“I am very appreciative of the work Dan has done in his interim capacity and pleased he will continue to lead this division with the goals of strengthening and developing new partnerships with business and industry,” said Southeast President Dr. Carlos Vargas. “We are fortunate to benefit not only from his experience as a leader in our community but also his knowledge of workforce development, continuing education, and employee training.”

The Office of Economic and Workforce Development was developed in 2022 to align workforce and non-credit training programs with academic, industry, and public sector needs. The unit works with regional businesses and industries to identify training needs that lead to the development and delivery of revenue producing workforce education and training solutions.

“I am excited to be a part of the continuation of what SEMO has done for decades: prepare people for the workforce,” said Presson. “I’ve always wanted people to feel comfortable finding the opportunities that connect with their abilities, and we want anyone seeking opportunities to look toward Southeast Missouri State to help. I am also eager to continue working with companies throughout the region to address the economic and business needs of Southeast Missouri.”

Presson has been with the University for nearly a decade. He served as an admission counselor and as assistant director of Admissions for transfer recruitment before accepting a position as coordinator of employee relations in the University’s Career Services office. In 2017, Presson became director of Career Services where he became committed to connecting students and alumni with employers to support development of the workforce regionally.