College of the Ozarks honors esteemed faculty members through endowed chair appointments

POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — College of the Ozarks has announced six newly awarded endowed chair appointments across diverse academic disciplines, including nursing, business, hospitality, theology, patriotic education, and Christian nurture. These appointments reflect the College’s unwavering commitment to recognizing faculty excellence and furthering its five-fold mission. Among them, two hold particular distinction: The Shirley Davis Chair of Nursing Education and The Jerry C. Davis Chair of Patriotic Education. Named in honor of longtime benefactors and former College President Dr. Jerry C. Davis — whose tenure spanned over three decades and left a lasting legacy on the institution — these chairs celebrate a tradition of visionary leadership and enduring faith. Through these appointments, the College continues to invest in faculty leaders whose work uplifts students and advances the institution’s Christian and patriotic values.

 

“We are grateful for the many people who have supported our endowed chair appointments, including most recently Dr. Jerry C. Davis and Mrs. Shirley Davis,” Dr. Eric Bolger said, provost and vice president of academic affairs. “Those receiving the appointments have proven themselves as faculty members at the College. To be appointed as an endowed chair is an honor.”

 

The following endowed chair appointments have also been awarded to faculty members in honor of their unwavering dedication to the College’s five-fold mission and their perpetual commitment to student success:

 

• Rebecca Hamon, associate professor of nursing, The Don and Marie Garner Nursing Program Director
• Dr. Eveline Lewis, associate professor of business, The Ralph T. Reeve Chair of Free Enterprise
• Baylee McKinney, instructor of culinary arts, The Walter L. Green Chair of Hotel and Restaurant Management
• Dr. William Osborne, professor of biblical and theological studies, The M. Graham Clark Chair of Christian Nurture

Captain Caleb Dunnam: The Jerry C. Davis Chair of Patriotic Education

 

Capt. Caleb Dunnam, associate professor of military science, has been appointed by College of the Ozarks as The Jerry C. Davis Chair of Patriotic Education, in recognition of his steadfast commitment to our nation and its values, and his dedication to the College’s patriotic mission.

 

Dunnam grew up in Milledgeville, Georgia. His desire to join the military began on Sept.11, 2001. A high school student at the time, Dunnam recalls watching the footage of the first plane hitting the North Tower.

 

“I listened to the news anchors trying to explain it away, and I was thinking, this is a deliberate act. This is an act of war.”

 

After graduating high school, Dunnam attended College of the Ozarks and joined the ROTC program during his junior year. After graduation he was later commissioned as an officer in 2008. Following his commissioning, Dunnam moved throughout the United States as an aviation officer and helicopter pilot. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2013, serving as a member of Task Forces Apocalypse and Nightmare in the Shindand province.

 

Dunnam returned to College of the Ozarks as a public safety officer in 2014, while also teaching a few military science classes. Eventually, Dunnam stepped up to lead the military science department when the head course instructor left for a year-long military school. Since then, Dunnam has devoted himself to reinvesting in the program that helped launch his military career. During his time at the College, the military science program has grown exponentially, and he officially assumed the title of “instructor” at College of the Ozarks in 2016. Additionally, Dunnam completed his Master of Divinity, and in Nov. 2021, he was pinned as a chaplain in the Missouri National Guard.

 

While Dunnam’s job keeps him occupied, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Rebekah, and their daughter, Selah, in his spare time. A few of his hobbies include camping, hiking, and serving his church community. College of the Ozarks is proud to appoint Dunnam as The Jerry C. Davis Chair of Patriotic Education in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the College’s patriotic goal, and his daily service and support of the students on campus. 

 

Dr. Karen Shepherd: The Shirley Davis Chair of Nursing Education

 

Additionally, Dr. Karen Shepherd, associate professor of nursing and simulation technology coordinator, has been appointed as The Shirley Davis Chair of Nursing Education in honor of her dedication to the College’s Christian and academic mission.

 

This fall marks Shepherd’s 19^th year of dedicated service as a faculty member at College of the Ozarks. Her journey to the institution has been thoroughly guided by faith and an enthusiasm for nursing education.

 

Her path to the College began in 2002 when her husband, Steve Shepherd, was hired as the men's basketball coach. Immediately drawn to the welcoming spirit and mission-driven culture of the College, she felt an instant connection with the community. She was encouraged to pursue her master’s degree by Marilyn Graves, the dean of the College at the time, and subsequently joined the newly launched nursing department — where she would become instrumental in shaping the program’s identity.

 

“I quickly recognized the warm and kind nature of the staff, faculty, and administration at our college, appreciated the College's mission and philosophy, and how it aligned with my personal beliefs, and how special the College of the Ozarks is. I felt at home,” Sheperd said.

 

With 33 years of nursing experience, including leadership roles in a small rural hospital and home health care, she now serves as the College’s simulation technology coordinator. Her diverse professional background has uniquely equipped her for this role, ensuring students receive a comprehensive, mission-aligned nursing education.

 

Outside the classroom, she treasures time spent with loved ones. She enjoys traveling, hosting, learning, and spending time outdoors. Married to her husband, Steve, for 36 years, they have four daughters and three grandchildren, with one more on the way this fall.

 

For additional information, contact Public Relations Director Valorie Coleman at (417) 690-2212.

 

About College of the Ozarks

College of the Ozarks is a private, Christian, liberal arts college, located in Point Lookout, Missouri, on a 1,000-acre campus. Christian values, hard work, and fiscal responsibility comprise the fundamental building blocks of the “Hard Work U.” experience. The College earns numerous accolades yearly, including No. 2 Best Performers on Social Mobility-Regional Colleges in the Midwest and No. 4 Best Regional College in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for 2024-2025 and No. 3 Best Bang for the Buck by Washington Monthly, 2024. To achieve its vision, the College pursues academic, vocational, Christian, patriotic, and cultural goals. These goals are mirrored in School of the Ozarks, a laboratory school that completes the K-college model.

The Keeter Center — the College’s award-winning lodge, restaurant, and conference facility — earns awards consistently, including the TripAdvisor Best of the Best Award 2024 and the Readers’ Choice Awards 2023 from ConventionSouth magazine. The Keeter Center features historic lodging, fine dining, and meeting rooms. With more than 350 student workers, it is the largest workstation on campus.