Fulton, MO – Three new faculty members joined William Woods University (WWU) as Fall semester classes began on campus this week.

WWU welcomed Leola Bailey ‘92, Professor of Accounting; Toni Kunst, Assistant Professor of Theatre, and Melissa Smith ‘95, Instructor of Equestrian Studies.

Bailey, who previously was a member of the faculty at WWU, returns to The Woods from Central Methodist University in Fayette, Mo., where she served as a Professor of Accounting from 2022-2025. Previous experience includes teaching both graduate and undergraduate business and accounting courses at Lincoln University (Jefferson City, Mo.) from 2018-2021, and teaching accounting and business courses at William Woods from 2005-2018. She also is the owner/accountant of Callaway Business Services in Fulton. Bailey received her Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from WWU in 1992, a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management from Webster University (St. Louis) in 2003 and her Juris Doctor from Taft University in Santa Ana, Calif. In 2009.

Kunst comes to William Woods from Northwest University in Evanston, Ill., where she taught courses in Performance Studies from 2023-2025. She also taught courses in Performance and Theatre at the School of Art Institute of Chicago from 2020-2022. She is a 2019 graduate of Western Carolina University (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Theatre Performance), the School of Art Institute of Chicago (Master of Fine Arts, Performance) in 2022 and Northwestern University (Master of Arts, Performance Studies) in 2023.

A 30-year veteran of the equestrian industry as a horse trainer and riding instructor, Smith is a 1995 graduate of William Woods (Bachelor’s in Equestrian Science). She joins WWU from Linden Hill Stables in Kearney, Mo., where she served as Horse Trainer and Riding Instructor from 2023 to 2025. Previous experience includes serving in the same role at EverGlades Farm, Inc. in Kansas City (2009-2023), and as Assistant Horse Trainer and Riding Instructor at DeLovely Farm, Inc. in Rockport, Ind. (2004-2009) and Biggins Stables in Simpsonville, Ky. (1995-2004).