By Colin Williams / Staff Writer

Missouri Valley College has named Dr. Okey Onyia as Faculty Senate president for the 2025-26 academic year. Valley’s previous Senate president accepted a position at another university, and Onyia stepped in with a plan already in place for his time in office.

Onyia has more than a decade of experience in faculty leadership at multiple universities, including the University of Wollongong in Australia, Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri, and Bournemouth University in Bournemouth, England.

As Senate president, Onyia serves as an intermediary between Valley’s faculty and administration.

“With the goal of presenting the general desires, suggestions and concerns of faculty to the management,” Onyia said, “and also helping to communicate and clarify the operations, directives and strategies of the management to the faculty.”

He added that he is focused on making the transition a smooth one.

“My vision is to ensure that the Faculty Senate becomes a true unifier of the entire MVC faculty and staff and the MVC management as partners in progress toward a singular objective,” Onyia said. “Providing the best educational experience for our MVC students in the best possible enabling environment.”