Oct. 20, 2025
After more than 30 years of service to the University of Missouri, including more than a decade as director of the Master of Health Administration program and as a tenured full professor in the Department of Health Sciences, Sue Boren is preparing to step into a new rhythm of life.
Boren, who joined Mizzou in 1991 as a graduate student and later became a faculty member in the Department of Health Sciences, plans to retire in August 2026. As part of this transition, Boren will step down as MHA program director at the end of the current academic year.
“It has been one of the greatest privileges of my career to serve as Master of Health Administration program director since 2014 and to work with such talented and dedicated students,” Boren said. “I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together and of the many ways our graduates are making an impact in health care.”
Originally from Northville, Michigan, Boren came to Mizzou for her MHA after earning a psychology degree from the University of Michigan. She joined the faculty in 2005, after a long tenure as a research specialist and clinical instructor. She has taught hundreds of students and mentored numerous leaders in health care.
Under Boren’s leadership, the MHA program has deepened its focus on informatics, project management and data-driven decision-making. Students now earn a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification and can pursue graduate coursework in project management, initiatives Boren helped launch to better align the curriculum with the evolving needs of the health care field.
“Our strength has always been our connection to informatics and data analytics,” Boren said. “These skills prepare students to lead in an increasingly digital health care environment.”
Boren has been nationally recognized for her leadership and scholarship. She was elected a Fellow of the American College of Medical Informatics in 2022 and received the 2024 Quint Studer Gratitude Prize for Teaching Excellence from the Association of University Programs in Health Administration. Her research has been cited more than 12,000 times, with nearly 100 publications on a variety of health care topics.
During her time as program director, Boren worked to strengthen alumni engagement, expand industry partnerships and champion the integration of artificial intelligence and data science concepts throughout the MHA curriculum. Although she’s made a tremendous difference at Mizzou, her influence extends far beyond campus.
Christy Harris Lemak, a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a 1988 MHA/MBA alumna of Mizzou, said Boren’s forward-thinking approach bridged the gap between health care management and informatics, creating new opportunities for collaboration and innovation.
“What really set Dr. Boren apart from others in our field was her ability to see across historically disparate areas and make important connections to truly bring about synergy where it was needed most,” Lemak said. “Her work with AUPHA, CAHME and CAHIIM encouraged others to see the importance of integrating these disciplines in what we teach and how we prepare future leaders. Dr. Boren is respected by her students, her peers at Mizzou, alumni like me and so many across our industry.”
As Boren looks toward retirement, she plans to spend more time with her family, travel and focus on personal projects she’s set aside during her career. She also hopes to stay connected to the field through mentorship, writing and service opportunities.
“I’ll always remain passionate about health care leadership, informatics and education,” Boren said. “I look forward to continuing to support our students during this next chapter and celebrating their successes long after I retire.”
