Foundation trustee takes the reins at Park University

Park University’s Board of Trustees has selected Shane B. Smeed to become the school’s 18th president, effective Jan. 1, 2022.

Smeed has been a member of the CGSC Foundation Board of Trustees since May 2018.

Shane Smeed

Vince Clark, chair of the University’s Board of Trustees, said, “The Board unanimously approved Shane’s appointment to lead Park University into the future. Park’s presidential search process was very thorough and brought forth many highly qualified candidates. Shane distinguished himself as the interim president with his deep understanding of Park’s culture, challenges and opportunities for growth. He embodies the temperament, skills and focus to chart the path forward for Park’s continued success and future.”

Prior to his appointment as president, Smeed had served as the University’s interim president since late November 2020, Before his recent role, Smeed served as Park’s vice president and chief operating officer since September 2015, providing 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. In all, Smeed has 23 years of progressive experience in higher education.

Before joining Park in 2015, Smeed served as a vice president at Kaplan University (now Purdue University Global). He also served as a vice president and chief operating officer at Ottawa (Kan.) University and in various leadership roles at DeVry University, including four years as president in Kansas City, Mo.

“I am honored and humbled to be chosen to serve as president of a special University that has been transforming students’ lives since 1875,” Smeed said. “I look forward to collaborating with Park colleagues and the Board of Trustees in positioning the University for future success, and to celebrate Park’s 150th anniversary in 2025.”

“We’re all especially proud of Shane and his commitment to excellence,” said CGSC Foundation President/CEO Roderick M. Cox. “Park University has been a great supporter to our Foundation for many years and having their president serving on our board is a very special honor. We know he’ll be busy, but we look forward to continuing to work with him and Park University on programs beneficial to both CGSC and Park students as we have always done.”

Smeed maintains a strong commitment to a “Park United” and leading a University that celebrates diversity, serving a growing student body and earning recognition from its faculty and staff as an employer of choice. Smeed believes that Park’s motto, Fides et Labor (Latin for faith and work), can inspire students, faculty and staff to achieve all their goals.

Smeed earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Keller Graduate School of Management, a Master of Arts degree in student personnel administration from St. Louis University and a Bachelor of Science degree in business operations from DeVry Institute of Technology. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in higher education administration from SLU. Smeed also participated in Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management program in 2019.

Smeed has held volunteer leadership and board roles with several Kansas City area organizations, including Synergy Services in Parkville, the Command and General Staff College Foundation at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., the Planning and Zoning Commission for the City of Parkville, Mo., and his church.

Smeed and his wife, Angela, who owns and operates Angela Smeed Design LLC, have three children: Samantha, 19; Andrew, 17; and Landon, 12.