Dr. Delores Honey devoted 36 years of her professional life to Missouri Southern, where she gained firsthand experience in both teaching and administration. She began her career at Missouri Southern as a professor in the School of Business before leading the University’s campus-wide efforts in Assessment and Institutional Research. Delores finished out her career as the Assistant Vice President before retiring. Today, she continues her dedication to the university by serving on the Foundation Board of Directors. Her husband, Jim, a retired Carthage educator and former Jasper County Eastern District Commissioner, has witnessed the positive influence of MSSU on local students and the area's economy.
As a joint effort, Delores and Jim established the Delores and Jim Honey Family Scholarship. Delores explains, "We initiated the scholarship to make a positive impact and believed it was an excellent way to inspire students to pursue further education." The Honeys find great satisfaction in connecting with the scholarship recipients, emphasizing the meaningful relationships built with students over the years.
In addition to their scholarship, Delores and Jim have generously contributed to the Lions Forward Campaign. Recognizing the enduring impact of private donations, Delores stresses, "As members of the Foundation Board, we bear the responsibility to support and advance the university's mission. Our community advocacy plays a crucial role in conveying both our current status and future direction."
The Lions Forward Campaign is dedicated to fostering a bright future on campus for our students. The overarching goal of the campaign is to elevate student success opportunities through three strategic areas: Enhancing the student experience, fostering academic excellence, and building the campus of the future.
This campaign will provide a plethora of new student opportunities that will enrich their academic experience and consequently, attract new students to our university for years to come. Funds will be invested heavily into new student scholarships, new student-focused spaces, and the construction of a new Health Science Innovation Center.
“The impact of a successful campaign will be nothing short of transformational. New student scholarships, facilities, and programs that support student success will lead to higher levels of student achievement.” - Dr. Dean Van Galen, Missouri Southern President
To learn more about how you can support Missouri Southern State University through the Lions Forward campaign, you can either call (417) 625-3048 or send an email to Dixon-k@mssu.edu.
