Northwest Leadership Team

Robert J. Boerigter, Ph.D.

Director of Athletics

As director of athletics, Dr. Robert Boerigter has oversight of the University's intercollegiate athletics program as well as campus intramural and recreational activities. Dr. Boerigter, who came to Northwest in 2001, holds a Ph.D. from the University of Utah, a master's degree from the University of Northern Colorado and a bachelor's degree from Northwestern College in Iowa. He formerly held positions at Northwestern College, Whitworth College, Adams State College and Hastings College, where he received the National Athletics Administrator of the Year award. Boerigter currently serves as chair of the MIAA Institutional Representatives Council and is a member of the NCAA Division II Management Council.

Orrie T. Covert

Vice President of University Advancement and
Interim Vice President for University Relations

Joining the Northwest administration in 2005, Orrie Covert previously was director of development for the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University. Earlier, he worked in private business as a sales engineer and business development manager for Orbseal LLC. He co-founded GT Manufacturing in Kansas City. Mr. Covert completed his master's degree from the Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Administration and holds a bachelor's degree from Graceland University. He oversees the advancement and alumni areas of the University and serves as executive director of the Northwest Foundation. In June 2009, Mr. Covert was named interim vice president of the Office of University Relations, the University's marketing and PR arm.

Douglas Dunham, Ph.D.

Interim Provost

Named interim provost at Northwest in June 2009, Dr. Dunham came to Northwest in 1995 when he joined the Department of Psychology, Sociology and Counseling as an assistant professor. He advanced to the position of associate professor in 2002 and the rank of full professor in 2008. After serving as the department’s chair from 2005-2007, Dr. Dunham was named interim director of the Office of Assessment, Information and Analysis and assistant to the provost in 2007. He became the associate provost in 2008. As interim provost, he acts as the University's chief academic officer.

Dan Edmonds

Interim Vice President of Finance and Operations

Mr. Edmonds came to Northwest in 1981 as assistant controller. He served in that capacity until 1996 when he advanced to the position of controller, supervising accounting, payroll and mail/copy services. His current responsibilities include overall administration for budgeting, accounting, payroll, cashiering, purchasing, insurance, construction projects and environmental services. Mr. Edmonds has served on numerous committees and teams and was appointed project manager of the recently implemented Banner finance and human resources systems software. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration/accounting in 1974 from the University of Central Missouri and earlier served as an auditor with both the Missouri State Auditors Office and the Kansas Corporation Commission. He is a Certified Public Accountant.

Jackie R. Elliott, Ed.D.

Vice President of Student Affairs

Beginning her career in higher education in 1989 at Highland College, Dr. Elliott has also worked at Creighton University and Barton County (Kan.) Community College. She joined the Northwest administration in 2006 as assistant vice president for student affairs and was named vice president in 2008. Dr. Elliott holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and English from Concordia University and a master’s degree in English from Fort Hays State University. She has recently completed her Ed.D. at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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John Jasinski, Ph.D.

University President

Dr. John Jasinski began his presidency on July 1, 2009. He returns to Northwest after serving the institution from 1986-2001 as a faculty member, department chair and associate provost.

Before being chosen as Northwest's president, Dr. Jasinski worked at Northwood University from 2007-2009 as executive vice president/chief academic and operating officer. He founded and served as president of Jasinski Consulting Services from 2001-2009. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Educational Leadership/Higher Education Administration) and master's and bachelor's degrees from Central Michigan University.

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Jon Todd Rickman, Ph.D.

Vice President of Information Systems

Designer of Northwest's Electronic Campus, established in 1987 and the first of its kind at a public university, Dr. Jon Rickman's entire career has been in computing and telecommunications. He came to the University as a faculty member in 1976, later moving to administration. He completed his Ph.D. at Washington State University. Dr. Rickman has co-authored two books about the Electronic Campus and frequently is asked to speak on the topic. He is the head administrator for all computer systems and telecommunications at Northwest and also acts as curator of the Jean Jennings Bartik Computing Museum.

Mary E. Throener

Vice President of Human Resources and
Organizational Effectiveness

Director of human resources management since 1998, Mary Throener has been with Northwest since 1988. She formerly worked in Human Resource Management's student employment department and was a faculty member in the Department of Marketing and Management. Ms. Throener received her master's and bachelor's degrees from Northwest and holds certification as a senior professional in human resources from the Society for Human Resource Management. She is responsible for all facets of human resources at Northwest, including compensation and benefits, workplace and professional development initiatives, work and job design analysis and employee well-being and satisfaction. She is also charged with cultivating organizational improvement across operational areas and has oversight for the University Police Department.

Northwest Missouri State University