Dr. Goltra settles in as Dean of Students
Robert Goltra was just a normal man before he pursued higher education. Goltra has now been in higher education administration for 15 years.
“So I’ve been in higher education for about 15 years,” Dr. Goltra said. “Started off as a dean of students at a community college and then worked my way up to vice president of student affairs at a university and assistant vice president dean of students here.”
Dr. Joshua Clary, the student development director, often has had to work with Dr. Goltra, gaining valuable knowledge on who Dr. Goltra is.
“Dr. Goltra is fantastic. He really impressed me the first day I met him. During his interview, he had a wealth of knowledge about higher education and student affairs, ” Dr. Joshua Clary said. “He also took the time to prepare and understand the highs, the lows and what makes MWSU.”
Dr. Goltra born and raised in Fort Scott where he attended Fort Scott High School and was known for civic engagement. Dr. Goltra was immensely involved in public acts of service in his time consisting of, but not limited to, cleaning up trash from parks, assisting in elderly homes and hospice.
Dr. Goltra recently came to MWSU as the new Dean of Students. Having been inspired by a teacher in third grade, Dr. Goltra has always wanted to be a Dean.
Dr. Goltra attended the University of Kansas and then transferred to Pittsburgh State where he graduated two years later.
“I’m probably one of the few people who went straight from the NFL playing field into a kindergarten classroom to teach.” Said Dr. Goltra.
Dr. Goltra describes his passion as ‘students’ and ‘civic engagement’. Dr. Goltra expressed how important it is for him to get to know the students, and encouraged students to approach him with their greatest dad joke.
When choosing a word to describe Dr. Goltra, Dr. Joshua Clary chose ‘Visionary’.
“He’s very energetic,” said Dr. Joshua Clary “He looks at things from the balcony essentially.”
Dr Goltra is available to be reached at rgoltra@missouriwestern.edu or deanofstudents@missouriwestern.edu. Students are also free to stop by the dean of students office at any time located in the upstairs of Blum Union.