The Griffon News

Many changes are in store for Western over the next few semesters. The biggest change however, comes in the staffing. With many faculty and staff leaving over the summer, many faculty members have had to double up on jobs and find replacements for their missing colleagues.

Dr. Paul Shang is one of the members of Missouri Western’s staff that suddenly left over the summer. His position and responsibilities as dean of student development, has now been split to several faculty members and Dr. Judy Grimes, Dean of Student Services will take over as interim dean of student development.

“I don’t believe that Dr. Shang was actively looking for another position,” Grimes said. “But this one happened to come along and it seemed like a great opportunity for him. It evolved early in the summer, after classes for the spring were over.”

Dr. Shang took the position as Asst. Vice Chancellor for Student Development at UMKC. The new position began the middle of July.

“Dr. Shang was very involved with the strategic planning process, particularly in the applied learning area,” Grimes said. “He also worked to bring in some excellent staff, enhance the residential life, provide opportunities for students to be engaged on campus and participated in events on and off campus including conferences across the country.”

Grimes looks at this change as an opportunity to look where Missouri Western is and where it’s going. The group that is taking over for Dr. Shang, includes Grimes, Cynthia Heider and Don Willis, they will collaborate and find Western’s greatest needs.

“It is always difficult when good people leave an institution,” Grimes said. “We greatly appreciated his energy and his dedication to Western.  He was a very student-centered administrator and worked hard on the behalf of students. Fortunately, he built an excellent staff and I know they will carry on many of the programs he believed in.”

Dr. Shang’s leaving came as a surprise to most, though Grimes believes that changes are not always a bad thing.

“When there is change, people who aren’t in the loop always worry what is going on,” Grimes said. “That is why I am happy to talk to students or groups that have questions or concerns.”

A search will begin for a new Dean of Student Development later in the year.