Mun Y. Choi, PhD serves as president of the University of Missouri — a dual role as chancellor of the University of Missouri and president of the four campus University of Missouri System.
Before serving as the president of the University of Missouri, Dr. Choi’s 25-year career in higher education included serving as assistant and associate professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago (1994-2000), department head of mechanical engineering and mechanics at Drexel University (2000-2008), then dean of engineering at the University of Connecticut (UConn) (2008-2012). Later, he took on the role of provost and executive vice president at UConn (2012-2017).
Mun Y. Choi serves as the 24th president of the University of Missouri — a dual role as chancellor of the University of Missouri and president of the University of Missouri System. In this role, he oversees the academic, business and financial aspects of the four universities, as well as a health care system and statewide extension program.
In partnership with the University of Missouri Board of Curators and university leadership, President Choi introduced a new collective vision systemwide shortly after he arrived in Columbia: to advance the opportunities for success and well-being in Missouri, the nation and the world through transformative teaching, research, innovation, engagement and inclusion.
University of Missouri Chancellor
At MU, Choi has led efforts to strategically grow MU’s stature as a leading research university. In 2021, he launched MizzouForward, a $1.5 billion, 10-year investment in faculty excellence, student success and modern infrastructure. This initiative focuses on investments in three key pillars: NextGen Precision Health; New Frontiers in Science, Engineering and Technologies; and Innovations in Social Science, Humanities and the Arts.
Choi’s MU leadership team, working closely with faculty, staff and committed stakeholders have set Mizzou on a record-breaking path with:
- $432 million in research (NSF HERD) expenditures in fiscal year 2022
- Best ever six-year graduation rates for all students (75%), Hispanic (66%), Black/African-American (65%) and Pell (63%).
- 95% of graduates obtaining successful career outcomes or continuing their education within six months of earning their degree
- #1 US News & World Report Best Value among public national universities in neighboring states and SEC flagships
Professional and academic background
Choi came to Missouri in 2017 after nine years at the University of Connecticut where he served as provost and executive vice president (2012-2017) and earlier as dean of engineering (2008-2012). His 28-year career in higher education also includes serving eight years as a department head of engineering at Drexel University and six years as an assistant and associate professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in General Engineering from the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University.
Personal history
His parents brought their family to the United States from South Korea when Choi was nine years old and grew up in Akron, Ohio and Chicago, Illinois. Choi is married to Suzanne Choi and together they have three children.