UCM’s Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies Celebrates 30 Years of Excellence

WARRENSBURG, Mo. — May 2, 2025 — The University of Central Missouri (UCM) celebrated a significant milestone Friday, May 2 as students, faculty, alumni and longtime friends gathered in the Ward Edwards Building atrium on the Warrensburg campus to commemorate 30 years of excellence at the Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies.

The event featured a celebratory program and reception honoring three decades of student success and academic innovation. Named in recognition of Adrian and Margaret Harmon — longtime UCM supporters whose transformative generosity helped establish the college in 1995 — the Harmon College has grown into a comprehensive hub of business and professional education.

“As we reflect on the college’s history, it’s clear that the Harmon legacy goes far beyond a name on a college,” said Dr. Doug Davenport, dean of the Harmon College. “Their vision has touched generations of students and continues to shape a dynamic academic community committed to excellence, experiential learning and service.”

UCM President Roger Best and Provost Emeritus George Wilson, both former deans of the Harmon College, joined Davenport in reflecting on the college’s evolution, achievements and enduring impact. They paid tribute not only to the Harmons’ foundational gift but also to the sustained leadership, faculty dedication and alumni engagement that have made the college a vital force in the region.

“The support of the Harmon family has always gone beyond financial gifts,” Best said. “Their personal investment — attending games, mentoring leaders and remaining engaged in the life of the college — has inspired us to keep raising the bar.”

The Harmon College was established in 1995 through a $2 million charitable trust from Adrian and Margaret Harmon, with funds designated to support the creation and ongoing development of a named business college at Central Missouri State University.

Lynn and Jackie Harmon were recognized for their ongoing involvement and support, representing the Harmon family’s deep and lasting connection to the university. Lynn Harmon introduced several family members and expressed pride in the accomplishments of the Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies.

“That's what Adrian and Margaret's picture there shows you: their confidence in the future, their belief in the strength of the university system,” Harmon said. “The leadership of the university and the strong faculty, and the broad impact that Harmon College is making."

Davenport added that the Harmon College has grown over the past three decades into a dynamic academic hub that fuels workforce development across Missouri and beyond. Today, its programs span a wide range of high-demand fields, including Accounting, Aviation, Big Data Analytics and Computer Information Systems, Criminal Justice and Criminology, Economics and Finance, Human Development and Family Science, Management, Marketing, Military Science, Public Relations, Social Work, Speech Disorders, and Sport Management—reflecting the college’s commitment to preparing students for diverse and impactful careers across the professional spectrum.

The college’s reach also extends into the community through key regional assets such as the Max B. Swisher Skyhaven Airport, the Welch-Schmidt Center for Communication Disorders, the Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic, the Missouri Safety Center and the Central Missouri Police Academy. With more than 150 dedicated faculty and staff, Harmon College prepares students for meaningful, mission-driven careers — upholding UCM’s longstanding commitment to “Education for Service.”

Davenport closed the event by thanking the many contributors who helped make the celebration possible and emphasized the importance of honoring the past while building toward an even brighter future.

"Today, we don't just look back, we look ahead," Davenport said. "The next chapter of Harmon College is already being written by our students, our faculty and by the continued support of the Harmon family."