Northwest names Hepworth dean of College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Elise Hepworth will serve as the next dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Northwest Missouri State University.

Hepworth, who is assistant vice president and vice provost in the Office of Academic Affairs at Missouri Western State University, will join Northwest on Sept. 9. She succeeds Dr. Mike Steiner, who retired July 31.

“We could not be more excited to have Dr. Hepworth join our academic team,” Northwest Provost Dr. Jamie Hooyman said. “She is a true Bearcat and has a reputation for excellence. Dr. Hepworth will bring her vast experience in higher ed as well as her passion for student success. She is going to be a perfect fit for Northwest’s continued excellence.”

The dean of the College of Arts and Sciences serves as the College’s chief academic and administrative officer. Hepworth will be responsible for ensuring the College’s academic programs, research, faculty development and student outcomes are of the highest quality while strategically allocating resources to advance the College’s mission. She also will have involvement in Northwest initiatives related to student enrollment, retention, graduation, assessment and accreditation.

The College of Arts and Sciences at Northwest encompasses the departments of Fine and Performing Arts; Humanities and Social Sciences; Language, Literature and Writing; Mathematics and Statistics; and Natural Sciences.

“I am thrilled to embark on this journey as the new dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Northwest,” Hepworth said. “It is an honor to return to my beloved alma mater and give back what was provided to me as a young person discovering my own talents and skills. My goal is to champion innovation, support our talented educators and enhance the educational experience for our students. Together, we will build on Northwest’s proud tradition and pave the way for future achievements and growth.”

Hepworth, who has served in her current role since 2020, also has served at Missouri Western in the capacities of interim chair of the Department of Engineering Technology, interim dean of the College of Business and Professional Studies, and support for the Office of Assessment and Accreditation.

She joined Missouri Western in 2014 as a faculty member in its School of Fine Arts and previously taught in the Department of Music at Wayne State College in Nebraska from 2008 to 2014. She has served as a guest conductor, adjudicator and clinician for numerous choral groups throughout the region, and she holds memberships in several choral and music education associations. 

Hepworth has a graduate diploma in vocal performance from New Zealand School of Music, a Doctor of Arts degree in vocal pedagogy from The University of Mississippi, a master’s degree in music education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a bachelor’s degree in music education from Northwest. Additionally, she holds national certifications in the pedagogies of Zoltán Kodály and Orff Schulwerk.

In 2009, she received the Northwest Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Award.