Douglas R. Davenport Named Dean of Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies at UCM

By Alex Greenwood, March 20, 2025

The University of Central Missouri (UCM) is pleased to announce Douglas R. Davenport, Ph.D., as the new permanent dean of the Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies (HCBPS). Davenport, who has served as interim dean since July 1, 2024, officially assumes his permanent role effective July 1, 2025.

"Dr. Davenport is an experienced and knowledgeable leader who is able to articulate a strong vision for the Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies. He excels at building consensus and relationships. Faculty, staff and students feel heard and included in his approach to decisions and he is an effective communicator. I appreciate his ability to identify challenges and address them decisively and his student-centered approach to the work of the college." said Tim Crowley, Ph.D., provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. 

He added, "The college is arguably the most complex unit in Academic Affairs with its combination of accredited business programs, aviation, human services, criminal justice and criminology, Skyhaven Airport operations, ROTC program, and the Missouri Safety Center. Dr. Davenport’s prior experience as a provost has prepared him well for this role at UCM and I look forward to working with him in the Division of Academic Affairs."

As dean, Davenport will provide leadership and management of all academic programs, human resources, budget, facilities, equipment, and student engagement within HCBPS. He reports directly to the provost and vice president for Academic Affairs and serves as a member of the Provost Council.

Davenport brings extensive administrative and academic leadership experience to the position. As interim dean at UCM, he successfully filled key leadership positions, established a faculty-led Strategic Planning Task Force aligned with the UCM Opportunity Agenda, improved operational efficiencies and supported the successful reaffirmation of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation.

Notably, he secured significant resources for critical investments, including acquiring new aircraft and flight simulators, planning the renovation of the Welch-Schmidt Center for Communication Disorders and reinstating faculty research grants.

“The Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies has a history of sustained excellence and has played a significant role in advancing UCM,” Davenport said. “I am humbled to be selected to serve as dean and I am excited to continue the efforts we have initiated over the past few months. There are tremendous opportunities before us and I am confident that we can forge new paths as we collaborate across the university and the region.”

Prior to joining UCM, Davenport served as provost and vice president for Academic and Student Affairs at Missouri Western State University, where he reorganized colleges and departments to enhance efficiency and reduce costs, oversaw significant staffing adjustments during financial exigency, and introduced policies to optimize resource management. He also initiated the establishment of a Center for Teaching and Learning and collaborated with the Missouri Secretary of State to establish a Judicial Local Records Project office on campus. His leadership was instrumental in the university’s reaffirmation of accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission and in addressing significant financial and organizational challenges.

Davenport's earlier roles include dean of the School of Social and Cultural Studies at Truman State University, where he spearheaded initiatives enhancing internationalization, faculty research support, interdisciplinary collaboration and campus-wide critical thinking frameworks. Additionally, as associate provost at Missouri Western State, he led the creation of strategic plans and directed comprehensive accreditation and planning processes.

Davenport earned his Ph.D. in Political Science and Master of Public Administration from Texas Tech University and a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Central Bible College (now Evangel University). His academic career is complemented by previous roles in law enforcement and public administration, providing a robust foundation in both academic and practical leadership.