Rhonda Bishop is the Co-Director of the Center for Rural Education in the College of Education at Missouri State University. With nearly three decades of experience as a public-school educator in rural settings, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her role.
Rhonda held various positions in rural schools, including teacher, special education and curriculum director, and school administrator. After retiring from public education in 2015, she transitioned to higher education, teaching part-time before becoming a full-time clinical faculty member in 2018.
Dedicated to supporting future educators, Rhonda teaches both in-person and online courses, emphasizing student connection and relationship building. She is actively involved in recruiting high school students into the teaching profession and networking with alumni. She has been recognized as a Distinguished Clinician in Teacher Education by the Association of Teacher Educators.
A proud graduate of a small rural Missouri high school, Rhonda was the first in her family to attend college. She earned multiple degrees from Missouri State University and a doctorate in Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri. It is a privilege for her to work at her alma mater, where she fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming an educator.