Edmisten, Daily, Parsons to be Honored for Retirements

University of the of Ozarks later this week will honor three retiring faculty and staff members who dedicated a combined 90-plus years of service to the University.

(Pictured, from left) Steve Edmisten, Dr. David Daily and Phyllis Parsons have announced their retirements this academic year. They will be recognized at the University's Board of Trustees Awards Banquet on Friday, April 24.

Edmisten retired in December as special assistant to the president after more than 30 years at the University. He first worked at the University from 1983-85 as director of public information. He returned to the University in 1997 as vice president for advancement. He was named executive vice president in 2004, a title he held until 2012 when he was named special assistant to the president.

Over the course of three decades in advancement leadership, Edmisten was instrumental in raising more than $130 million in gifts and growing the University's endowment by over $60 million. Among his many accomplishments, Edmisten spearheaded several major campaigns, including the five-year, $40 million Promise of Excellence Campaign (completed in 2011) and the Pride & Promise Campaign, which raised more than $60 million.

In 2012, Edmisten was named the recipient of the Dr. Rick and Sheree Niece President's Above & Beyond Award.

Daily, who will retire in June, joined the U of O faculty in August of 2000 as an assistant professor of religion. He was granted tenure and promoted to associate professor in 2006 before being promoted to full professor in 2013. He also served as the dean of humanities from 2019-2022.

Daily was selected for the University's Bagwell Outstanding Faculty Award in both 2004 and 2009, and presented the keynote address at the Fall 2025 Commencement ceremony in December.

Parsons, who retired earlier this academic year, spent a total of 34 years working for the University in part-time and full-time roles.

She began in July of 1991 as secretary of the Ozarks Area Mission, before serving as a part-time publications assistant and graphic designer in the Office of Advancement from 1998-2015. In 2015, she became a full-time graphic designer and brand coordinator, a title she held until her retirement last fall.

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