Dr. Michael T. Nietzel
Missouri State University System President
Carrington Hall, Room 201
901 South National Avenue
Springfield, MO 65897
President@missouristate.edu
Voice: (417) 836-8500
Fax: (417) 836-7669

Biography

Dr. Michael T. Nietzel is the ninth president of Missouri State University, the first holder of the Missouri State University Leadership Chair, and a tenured professor in the psychology department.

An Iowa native, Nietzel (pronounced KNIT-zul) was named president March 4, 2005, following a nation-wide search. He began his duties on July 1, 2005. Nietzel was named the first recipient of the endowed Leadership Chair as of July 1, 2008. The Chair was initially funded by current, past and student members of the Board of Governors, and awarded to Nietzel in recognition of his leadership and accomplishments.

Nietzel came to Missouri State from the University of Kentucky, where he had held a number of faculty and administrative positions over a 32-year period. In November 2002, he was named provost at the University of Kentucky. Prior to being named provost, he served as acting provost for 18 months and as dean of the Graduate School for four years. Nietzel joined the faculty at the University of Kentucky in 1973 as an assistant professor of psychology. He was promoted to associate professor in 1977 and professor in 1981. From 1977-90, Nietzel served as director of the Clinical Psychology Training Program at the University of Kentucky. In 1991, he was named chair of the department of psychology and he completed a second term as chair in 1997.

He received his B.A. from Wheaton College in 1969, and his M.A. degree in 1972 and his Ph.D. in 1973 both from the University of Illinois.

Nietzel's research interests are concentrated in the areas of forensic psychology, jury decision-making and the assessment of psychotherapy outcomes. He has written several leading books and more than 85 scholarly articles in these areas. He has served on the editorial boards of numerous journals in the areas of clinical psychology and legal psychology, and he has been elected a Fellow in both the American Psychology Association and the American Psychology Society. He also is an ardent lover of jazz.

Nietzel is married to Dr. Sandra D'Angelo, a pediatric psychologist employed at Burrell Behavioral Health Center. They each have a son by previous marriages.