Rita Horstman is the new early career faculty proposal developer for the office of the vice chancellor for research and innovation’s proposal development unit.

“We are very pleased to welcome Rita to S&T and our office,” says Dr. Kamal Khayat, interim vice chancellor for research and innovation. “The assistance she will provide to early career faculty members and to the proposal development unit more generally will be invaluable in moving us toward our campus-wide research goals.”

“Although the campus has changed since I was a student, the optimism and eager desire to learn and to serve the university’s mission is still apparent,” says Horstman. “I am very appreciative of the opportunity to join the proposal development team. I will work to the best of my ability to make a positive difference for the university.”

Prior to joining Missouri S&T, Horstman served in various public and civic roles and owned a consulting company writing grants, feasibility studies, and business and marketing plans. She holds a master’s degree in public affairs from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Columbia College. She majored in history the first two years of her undergraduate career at S&T. Horstman is a Missouri native who grew up on a Century Farm, where she resided most of her life. (A Century Farm is a designation by the University of Missouri Extension for farms or ranches in the state that have been in the same family for at least 100 years.)

As a proposal developer, Horstman provides proposal development support including detailed solicitation analysis, project management of the proposal process, narrative development guidance, and editing services. Early career faculty members can learn more about proposal development services or request Horstman’s assistance on the proposal development website by  filling out the early career faculty proposal development assistance request form.