There’s been a sudden change in leadership at Drury University.
The school announced on March 23 that the Drury University Board of Trustees has accepted the resignation of Dr. Timothy Cloyd, the school’s 18th president. A press release from the school said Cloyd has decided to step away from the job due to family health concerns. Cloyd had served the school since July 1, 2016.
John Beuerlein has accepted the position of interim president, effective immediately.
“The board and I are so grateful for all that Dr. Cloyd has accomplished during his nearly six years at Drury,” Rita Baron, chair of DU’s Board of Trustees, said in a press release. “Some of his successes include the creation of our Campus Master Plan, implementation of the Your Drury Fusion curriculum and most recently the completion of the new O’Reilly Enterprise Center. These achievements have helped to advance Drury and our mission of student success; for that, we thank Dr. Cloyd and wish him and his family all the best.”
Beuerlein’s connection to the school runs deep. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Drury in 1975. It was at Drury that Beuerlein met his future wife, Crystal Layne Tinlin. She, too, is a Drury alumnus.
A financial analyst and philanthropist, Beuerlein served as a Drury University trustee from 1991-2011, including four years serving on the investment committee and as Board Chair from 2006-2010. He was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Drury in 2013 and was inducted into DU’s Breech Hall of Fame in 2008.
In 2011, Beuerlein received the Distinguished Alumni Award and was elected an Emeritus trustee. Then, in 2016, he was elected one of three Life Trustees. Both Crystal and John received the Distinguished Spirit of Drury award in 2021.
“Fifty years ago, the education we received from Drury set us up for a lifetime of success,” Beuerlein said in a press release. “To be able to serve the university in this way and to be a daily part of this spirit of community, so passionate about student success, is the honor of a lifetime! It’s a special bonus to be able to spend more time in my hometown closer to many friends and family members — it’s the icing on the cake for me! My job is to prepare our university for its next president.”
Beuerlein was born in Rolla, Missouri, in 1953. His family moved to Springfield one year later. He attended St. Anges Cathedral School and graduated from Subiaco Academy — in Subiaco, Arkansas — in 1971. Beuerlein also holds a Master of Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis and earned his Chartered Financial Analyst designation from the University of Virginia in 1981.
In 1976, Beuerlein joined the financial services firm of Edward Jones. He spent the next 42 years of his career with the firm. In 1980, he was named a general partner at Edward Jones. He has served as a member of the Board of Governors of the St. Louis Society of Financial Analysts.
The Beuerleins reside in Clayton, Missouri. They have three children and four grandchildren.
“The board and I know that John is the right choice for this role,” Baron said. “We are confident that under his leadership, Drury will flourish and build momentum. As we head into the 150th anniversary of the institution, Drury remains a strong and stable place.”
