March 31, 2026
Contact: Christopher Ave, 573-882-9325, christopher.ave@missouri.edu
University of Missouri Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Matthew Martens has announced the appointment of Stephanie Reid‑Arndt as dean of the College of Health Sciences, effective June 1, following a competitive national search. Reid-Arndt follows Kristofer Hagglund, who will retire in August after leading the college since 2013.
A long‑standing leader within the college, Reid‑Arndt brings more than a decade of high‑impact administrative experience, deep expertise in health sciences education and a strong record of advancing student success, faculty development and collaborative research. She currently serves as senior associate dean and professor in the College of Health Sciences, where she has been instrumental in shaping the college’s strategic direction and expanding its role as a statewide and national leader in preparing the health care workforce of the future.
“Dr. Reid-Arndt is an exceptional leader whose vision, integrity and collaborative approach have strengthened the College of Health Sciences in profound ways,” Martens said. “She has played a central role in supporting our students, empowering faculty, advancing research and forging partnerships that enhance health and well-being across Missouri. As dean, she will continue building on the college’s momentum and expanding its impact during a period of rapid growth in the health professions.”
Reid-Arndt has overseen major components of the college’s academic and operational infrastructure, including student services, academic affairs, faculty development, facilities planning, strategic initiatives, accreditation support and advancement engagement. During her leadership tenure, the college has grown to include 12 undergraduate programs, seven graduate programs, two professional programs and five graduate certificates, with strong outcomes including a 91.2% retention rate and 78.5% six-year graduation rate.
“I am excited about the future of the College of Health Sciences, and having supported our growth in my prior roles, I’m honored to serve as the next dean,” Reid-Arndt said. “CHS has a unique opportunity to educate the health care workforce of the future through our broad range of undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. Our faculty contribute meaningfully to Mizzou’s AAU mission with impactful research and specialized clinical services that strengthen communities across Missouri. I look forward to deepening partnerships and advancing innovations in education, research and service while remaining true to our land-grant mission.”
A clinical psychologist and rehabilitation neuropsychologist, Reid‑Arndt is the founding program director of the doctoral program in health and rehabilitation science and has earned national recognition for her research examining cognitive and executive functioning difficulties among cancer survivors and people with traumatic brain injury. Her scholarship has explored mind‑body interventions such as Tai Chi, the role of stress in cognitive deficits and the impact of cognitive challenges on quality of life. She has served as PI or co‑PI on more than $500,000 in grant funding, co‑edited a foundational text in rehabilitation psychology and contributes to leading journals in her field as an editorial board member.
Reid-Arndt’s leadership also is reflected in extensive service at the university, system and national levels. She served as an expert on a U.S. Department of Defense Advisory Committee – the Defense Health Board Neurological/Behavioral Health Subcommittee. She is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, recipient of the Mizzou Alumni Association Faculty Alumni Award, and a member of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health.
Her collaborative leadership extends across key university initiatives, including precision health workforce development, student success planning, enrollment strategy, and academic policy and curriculum innovation. She has also played an important role in campuswide efforts during the COVID‑19 pandemic and in shaping MU’s approach to student engagement and advising.
Reid‑Arndt earned her doctoral and master’s degrees in clinical psychology from the University of Arizona and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California San Diego. She joined Mizzou in 1999 as a postdoctoral fellow, and her appointment as dean follows 25 years of dedicated service at the university.
