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Allen Kunkel, associate vice president for economic development at Missouri State University, will retire in June 2025 after 19 years of service. He played a pivotal role in expanding the Jordan Valley Innovation Center into a key hub for applied research and technology commercialization, and contributed to the development of the IDEA Commons innovation park and the efactory entrepreneurship center. Kunkel remains optimistic about the future success of these initiatives, citing the capable staff in place.