worked on campus for more than 20 years in various positions within the Office of the President, Meeting and Conference Services and University Housing. 

Plummer earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Human Resource Management from UCM.

She serves on the President’s Council and, as Assistant Board Secretary, is the university’s liaison with the institution’s governing board and UCM’s Custodian of Records.

Plummer and her husband, Darin, reside in Warrensburg and have two children, McKenzie and Toby.

Susan Smedley joined UCM in August 2019 as the Vice President for Integrated Marketing and Communications. She has more than 20 years of higher education experience as well as executive-level experience in private industry. As a UCM vice president, she is a member of the President’s Council and oversees both the Office of Integrated Marketing and Communications and KMOS-TV, the University’s public television station.

Prior to UCM, Smedley served as Director of Marketing and Public Affairs at Lee College in Baytown, Texas. She successfully led the first phase of the college’s development and implementation of an integrated enrollment management plan. She also led the development of the college’s new website.

Other experiences in higher education include serving as Director of Communications and Marketing at Northeastern State University in Oklahoma and as the Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Executive Director of the Foundation, Director of Institutional Advancement and Campus Director of two satellite campuses at Coastal Bend College in Texas. Another stint in Oklahoma saw her serving on the executive board of the Central Oklahoma Workforce Investment Board and logging time as an economic developer and communications liaison for the Deputy Secretary of Workforce Development, Oklahoma Department of Commerce.

Smedley is an award-winning writer, art director and civic leader. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Advertising within UT’s nationally top-ranked Creative Portfolio Sequence and minors in history and English. Her post-undergraduate work includes American studies, focusing on American literature and history.

Smedley resides in Warrensburg with her son, Joshua.