As the Missouri State University provost, Dr. John Jasinski, has stated in a memo to the library, Rachel Besara will serve as interim dean of Missouri State Libraries following the retirement of Tom Peters in December 2024. Besara has been serving as Associate Dean since 2017. 

“Meyer Library is central to Missouri State’s learning ecosystem,” Jasinski wrote. “We anticipate that its role will only grow as it continues to evolve in response to educational, scholarly and community needs. As we search for the next dean, Rachel will provide consistent, proactive, strategic leadership.”