Cynthia Chasteen stepped into the role of Missouri Migrant Education Program (MEP) Director in July 2023. She previously served as the MELL Instructional Specialist for the Heart of MO RPDC for six years. Chasteen also teaches LTC 4460 for Mizzou’s College of Education and Human Development. She earned her PhD in Teaching & Learning Processes with an emphasis in TESOL from UMSL as well as an M.Ed. in Secondary Education/K-12 World Languages (Spanish) and TESOL and was an elementary Spanish teacher for eight years.

A Cambio Center fellow, Chasteen’s research interests include ELs in rural districts and mindfulness and yoga in the classroom. She is a certified yoga teacher for both children and adults (ERYT-200, RCYT & YACEP with Yoga Alliance) and Unplug Meditation-certified teacher. Chasteen is on the board of directors for Columbia’s Nora Stewart Early Learning Center.