Marie Carmichael

In the small town of Galena, Kansas, Marie Carmichael was raised by a father who immigrated from Lebanon and a mother whose parents had done the same.  

Through hard work in a thriving economy, her family came to own the Galena Meat Market, where she and her five siblings worked. Without access to formal education themselves, her parents were determined to ensure their children made the most of their education. 

In the early 1970s, Carmichael earned a Master of Arts in English and soon settled in Springfield, Missouri, where she has lived for over 50 years. She began her career as an educator before dedicating herself fully to community service.  

She served for 12 years on the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education (CBHE), including three years as chair. She worked to improve the transition from high school to college and served on statewide groups focused on teacher quality and curriculum. It was during her tenure on the CBHE that Senate Bill 340 was signed into law, granting Missouri State University a statewide mission in Public Affairs.  

In 2009, Carmichael was appointed to the Missouri Development Finance Board (MDFB) and became chair the following year – a position she still holds today. The MDFB supports projects that improve Missouri communities. Under her leadership, the board has helped bring over $6.5 billion in private investment to the state and supported more than 16,000 new jobs.  

She also runs Affordable Homes Development, Inc. with her husband, Joe Carmichael. Together, they have built more than 700 affordable housing units across Missouri. Her work has earned several awards, including the Kurt Wallace Vision Award and the HOME Team Award. 

She and Joe are the proud parents of two children, both physicians, and grandparents to Evan and AJ. Her family and prolific public service brings great pride and joy. Grounded in family and fueled by purpose, Carmichael remains committed to creating opportunities through education, housing and economic growth.