Dr. Schoon celebrated at presidential inauguration

Community members, friends and family, and employees of Cowley College filled the Earle N. Wright Community Room to honor Dr. Michelle Schoon, the seventh president and first female president in the history of Cowley College, during a presidential inauguration reception held on Thursday, September 7.

A presidential inauguration is a milestone event in the life of a college. It is a chance for the college and community stakeholders to come together to celebrate the next steps in the history of the college. This occasion also encouraged public identification and support for Dr. Schoon as she assumed the duties of the office. 

Along with Dr. Schoon’s husband of 41 years, Scott Schoon, the couple’s three children and grandchildren came from out of town to surprise Dr. Schoon at the event.

“I am honored to be the seventh president of Cowley College and want to thank the Board of Trustees for allowing me the opportunity to lead the college,” Dr. Schoon said. “Thank you to all that made the event a memorable occasion for me and my family.”

Dr. Schoon holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology Education from Bethany College. She went on to complete a Master’s Degree in curriculum and instruction from Wichita State University and obtained her doctorate in educational leadership from Southwestern College.

Dr. Schoon has been at Cowley College since 1991 and assumed the Vice President of Academic Affairs position in 2019. While at Cowley, Dr. Schoon received an Excellence Award from the National Institution for Staff and Organizational Development from the University of Texas, as well as been named the College’s Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence and Student Learning and was a Paul Stirnaman Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence recipient. She was also named Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, Who’s Who among Executives and Professionals, and was recently named to the Wichita Business Journal’s list of Women Who Lead in Education.

Speakers at the event were Pastor/Board of Trustee member David Stanley, Rama Peroo, Director of Institutional Communication and Public Relations, Cowley College Board of Trustee Chairman Brett Bazil, Cowley College CEA President and Natural Science Department Chair Dr. Scott Layton, Foundation Board Vice Chair and Community Partner John Sturd, Cowley College Government Affairs Liaison Jessica Lucas, and Vice President of Academics & Secondary Partnerships Janice Stover.

A meet and greet reception was held at the conclusion of the program. The inauguration was live-streamed and can be viewed on the Cowley College YouTube page.

Rama Peroo | Director of Institutional Communication
Cowley College
125 S. 2nd Street
Arkansas City, KS 67005
rama.peroo@cowley.edu