Missouri Valley College is hiring Mike Elam as the college’s first director of student employment in an effort to expand its student work program to create more opportunity and experience for students

Elam, a 23-year Army veteran, will report to Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Terry Russell. Elam has extensive higher education administration experience in admissions recruitment, work study, and veterans’ assistance.

Besides serving students in the undergraduate work study program, Elam will work closely with Dr. Jennifer Livengood, supervisor of the college’s graduate assistants who work with staff and faculty, and Debi Bultmann, assistant athletic director, who oversees with the graduate assistants employed in athletics.

After his Army career, Elam spent 16 years at Lindenwood University where he served as an admissions and financial aid counselor and veterans’ specialist for five years. He then served as director of Student Life Sports for the next five years. Most recently, he served as director of the shooting sports program at Lindenwood.

Elam earned his bachelor’s degree from Lindenwood University.