Springfield, MO. – Dr. Tracy McGrady, Ozarks Tech’s provost and executive vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, will give the keynote commencement address at the Ozarks Technical Community College Commencement ceremonies on Thursday, May 15. The ceremonies will take place at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Great Southern Bank Arena on the Missouri State University campus.
Dr. McGrady, a highly respected leader with a long tenure at Ozarks Tech, has served as the college’s chief academic officer since 2017. In this position, she has been responsible for overseeing faculty, curriculum, assessment and institutional priorities in support of the college’s overarching mission. Working with the deans, faculty committees and senior officers, she develops the institution’s academic priorities and oversees their implementation. McGrady also oversees all academic support functions at the college, such as tutoring, disability support, and library services.
McGrady will retire on June 30 after nearly 25 years with Ozarks Tech – a career that has seen her successfully lead multiple areas of the institution including time spent in Student Affairs, Advancement, and at the Richwood Valley Campus. Along the way, she also maintained a role in the classroom, consistently teaching courses as an adjunct instructor.
Reflecting on her career, McGrady pointed to her nearly nine years as provost as some of the most widely impactful.
“It has been the honor of my life to serve as the voice of the Ozarks Tech faculty and Academic Affairs staff,” McGrady said. “I’m incredibly proud of the work we do here, and it’s been deeply rewarding to play a part in creating a rich educational experience for our students. I’ve been so fortunate to build my career at an institution where I genuinely believe in the mission. I take great pride in drawing a clear, direct line between the work we do and the improved lives of people throughout southwest Missouri.”
Under her academic affairs leadership, the college has navigated challenges like maintaining education during the pandemic, celebrated victories such as becoming the first community college in Missouri to offer a bachelor’s degree, and developed expansions including numerous partnerships to further academic accessibility for students including the formation of the Alliance for Healthcare Education. She has led the college’s academic affairs division through years of progress and new program creation and will leave Ozarks Tech in an era of forward momentum.
In her planned remarks for Commencement, McGrady shares with students the messages of perseverance, awe and encouragement that Ozarks Tech faculty want graduates to carry with them into their post-college lives.
“Dr. McGrady is the perfect keynote speaker,” said Chancellor Hal Higdon. “She brings a deep understanding of what it means to lead, teach, and inspire. Her decades of experience at Ozarks Tech reflect not only her strategic vision but also her unwavering belief in our mission. She’s spent her career helping students succeed, and there’s no one better to send our graduates into the world with purpose and confidence.”
For more information on this year’s Commencement ceremonies, visit students.otc.edu/graduation.
