SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State University has recently made two new leadership hires. Zora Mulligan will begin as executive vice president on July 5. Brad Bodenhausen will begin as vice president for community and global partnerships on July 1.
“I’m very excited about these two additions to my leadership team,” said Missouri State President Clif Smart. “I selected Zora because of her leadership abilities, creativity and broad experience in higher education. We are beyond fortunate that Zora accepted this position, and I look forward to working with her.
“Brad is deeply connected in the Springfield community and has helped drive many new international connections. He will help the university develop more local and international partnerships.”
The executive vice president position is new to the university. Mulligan will serve as the second in command to Smart. She will oversee many administrative areas and lead efforts to redesign the university to meet modern educational needs.
The Missouri State Board of Governors asked to have someone on the leadership team who could run the university in Smart’s absence. The board and Smart point to Mulligan’s experience, including her successful tenure as Missouri’s commissioner of higher education, in support of her ability to lead Missouri State.
Bodenhausen will replace Dr. Jim Baker as vice president for community and global partnerships when he retires on June 30.
Bodenhausen is currently associate vice president of international education and training. He’s served in that position since 2017. Before that he served as director of Missouri State’s International Leadership and Training Center since July 2014.
Prior to working at Missouri State, Bodenhausen was executive vice president of the
Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, where he worked for 21 years.
Bodenhausen has a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from University of Central Missouri and a master’s degree in international affairs and administration from Missouri State.
