Department of Higher Education

MDHE welcomes Woody to leadership team

The Missouri Department of Higher Education (MDHE) is pleased to announce and welcome Dr. Mara “Red” Woody as the new assistant commissioner for postsecondary policy. In this role, Woody will be responsible for overseeing the apprenticeship Missouri, innovation and performance, academic affairs, proprietary school certification, and strategic initiatives units.

She joins the MDHE team from the Missouri Office of State Courts Administrator where she led the Judicial Education unit for the Missouri State Courts. Prior to this role, Woody worked in higher education for 10 years at Columbia College. She served in various capacities including Special Assistant to the Provost and an Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, where she oversaw the implementation of a wide range of strategic priorities for the college.

Woody received her doctorate in education from Vanderbilt University in 2018, with a focus on Educational Leadership and Policy. Both her master’s and bachelor’s degrees are from Columbia College.

About the Missouri Department of Higher Education: The department seeks to build Missouri’s future by degrees and coordinate higher education policy that fosters a quality postsecondary system. More information about MDHE can be found at https://dhe.mo.gov or find us on Facebook and Twitter @MoHigherEd.