By Meliyah Venerable / Managing Editor 

Elizabeth Bellamy has been announced as the new Vice President of Academic Affairs after the recent resignation of Dr. Diane Barthlomew. Bellamy is a familiar face around the Missouri Valley College campus. She has been at Valley for six years now in various positions. She has taught criminal justice classes and served as the associate dean of students overseeing the student success center. 

Prior to coming to Missouri Valley Bellamy and her husband Page Bellamy had both been practicing law in Kansas City. After the tragic death of Page Bellamy’s brother, he was appointed as the new Saline County associate circuit Judge. Which opened the opportunity for Bellamy to join the MVC family. 

“We came back to his hometown, and at the time I was practicing law in Kansas City,” Bellamy explained. “I was working as a special prosecutor for the attorney general’s office and my boss there was very gracious and said that even if I move to marshall I could still work for them, I was on the road a lot doing murder and sex cases all over the state.”

Bellamy said when she and her husband decided they were going to move to Marshall, she wanted to look at job opportunities here.

“I have been active in my career in higher education and practicing law so I had previous experience with teaching,” she said. “Being a faculty member in criminal justice, as well as the director of the honors program at St. Louis University and worked with honors education at Lincoln University in Jefferson City and at both places taught criminal law classes and so when I saw an opening here at Valley for a criminal justice professor position I applied and got the job and was super excited to teach here and fell in love with the campus, the students and my colleagues. I have been thrilled to be here ever since.”

Bellamy was not expecting to get the position. Just like when she was offered her current position, she was taken by surprise. She believes her hard work and the relationship she has built while being here have aided her to get where she is now. 

“I certainly did not expect it,” she said. “I am very honored and humbled and thrilled to approach this new challenge. I do find that if you try to do the best at your job and try to create positive relationships and jump into helping other people whenever you can. Having that type of attitude, I’ve been very blessed that that has tended to open doors. And that’s a good life lesson to students as well” 

Bellamy and Vice President of Student Affairs Heath Morgan plan to work together to make sure that the student life at MVC is the best that it can be. As far as hiring someone to take Bellamy’s position, she thinks that someone in the Student Success Center will take care of the everyday tasks but she will be assisting as well. 

In a press release from the college  President Bonnie Humphrey said: “I am excited to have Elizabeth serve as the vice president of academic affairs. She brings great energy and vision to the position. Elizabeth has been a tireless worker in student affairs and will bring that same work ethic to academic affairs. She has worked with the faculty during her time in student success and will be able to hit the ground running. I am also appreciative of the work Dr. Bartholomew has done at Missouri Valley. She is a very hard worker, is sincere, honest and of high integrity. I am so pleased to have worked with her over the past seven years and wish her well  in her new endeavor.”

Bellamy will take over the position July 1, 2022.