21 faculty granted promotions, tenure for 2026-27

Northwest Missouri State University's Board of Regents on Thursday approved the promotions and tenure appointments of 21 faculty members.

"One of the hallmarks of Northwest is its caring and skilled faculty," Dr. Rose Marie Ward, the provost and vice president of academic affairs, said. "It was my honor to recommend these 21 faculty members for promotions and tenure in recognition of their years of teaching, research and service at the University."

Faculty receiving promotions and tenure are listed below with their academic disciplines and new ranks, which become effective at the start of the 2026-27 academic year.

Faculty receiving promotion

• Dr. Rhonda Beemer, to professor in the School of Health Science and Wellness

• Dr. Alisha Campbell, to professor in the School of Natural Sciences
• Dr. James Campbell, to professor in the School of Natural Sciences
• Dr. Kim Casey, to professor in the School of Communication and Mass Media
• Dr. Keely Cline, to professor in the School of Health Science and Wellness
• Dr. Nathan Eloe, to professor in the School of Computer Science and Information Systems
• Dr. Aziz Fellah, to professor in the School of Computer Science and information Systems
• Dr. Jay McGhee, to professor in the School of Natural Sciences
• Dr. José Palacios, to professor in the School of Language, Literature and Writing
• Dr. Tyler Tapps, to professor in the School of Health Science and Wellness
• Kelli Wilmes, to senior instructor in the School of Health Science and Wellness

Faculty receiving promotion and tenure

• Dr. Nina Adanin, to associate professor in the School of Health Science and Wellness
• Dr. Rod Barr, to professor in the School of Agricultural Sciences
• Dr. Ethan Bottone, to associate professor in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Dr. Rachel Day, to associate professor in the School of Agricultural Sciences
• Dr. John Greathouse, to associate professor in the School of Health Science and Wellness
• Dr. Paul Hindemith, to associate professor in the School of Fine and Performing Arts
• Dr. Damon Leiss, to associate professor in the School of Health Science and Wellness
• Dr. Brooke McAtee, to associate professor in the School of Health Science and Wellness
• Dr. Kyle Ryan, to associate professor in the School of Health Science and Wellness
• Dr. Kylie Wilson, to associate professor in the School of Communication and Mass Media

To receive tenure and promotion, faculty members must demonstrate sustained excellence in teaching and professional development, scholarship and creative activities, and show service and student support by submitting a portfolio documenting accomplishments in these areas. Tenure is an arrangement under which a faculty member remains employed with an institution of higher education until he or she resigns, retires or is discharged.

Faculty are eligible to apply for tenure and promotion to the rank of associate professor after four years in the rank of assistant professor at Northwest. The rank of full professor is granted to faculty who have served a minimum of five years in the rank of associate professor at Northwest. Faculty serving within the rank of instructor for a minimum of six years at Northwest are eligible to apply for promotion to the rank of senior instructor.

Applications for promotion and tenure are reviewed, and recommendations are offered by senior faculty, chairs, deans and the Faculty Senate Advisory Committee on Tenure and Promotion. The provost presents recommendations to the University president for review and endorsement.