Kathleen Fukasawa Morrissey is the Coordinator of Theater and Events at Missouri State University-West Plains and President of the West Plains Council on the Arts, positions she has held since 1998. Previously she was executive director of The Media Arts Center, Inc., a public access television facility.

Born in Nebraska, Kathleen was educated in California, where she received the Bachelor of Arts degree in Asian Studies from the University of California-Berkeley. Her focus on the interconnection between culture, media, and the arts began while working for the National Asian-American Telecommunications Association in San Francisco, CA, and at the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, CA.

Kathleen is a graduate of the Non-Profit Administrator Program at Southwest Missouri State University. In 1994, she was the visionary drive behind the creation of the Old Time Music Ozark Heritage Festival, which is now the signature event for West Plains. 

Ms. Morrissey is the recipient of numerous awards for her efforts in community betterment, including the 2000 West Plains Chamber of Commerce Chairman's Award, 2005 West Plains Citizen of the Year, and the 2006 Missouri State University’s Excellence in Community Service award.  She has been a panelist for the Missouri Arts Council's Media Arts Program, the Missouri Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program, and the Kentucky Arts Council's special programs.

updated12/07