MU installs interim leader in Mount Vernon

The University of Missouri named an interim superintendent for its Southwest Research Center in Mount Vernon as its six-year leader exited.

Reagan Bluel, a dairy field specialist for University of Missouri Extension in Barry County, took on the role Aug. 1. She succeeds David Cope, who resigned July 31 "to pursue other endeavors," according to a news release.

The release did not give more details on Cope's exit, and a spokesperson could not be reached for comment by deadline. It also did not indicate whether a search process would be conducted for Cope's permanent successor.

While serving as interim superintendent for the Southwest Research Center, Bluel is slated to continue the duties of the MU dairy specialist role she's held since 2014, according to the release.

On 893 acres, the Mount Vernon center serves as MU’s main footprint in southwest Missouri to conduct agricultural researching and testing, including beef, forage and horticultural crop production, according to past reporting. The center is a meeting place for farmers, producers, MU Extension regional specialists and students, and it hosts annual career days and FFA practice contests.

Last year, the Southwest Research Center opened a roughly $1.7 million meeting space expansion.