In an email to the MU Presidents Council on March 12, MU Dean of Students Bill Stackman announced that he will leave MU in mid-July. Stackman has accepted a position at Harvard University as the Dean of Students for Harvard’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

The Presidents Council consists of leaders across MU’s various student organizations including the Missouri Students Association, Mizzou Student Media, the Residence Halls Association and the Legion of Black Collegians. The council is part of the MU Division of Student Affairs and brings issues directly to Stackman, in his role as vice chancellor for Student Affairs.

Stackman said in his email that he will develop a transition plan over the next five months alongside his team. Christian Basi, director of the MU News Bureau, said MU will launch a national search to find Stackman’s successor but does not currently have details to share on this hiring initiative.

Mun Choi, UM System president and MU chancellor, said Stackman “has been a tireless advocate for our students,” and “helped the university achieve growth in student engagement and retention,” in an email to his leadership team concerning Stackman’s departure. 

Stackman completed his master’s degree at MU in 1982 and worked as a building supervisor at MizzouRec. In 2019, Stackman returned to MU after serving at eight other universities. 

In regard to the transition, Choi said “the Division of Student Affairs has a strong leadership foundation to maintain our momentum in the immediate future.”

As Dean of Students at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Stackman will replace the current interim Dean of Students, Sheila Thomas. 

Sam Bersola held the position until July 2022. 

“I have enjoyed my time at Mizzou — specifically, the special relationships and opportunities to do meaningful, collaborative work with and for our students,” Stackman said in his email. 

The Maneater will continue its coverage of the transition.