Strategic Plan
“Strategic planning goes beyond a static document—it is a collaborative blueprint that enables us to anticipate opportunities, clarify our purpose and priorities, and align the resources needed to achieve our shared goals.”
Five Phases of the Strategic Planning Process
Phase 1
Listening & Foundation
The co-chairs conduct an environmental scan and develop the strategic planning framework that will guide the entire process.
- Listening & Learning tour findings reviewed
- Environmental scan of higher-ed trends
Phase 2
Task Force Preparation & Training
The 41-member Planning Task Force completes a survey, participates in a one-day training session (September 16), and learns the collaborative engagement methods they will use to gather stakeholder input.
- Public website launch (Aug)
- Task Force Training Day (Sep 16)
Phase 3
Stakeholder Engagement
Planning Task Force members lead focus groups and conversations with students, faculty, staff, alumni, community partners, and other stakeholders across campus and beyond.
- Focus groups
- Student, faculty, & alumni conversations
Phase 4
Data Synthesis, Visioning & Priority Setting
All stakeholder feedback is analyzed and synthesized. PTF members participate in a vision conference (TBD) to identify strategic priorities and areas of focus for Murray State's future. Messaging is shared throughout the campus community.
- Draft strategic priorities emerge
- Vision Conference
Phase 5
Strategy Development, Operationalization & Launch
Strategic initiatives are developed, action plans are finalized, and the comprehensive strategic plan is launched to guide Murray State University's direction and decisions.
- Strategy finalization & approval
- Official Strategic Plan launch (July 2027)
Co-chairs' Notes
Get Involved — From September through November, our task force is hosting focus group sessions across Racer Nation. Want to participate? Submit your contact information through the Strategic Plan Focus Group Inquiry Form to connect with a task force member. For questions, contact Dr. Elise Kieffer at ekieffer@murraystate.edu
Feedback Reports — Task force members should submit Stakeholder Feedback following focus group sessions.
Co-Chairs
Co-Chairs
- Elise Kieffer
ekieffer@murraystate.edu - Ben Littlepage
blittlepage@murraystate.edu - Chris Wooldridge
cwooldridge@murraystate.edu
Task Force Members
- Tina Bernot
cbernot@murraystate.edu - Michael Bordieri
mbordieri@murraystate.edu - Dedrick Brooks
dbrooks17@murraystate.edu - Wendy Cain
wcain@murraystate.edu - Kathy Callahan
kcallahan@murraystate.edu - S.G. Carthell
scarthell@murraystate.edu - Jennifer Cline
jcline9@murraystate.edu - Amelia Dodd
adodd@murraystate.edu - Cami Duffy
cduffy@murraystate.edu - Jessica Faust
jessica@casabythelakes.org - Renee Fister
kfister@murraystate.edu - Nikki Gaylord
jgaylord1@murraystate.edu - Kristie Guffey
kguffey@murraystate.edu - Katy Hancock
kkhancock11@murraystate.edu - Abigail Hensley
ahensley2@murraystate.edu - Heath Keller
rkeller@murraystate.edu - Matt Kelly
mkelly@murraystate.edu - Dan Lavit
dlavit@murraystate.edu - Carlin Morgan
cmorgan32@murraystate.edu - Shea Porr
cporr@murraystate.edu - Shawn Reynolds
sreynolds@themurraybank.com - Ruben Ricardo
rricardomonth@murraystate.edu - Don Robertson
drobertson@murraystate.edu - Jamie Rogers
jrogers27@murraystate.edu - Lori Roe
lroe1@murraystate.edu - Heather Roy
hroy@murraystate.edu - Drew Seib
jseib@murraystate.edu - Shawn Smee
ssmee@murraystate.edu - Dana Thompson
dthompson29@murraystate.edu - Shawn Touney
stouney@murraystate.edu - Chris Trzepacz
ctrzepacz@murraystate.edu - Paul Twigg
twigg@murraystate.edu - Cesar Villeda
cvilleda@murraystate.edu - David Wilson
jwilson@murraystate.edu - Guangming Zou
gzou@murraystate.edu
Administration
- Jill Hunt
thunt@murraystate.edu - Robert Miller
rmiller47@murraystate.edu - Ron Patterson
rpatterson10@murraystate.edu