WEST PLAINS, Mo.– Officials at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) today announced that Chancellor Zora Mulligan has been appointed as a founding member of the newly established President’s Committee for the National Junior College Athletic Association Esports (NJCAAE), the nation’s only esports association exclusively for two-year colleges.
This high-impact appointment places Chancellor Mulligan at the forefront of a national effort to shape the future of competitive collegiate gaming at the two-year level. The NJCAAE President’s Committee, launching in its inaugural year, has been years in the making and is poised to become a strategic advisory body for the national office.
“We’re excited for Chancellor Mulligan’s appointment to this new leadership role,” said Rachel Peterson, Director of Athletics at Missouri State University–West Plains. “Her forward-thinking vision and student-centered leadership will be a tremendous asset as the committee works to elevate the collegiate esports experience across the country.”
The President’s Committee is designed to provide strategic guidance on issues affecting the overall health and sustainability of the two-year collegiate esports ecosystem. Its objectives include:
- Aligning NJCAAE processes and offerings with institutional success strategies
- Strengthening communication between esports program leads and campus leadership
- Promoting regional development through collaboration and shared best practices
- Offering insight into professional development, educational content, and the operational demands of successful esports programs
- Committee members will convene at least once per quarter, with ongoing communication between meetings to support coordination and momentum. The committee will also advise on ways to showcase the broad campus benefits of esports programs—from boosting student engagement and retention to driving interdisciplinary opportunities.
“As a founding member of this committee, I’m honored to help elevate the national conversation around the role esports can play in engagement, retention, and academic integration at two-year institutions,” said Chancellor Mulligan. “This is about more than gaming. It’s about innovation, leadership, and building meaningful pathways for student success.”
The NJCAAE continues to be a national leader in competitive two-year college esports, and this new committee reinforces its commitment to inclusive, innovative, and member-driven governance.
For more information about Chancellor Mulligan’s appointment, please contact Rachel Peterson at RachelPeterson@MissouriState.edu or (417) 255-7990.
