MSU provost says university leadership is 'about investing in others and helping others live their dreams'

By Emily Yeap

Published August 12, 2025 at 9:43 AM CDT

Jesse Scheve

Missouri State University

Dr. Clarenda Phillips

Dr. Clarenda Phillips began her new position at Missouri State University this summer.

Dr. Clarenda Phillips, Missouri State University’s new provost and vice president for academic affairs, started work on July 1.

She has more than 30 years of higher education experience, previously serving in the same role at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and Notre Dame of Maryland University.

Phillips shares more about her background and what attracted her to Missouri State.

Read the full audio transcript

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Emily Yeap

A native of Malaysia, Emily moved to Springfield in 2010 and started working at Missouri State University in 2014. She’s currently the assistant director in the Office of Strategic Communication. She has a BA in Mass Communications from Colorado State University-Pueblo and a Master of Journalism from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada.

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