Governor appoints Barry to Northwest Board of Regents

Gov. Mike Kehoe has announced the appointment of Leisha Barry, of Holt, to Northwest Missouri State University’s Board of Regents.

Leisha Barry

Barry must be confirmed by the Missouri Senate for her appointment to become official. She will fill the Board seat previously held by Roxanna Swaney (R) of Liberty.

Barry retired in 2015 as a vice president from Cerner Corporation in Kansas City, Missouri, after 30 years of employment there. She remains active in her community with the Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City through the University of Missouri Extension and previously served as trustee, secretary and president of the Liberty Hospital Foundation.

She also has served on the Northwest Foundation Board of Directors since 2017 and currently is its immediate past president; she is resigning from the Foundation Board as a result of her appointment to the Board of Regents.

Barry earned her bachelor’s degree in medical technology from Northwest and has a Master of Business Administration degree in management from Rockhurst University.

Northwest’s nine-member Board of Regents is responsible for sound resource management of the University and determining general, educational and financial policies.

According to state statutes, six of the Board’s members must live in the University’s 17-county district. They must include one member living in Nodaway County and two living outside the district but no more than two voting members residing in the same county.

Additionally, not more than four voting members may belong to any one political party. One member must be a non-voting student representative, a position that is vacant.

Mel Tjeerdsma (R), of Maryville, serves as Board chair, and Stephen Coppinger (I), of Kansas City, is vice chair. Steve Black (R), of Maysville; Shanda Durbin (I), of St. Joseph; Jason Klindt (R), of Kearney; and Deborah Roach (D), of Grant City; round out the Board.

The Board has one remaining vacancy after the June resignation of John Moore (I), of Raymore.