Aug. 1, 2018

Jasinski elected COPHE vice chair, appointed to advisory group

Dr. John Jasinski

Dr. John Jasinski, president of Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, has been elected by his peers to serve as vice chair of the Council on Public Higher Education (COPHE), in addition to an appointment by the commissioner of higher education’s advisory team.

Zora Mulligan, the commissioner for the Missouri Department of Higher Education, appointed Jasinski to the advisory group, which meets on a quarterly basis to discuss major initiatives impacting higher education.

Jasinski begins his COPHE role immediately and will serve a one-year term with the statewide organization, which is composed of the presidents and chancellors of public higher education institutions in Missouri.

“Dr. Jasinski is highly respected among his colleagues in COPHE, and they were very happy that he agreed to serve as vice chair,” Paul Wagner, COPHE’s executive director, said. “His experience and skill will be crucial to continuing the organization’s success in promoting the value of higher education across Missouri.”

Dr. Mun Choi, president of the University of Missouri System, was elected the chair of COPHE. Jasinski previously was COPHE’s vice chair from 2011 to 2013 and was chair of the organization from 2013 to 2015.

“Public higher education offers such great value in the state of Missouri, and it is humbling to be elected by my peers to help lead the state agenda,” Jasinski said. “I look forward to working with higher education leaders as we continue advancing higher education in these times of sector disruption and addressing stakeholder needs.”

COPHE, a nonprofit association of the presidents and chancellors of Missouri’s 13 public college and university campuses and the president of the University of Missouri System, supports and advances the mission of those institutions by facilitating information sharing and collaboration. It encourages increased understanding by the public and public officials of the value of higher education to the state’s people and economy.