Missouri Southern State University has a rich history. Since 1937, Missouri Southern State University has provided educational opportunities for Southwest Missouri and beyond. MSSU has evolved from an outstanding junior college to its role today as a comprehensive four-year state-supported institution offering bachelor and master degrees. Learn More...
On July 12, 2003, Governor Bob Holden signed a bill on the Missouri Southern campus that elevated the status of the institution from College to University. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Gary Nodler (R-Joplin) and Rep. Bryan Stevenson (R-Joplin), changed the name of the institution from Missouri Southern State College to Missouri Southern State University - Joplin. The legislation officially became effective on Aug. 28, 2003. This changed the Board of Regents to what it is now known as the Board of Governors.
We would like to honor those who represented on past Board of Governors.
| Governor's Name | Year Appointed | Term Expired |
| Jane B. Wyman | 1996; 2003 | 2001; 2008 |
| Glenn D. Wilson | 1997 | 2003 |
| Charles C. McGinty, D.D.S. | 2000 | 2010 |
| Elizabeth A. Deffenbaugh | 2001 | 2006 |
| Douglas A. Brooks | 2002 | 2007 |
| H. Dwight Douglas | 2003 | 2011 |
| Rod Anderson | 2003 | 2009 |
| David H. Jones | 2005 | 2011 |
| David Ansley | 2006 | 2010 |
| Nancy D. Perry | 2007 | 2012 |
| Richard (Dick) A. Walter | 2007 | 2013 |
| Sherry L. Buchanan | 2009 | 2014 |
| Lynn M. Ewing III | 2010 | 2015 |
| Charles (Chuck) Surface | 2011 | 2016 |
| James B. Fleischaker | 2011 | 2017 |
| Keith C. Hankins | 2013 | 2016 |
| Glenn M. (Mitch) McCumber | 2013 | 2018 |
| Tracy Combs Flanigan | 2014 | 2019 |
| William (Bill) Gipson | 2014 | 2023 |
| Alison Hershewe | 2015 | 2020 |
| Michael Franks | 2015 | 2019 |
| Anita Oplotnik | 2016 | 2021 |
| Carlos Haley | 2016 | 2022 |
| Dr. Benjamin Rosenberg | 2018 | 2023 |
| T. Mark Elliott | 2018 | 2024 |
| Ron Richard | 2019 | 2025 |
| Mariann Morgan | 2019 | 2021 |
