Dr. Mark Funkhouser, former Kansas City, Missouri Mayor and City Auditor, was appointed on July 7, 2011. The Governing Institute is a new initiative focused on state and local government performance, innovation, leadership and citizen engagement. Funkhouser served as Mayor from 2007 to 2011. Prior to being elected Mayor, Funkhouser was City Auditor of Kansas City for eighteen years.

Funkhouser received his BA from Thiel College, a Masters in Social Work from West Virginia University, a Masters in Business Administration from Tennessee State University and a Ph.D. in Public Administration and Sociology from the University of Missouri in Kansas City.