Beth McCune Whitaker

Dr. Beth McCune Whitaker is a Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Missouri – Columbia, within the College of Education. She previously served as a professor and founding director of The Faculty Center for Teaching Excellence at Indiana State University.

Her research focuses on school climate, principal leadership, and staff motivation and morale. She also has a strong interest in college teaching and faculty development. At Mizzou, she teaches K-12 leadership courses and supervises administrator interns, drawing from her experience as a former classroom teacher and school principal in Missouri.

Dr. Whitaker has been recognized with multiple teaching excellence awards, including the Mizzou Golden Apple and several prestigious honors from Indiana State University. She has published in her core research areas and collaborates frequently with her husband, Todd Whitaker, who is also a faculty member at Mizzou.

• Mizzou College of Education Golden Apple for Teaching Excellence
• Caleb Mills Distinguished Teaching Award
• Holmstedt Distinguished Professorship
• Kinser Faculty Award
• President’s Award from the Indiana State Principal’s Association

She supervises administrator interns and has contributed to educational leadership through mentoring and professional development. There is no mention of external grants in the provided text. Dr. Whitaker has collaborated extensively with her husband on books and presentations in education leadership.

She played a key role in establishing The Faculty Center for Teaching Excellence at Indiana State University, demonstrating leadership in faculty support and pedagogical innovation.