From a pool of 44 total applicants, Katricia Pierson rose to the top of the list of the four finalists to become the new Crowder College president.

Pierson was officially hired on Jan. 13, just before the spring semester started. Now, Pierson has one semester at Crowder under her belt, and many more on the horizon.

Dr. Glenn Coltharp, former Crowder president, will officially retire at the end of June and has been guiding and aiding Pierson in her new position for the past year.

Crowder College has six campuses, but its main campus is in Neosho. From starting out with 361 students and growing to more than 4,000 students annually, students, staff and program have increased over the past 58 years.

Pierson was the former president of East Central University in Ada, Okla., where she also previously served as vice president and provost for five years. Before that, Pierson earned a Doctor of Philosophy in English, and a Master of Arts in English from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark., and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Journalism Secondary Education from the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyo.

Pierson said she started at the East Central University in 2011 and spent a total of 10 years with them before making the move to Crowder.

“I have always known about Crowder,” she said. “I have family that attended Crowder, and I have family that lives in Rocky Comfort with a chicken farm.

“My nephew went to Crowder for the diesel mechanic program. Even though he in general didn’t like school, he went to Crowder and it changed his world.”

Pierson said after two weeks of graduating her nephew had already landing a great job.

“I told my family, ‘If I can give back to a college that did so much for my family, I will,’” she said. “When the opportunity popped up, I called my family, and we decided to make the move to Neosho. I believe in being a part of the community. We are a community college so I am making sure I am an integral part of the Neosho community and all the communities we have a campus in.”

Pierson said each month she makes the trip to visit each Crowder campus.

“I need to understand what the community needs, and what the students in those communities need,” Pierson said. “During my first semester with Crowder, I saw immediately the spirit of working together to get things done: The chamber, public schools, college, city managers, county commissioners and more. Everyone came to the table to talk about concerns, challenges and praises of the community.”

Pierson said the local community spirit is a breath of fresh air for her.

“It stands out, and it is refreshing to me,” she said. “The second thing I noticed was that we at Crowder serve a lot of people whose lives will be changed forever.”

Like many, Pierson was the first in her family to go to college and get a degree.

“First-generation students are so dear to me,” she said. “I like to work closely with students and their families to help during that transition. Even if they want to help, many parents of first-generation students don’t know how or where to start. We here at Crowder have a lot of people who are supportive of the entire family.”

Pierson said 554 students graduated from Crowder College this spring.

“It is phenomenal,” she said. “We had 65 nursing students between Cassville and Nevada. Of them, 63 already have jobs, and the other two turned down jobs to continue their education.”

While there is a lot to celebrate, there are also some challenges.

“Coming out of COVID has been a challenge,” she said. “When I first started we still had the COVID protocols many people only saw me virtually, I feel like they didn’t really get to know me.

“But, over spring break we lifted those protocols and at that point I was meeting with people and I was on this kind of listening tour.”

Pierson said she was asking everyone, “what do you need?”

“Now, looking forward into the fall semester, I have a couple of initiatives under way,” she said. “We have been lacking an operating strategic plan. People ask me all the time what my vision is, I have a vision, but I believe in shared governance. Without a strategic plan my vision means nothing.”

Pierson said she aims to find out what the needs are and once that has been built and figured out together, she will begin to chart the course everyone can stay on for the next 3 to 5 years.

“This institution was world renowned for a time,” she said. “We have talented and dedicated staff, and I think we can get back there again.

“The solar powered car program and waste water management program in the early 2000s brought in students from around the world.”

Pierson said she believes in a strong grounded relationship to one’s roots.

“I am the first in my family to earn a college degree but I am down home,” she said. “I make my own clothes, quilt, knit, crochet, and my husband and I are building a garden.

“We just bought 30 acres and he asked, “How big do you want the garden to be?’ I taught myself how to sew. I always wear a suit that I have made. I have always been tall, so I decided if I ever want to wear a suit with heels, I would have to make it myself.”

Pierson also said she is having a great time as the new Crowder College President.

“Not all college presidents can say that,” she said. “Also, enrollment for fall is looking good. I am open to meeting with people, school superintendents specifically to come and visit and speak to students. I am a Rotarian, so I am here to serve. That is why I think Crowder is such a great place for me. The Crowder mission is to serve.”