Zora Mulligan
Zora Mulligan
Zora Mulligan has served as Missouri’s Commissioner of Higher Education since August
2016. During her time as commissioner, Ms. Mulligan and her team have partnered with
colleges and universities around the state to substantially improve transfer for Missouri
students, increase graduation rates by offering alternatives to remedial coursework,
and implement new rules that give public colleges and universities greater ability
to meet statewide and regional workforce needs.
In 2018, Ms. Mulligan and Missouri’s Director of Economic Development co-led Talent
for Tomorrow, an initiative that built a statewide coalition of corporate executives,
educators, community leaders, legislators, and members of the executive branch to
develop and advocate for a comprehensive suite of proposals to address workforce needs.
Those proposals, which included restructuring state government to bring the agencies
responsible for postsecondary education, workforce development, and economic research
together; funding for public colleges and universities to develop or expand academic
programs that lead to jobs in high-demand occupations; and a full-tuition grant program
for adults, were featured in Governor Mike Parson’s 2019 State of the State address
and adopted by the General Assembly during the 2019 legislative session.
Ms. Mulligan is a native of West Plains, Missouri, and a graduate of Drury College
and the University of Kansas. She previously served as chief of staff to the University
of Missouri System president, executive director of the Missouri Community College
Association, and assistant attorney general. She lives in Jefferson City with her
daughter Anna Lea.