Office of University Communications 

Two to receive honorary doctorates from Missouri State

SPRINGFIELD — Missouri State University will grant its fifth and sixth honorary doctorates to Annie Busch and Jim Craig. The nominations were approved today (Dec. 15) by the Missouri State University Board of Governors following recommendations from the Faculty Senate and President Michael T. Nietzel.

Busch and Craig will receive the Doctorate in Humane Letters and the Doctor of Public Affairs, respectively, during spring commencement ceremonies May 18.

“We had 10 outstanding candidates to consider and were extremely pleased to be able to select two exemplary honorees,” said Melanie Grand, Honorary Doctorate Committee chair. 

Busch, the executive director of the Greene County Library District, has a long record of implementing innovative services which provide open access of information. Under her leadership, every branch in the system was renovated and expanded and the Library Center, which opened in 2003, received national recognition as a destination library. Busch also has served on numerous state and local advisory boards for civic betterment.

Craig is a former president of the Better Business Bureau and a respected civic leader. Widely known as “the good humor man,” Craig crafted stories which describe and convey the values and character of this region and has shared his sense of place with audiences at conventions and gatherings in all 50 states. Craig also served as a member of the then-Southwest Missouri State University Board of Regents and on the Missouri Coordinating Board of Higher Education.

The first Missouri State University Honorary Doctorate was awarded in 2003. The purpose of the award is to recognize extraordinary achievements by distinguished citizens in hope of encouraging others. Previous recipients were Sister Lorraine Biebel, Harold Bengsch, David Harrison and Pat Walker.