WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Brian Fogle, president and chief executive officer of Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO), will give the keynote address at Missouri State University-West Plains’ 2019 commencement ceremony.

The event begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 18, in the West Plains Civic Center arena.

“Brian Fogle is a true supporter of public education – at all levels,” Chancellor Shirley Lawler said. “He has championed many causes for both the K-12 districts and our higher education institutions.

“I have known Brian for many years, and I am constantly amazed at the countless hours he gives back to his community and to the state of Missouri,” she added.

“His work with the Community Foundation of the Ozarks benefits many of the communities in our region. We are very fortunate to have such a strong advocate working with us and for us in southern Missouri,” Lawler said.

Fogle has served as CFO president and CEO since 2010. Prior to joining CFO, he was in the banking industry for nearly 30 years.

In his role at CFO, Fogle oversees an organization with approximately $300 million in philanthropic assets and 49 community affiliates across southern Missouri. CFO is based in Springfield and has offices in West Plains and Cape Girardeau.

In fiscal year 2018, CFO took in $58 million in gifts and additions to funds, and granted out or distributed nearly $51 million.

Since its inception in 1973, Community Foundation of the Ozarks has granted or distributed nearly $400 million out to causes in the Ozarks.  

Fogle has been active in community organizations in Springfield and the state of Missouri for four decades.

He currently chairs the Good Community committee and the Healthy Living Alliance, and is on the board of the Every Child Promise, the Mercy Health Foundation, the Missouri Scholarship and Loan Foundation, and the Downtown Council of Champions.

He previously served on the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education, and was selected to serve on the inaugural Federal Reserve Board Community Advisory Council.  

Fogle was awarded the O Franklin Kenworthy Leadership Award in 1990, the National Community Leadership Award in 1993, and the Springfieldian Award in 2010.

He received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Drury University in December 2011, and in 2016 was named One of the 50 Missourians You Should Know by “Ingram’s” magazine.  

Fogle grew up in Aurora, Missouri, and received his bachelor’s degree and MBA from the University of Mississippi.

He is married to the former Renee Arnaud of Monett, and they have three children, Andrew, Betsy and Ellen.

For more information about commencement activities, contact the Missouri State-West Plains academic affairs office, 417-255-7272.