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Leah Bittner

“The SMSU RN to BSN Program does not have you take a set amount of credits each semester. This flexible scheduling was perfect for me as it allowed me to vary the amount of credits I took each semester. I would have struggled without that flexibility as I am a non-traditional student who is also a wife, mother of four, and worked full time while completing my degree. This program is designed to fit into your life, whether you want to be a full-time or part-time student.”

Leah Bittner, '22 Alum
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Allison Monson Named Interim Director of Athletics

Tag Icon Info Category: Athletics

Posted from Friday, May 30, 2025 through Friday, June 13, 2025

MARSHALL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State University Acting President Deb Kerkaert has announced that Associate Director of Athletics Allison Monson will be the next Interim Director of Athletics at SMSU. 

SMSU hosted a farewell gathering on Thursday, May 29th, to honor former Athletic Director Jen Flowers and wish her well on her next journey. Flowers recently completed her third year at SMSU after being named to the position on May 11th, 2022. She started her duties at SMSU on July 1st, 2022.

“I am deeply appreciative to SMSU for an incredible three years,” Flowers said. “Working alongside our talented coaches and staff, supporting fantastic student-athletes, and being part of a campus community that does things the right way has been both professionally and personally rewarding. We made tremendous strides during my time as a Mustang, and I am confident the future is bright. Marshall is a special place, and my family and I are thankful to have been a part of it.”

Flowers’ vision for SMSU student-athletes' academic and athletic success has been pronounced during her tenure and, along with her passion for achieving that plan, has made a major impact within the SMSU campus and the Marshall community. SMSU student-athletes set a department record cumulative GPA of 3.31 during the 2024 Fall semester. This past academic year, the SMSU men’s basketball team won a share of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular season title, while the SMSU volleyball, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball teams all advanced to the NCAA tournament. The wheelchair basketball team placed third in the national tournament.

Flowers earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education, with an emphasis in middle school mathematics, from WSU in 2003 and was also a four-year letter winner on the WSU volleyball team. Flowers worked at WSU as the associate athletic director and senior woman administrator from 2012-15. She also had a stint at WSU from 2006-09, overseeing internal aspects of the department, including compliance and budget coordination, along with athletic department scheduling. 

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