The Coordinating Board for Higher Education (CBHE) selected officers to serve in 2026 during this morning’s public meeting. Board members unanimously voted for Hollie Elliot (Chair), Allen Brooks (Vice Chair), and Judge Anne-Marie Clarke (Secretary) to continue to serve in their respective positions during the 2026 calendar year.
Elliott, executive director of the Dallas County Economic Development Group, was appointed to the CBHE by Governor Mike Parson in February 2021. She served as vice chair in 2023 and has held the role of chair since 2024.
“It has been a privilege to serve on the board, and I am honored for the opportunity to continue to serve as chair,” Elliott said. “We have a dedicated team of board members who are passionate about our work, and we are committed to continuing to serve Missourians as they strive to achieve their higher education and career goals.”
Brooks, Fleet Operations Manager for McLane Livestock Transport, was appointed in July 2021, serving as the board’s secretary in 2023 and as vice chair in 2024 and 2025. Judge Clarke, now retired, most recently served as the 47th Chair of the Judicial Council Division of the National Bar Association, was appointed to the board in February 2021 and began serving as board secretary in 2024.
During Wednesday’s meeting, the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (MDHEWD) also shared statewide fall enrollment data and provided updates on the department’s strategic framework and upcoming goals.
The board also welcomed Kelli Jones, Deputy Commissioner of Learning Services for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, to share an update on the Governor’s Workforce of the Future Challenge, highlighting the importance of MDHEWD and DESE’s partnership as we work towards improving career and technical education delivery systems in Missouri. Dr. John Porter, President of Lindenwood University, Dr. Jeff Frederick, President of Drury University, and Dr. Joe Parisi, President of Missouri Valley College, were also invited to offer a presentation on the role of independent colleges in advancing state education and workforce development goals, highlighting the unique ways each institution supports community and economic development in Missouri.
Other notable actions from the December 3 meeting include:
- Selected the University of Missouri-Columbia to host the June 2026 board meeting
- Fully approved 15 programs that were provisionally approved in 2019 and 2020
- Voted to review three programs in two years
Established by constitutional amendment in 1972, the nine-member CBHE oversees MDHEWD, which serves as its administrative arm. The department is led by Commissioner Dr. Bennett Boggs. For more information about the coordinating board, including the December 3 board book, visit dhewd.mo.gov/cbhe/.
Photos from the December meeting are available on the department's Flickr page.