Members,

The Board of Directors governing the MSPE’s Educational Foundation (EF) will have a new look this summer. The EF Board of Directors, which has historically featured the same members of the MSPE Board of Directors, will have its own eleven-member Board populated by stakeholders solely focused on the foundation mission.

MSPE EF is a 501(c)(3) foundation charged with seven objectives centered on engineering education and research.  It is linked to the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers, a 501(c)(6) organization that serves as a professional society representing the state’s Licensed Professional Engineers. For decades, the EF and MSPE have been governed by the same Board of Directors, handling their respective business in separate but usually consecutive meetings.

Over the last several months, the EF Board of Directors considered amending its bylaws to allow the EF to have its own directors that specifically cater to the needs of the foundation. In March, the Board voted to amend the bylaws to form an eleven-member Board of Directors to take place this summer with the inaugural meeting held in June during the MSPE Convention in Columbia. 

Once formed and activated, the new EF Board will meet throughout the year. EF Executive Director Travis Lowe and the team at Braden Heidner Lowe & Associates will continue to serve MSPE EF.

The new EF Board of Directors will feature representatives from functions that support the foundation’s mission and business, such as representatives from MATHCOUNTS, the Kimel Endowment, Building Committee, university representatives, a former MSPE president, a MSPE Board representative, along with at large positions from the membership. The MSPE Treasurer will also serve as the EF Treasurer, mimicking NSPE’s Treasurer with the national Educational Foundation.

The Nominating & Tellers Committee, chaired by Michael Purol, P.E., will provide dual roles for both the MSPE and EF Boards, and seek candidates for the new EF Board this spring.