Dr. Michelle Schoon Reflects on 35 Years of Service as She Prepares for Retirement

After 35 years of serving Cowley College, Dr. Michelle Schoon is preparing to close one of the most significant chapters of her professional life. Schoon announced on Sept. 21 that she will retire as president of Cowley College, effective Feb. 1, 2027. Her final working day will be Jan. 29. While retirement marks the end of her time at Cowley, Schoon’s journey with the College began long before she ever imagined she would one day lead the institution.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my 35 years of employment at Cowley College,” Schoon wrote in her retirement letter to the Cowley College Board of Trustees.

Her career in education began as a college student. Although she initially found herself torn between pursuing a career in health care or teaching, she ultimately chose education. After graduating from Bethany College in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology Education, Schoon began her teaching career at Peabody-Burns High School, where she taught science and coached basketball and volleyball. She later taught biology at Great Bend High School and science at Washburn Rural High School before moving to Winfield in 1989. Two years later, her path brought her to Cowley College.

In 1991, Schoon joined Cowley as an adjunct instructor in chemistry. Schoon moved into a full-time faculty position in 1994, teaching biology, human anatomy and physiology, botany, and zoology. She also became chair of the Natural Science and Mathematics Department and served on numerous College committees and organizations.

Her commitment to Cowley’s academic mission extended beyond the classroom. She served as the College’s Higher Learning Commission Accreditation Liaison Officer for 20 years and guided the College’s strategic planning process. She later became an HLC peer reviewer.

“Being an HLC peer reviewer has allowed me to see best practices across the region and to network with other education professionals,” Schoon said in her biography.

Along the way, Schoon continued her own education, earning a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Wichita State University in 1996. In 2014, she completed her doctorate in educational leadership from Southwestern College, officially becoming Dr. Michelle Schoon.

Her leadership responsibilities at Cowley continued to grow. In 2019, Schoon became Vice President of Academic Affairs, with a focus on strengthening academic programs and program development. In February 2023, Schoon became interim president. One month later, she accepted the presidency permanently.

Her time as president has been marked by a focus on several priorities she identified when accepting the position. In her retirement letter, Schoon pointed to some of the accomplishments she’s most proud of: completion of the Tyler Tech building project, strengthening the College’s ability to serve Sumner County, and increasing enrollment.

“I am a firm believer in the power of education and the doors that it can open, not only for the student, but for the generations to follow,” said Schoon.

Schoon’s leadership has also been recognized throughout her career. She has received an Excellence Award from the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development at the University of Texas, has been named Cowley College’s Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence and Student Learning, and received the Paul Stirnaman Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence. She has also been recognized by Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, Who’s Who Among Executives and Professionals, and the Wichita Business Journal’s Women Who Lead in Education. She was most recently honored with the 2025 Outstanding Alumni award from Bethany College.

Yet when Schoon looks back on her time at Cowley, her career cannot be separated from the students, faculty, and staff who have been part of the journey.

“I welcomed the opportunity to serve as the President of Cowley College,” Schoon wrote in announcing her retirement.

After 35 years, Schoon will leave Cowley in February, having gone from teaching chemistry two days a week to leading the institution as president. She has offered to assist with the transition to new leadership and provide guidance as requested.

“The College has a great administrative team, faculty and staff that really ‘run’ the place, so I am leaving it in good hands,” she wrote.

Hunter Ferguson | Integrated Communications Specialist
Cowley College
125 S. 2nd Street
Arkansas City, KS 67005
hunter.ferguson@cowley.edu