Interim President Takes Position at Park University: Smeed
New Interim President of Park University Announced
On January 4, 2021, Shane B. Smeed was appointed as the interim president of Park University, effective from January 1. The appointment was made by Park University's Board of Trustees.
Smeed, who is currently pursuing a Master of Arts degree in student personnel administration at St. Louis University, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. He has over 20 years of progressive experience in higher education, having served as the vice president and chief operating officer of Park University since September 2015.
Prior to his role as acting president, Smeed provided strategic and tactical leadership to more than half of the University's staff in the areas of enrollment management, student success, financial aid services, marketing, student engagement, athletics, and campus center operations.
Smeed's commitment to Park University is evident in his dedication to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment. He believes that the University's motto, Fides et Labor (Latin for faith and work), can inspire students, faculty, and staff to achieve all their goals.
Smeed's involvement in the community extends beyond Park University. He has held volunteer leadership roles with several Kansas City area organizations and serves on the board of trustees for the Command and General Staff College Foundation at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. He also served on the Planning and Zoning Commission for the City of Parkville, Mo. for three years (2016-19).
Smeed's educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in business operations from DeVry Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration degree from Keller Graduate School of Management. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in higher education administration at St. Louis University.
Smeed's interim presidency follows Greg Gunderson's assumption of the role of president emeritus. Smeed served as the acting president for six weeks before his interim appointment.
In a recent development, Smeed has been unanimously selected as the president of Utah Tech University by the Utah Board of Higher Education on February 26, 2025. Utah Tech University is a polytechnic institution emphasizing active, applied learning and career preparation across diverse academic programs. Smeed's role in advancing the institution's academic mission and polytechnic focus has been evident in his speeches at academic convocations.
Despite the change, Smeed remains committed to Park University and its future. He has expressed his desire to lead a University that celebrates diversity, serves a growing student body, and earns recognition from its faculty and staff as an employer of choice.
[1] Utah Tech University Announces New President [2] Park University Appoints Interim President [3] Utah Tech University [4] Park University
[1] Shane B. Smeed's career development in higher education, including his role as interim president of Park University, has now led him to a new position as President of Utah Tech University, a polytechnic institution focusing on education-and-self-development and career-development.
[2] While Shane B. Smeed's interim presidency at Park University has concluded with his appointment as President of Utah Tech University, his commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, as well as his dedication to the general-news and community of Park University, remains strong.
