Veteran educator and school administrator Richard K. (Dick) Davis of Mendon has been appointed interim vice president for campus life at Central Methodist University here.
Making the announcement is CMU President Marianne Inman.
Davis, who retired in 2008 as superintendent of the Harrisburg School District and is currently working part-time as an instructor and coach with Keytesville High School, has nearly 40 years of experience as an educator, administrator and coach with Missouri public schools and a private college.
As interim VP, he will replace Vice President for Campus Life Kenneth Oliver, who has taken a post as athletic director with Texas A & M University in Kingsville. Davis will begin his new duties Sept. 28 and will oversee the Office of Student Development, enrollment management and the university’s intercollegiate athletics program.
“Dick Davis’ extensive educational administrative background and formal education prepare him well for the multiple roles for which this position has responsibility,” Inman said. “We are pleased that he has accepted this important post.”
Davis will be part of CMU’s senior staff. His wife, Advancement Vice President Theresa Davis, also is part of that group.
Dick Davis has served as superintendent of three Missouri public school districts—Harrisburg R-VIII, Howard County R-II in Glasgow, and Canton R-V School District. He also served as principal of Highland High School in Ewing and as assistant principal of Bishop Hogan High School in Kansas City. He was a physical education teacher and coach at Bishop Hogan High School, Milan High School and Breckenridge High School. From 1979 to 1984, Davis served as an assistant professor of physical education, head basketball and baseball coach and chair of the Physical Education Department at Missouri Valley College.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education and business education from Missouri Valley College and a master’s degree in health and physical education from Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State). He also completed his education specialist degree at Northeast Missouri State University and did postgraduate studies in educational administration at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.