Stewarding a Founder’s Final Monument
June 30, 2026
As we prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July and our nation’s 250th anniversary, we also recognize a special Mizzou connection to a Founding Father right in the heart of campus.
In 1883, Thomas Jefferson’s tombstone and plaque at Monticello had begun to deteriorate. The federal government previously approved funding for a new monument, and Jefferson’s heirs personally selected the University of Missouri to receive the original grave marker, in recognition of Mizzou’s role as the first public university in territory acquired through Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase.
The Columbia Herald-Statesman reported an initial reveal scheduled for July 4, 1884 – a date corresponding to Jefferson’s death in 1826 – but a formal unveiling near Academic Hall was delayed until commencement in June 1885. After various moves around campus over the decades, and a trip to St. Louis for the 1904 World’s Fair, the monument was permanently relocated on July 4, 1976 to its current place along Francis Quadrangle, in time for the nation’s bicentennial.
Jefferson’s commitment to public higher education has shaped Mizzou from its earliest foundations. The 1839 Geyer Act established the University of Missouri and was inspired by legislation Jefferson crafted to develop the University of Virginia. James Rollins, often called the Father of the University of Missouri, also expressed admiration for Jefferson and his many contributions to our nation. As president of the Board of Curators, Rollins personally wrote Jefferson’s heirs to share the university’s gratitude for their gift.
Last week, Chair of the Board of Curators Todd Graves and I were invited by the Monticello Association to discuss the importance of the Jefferson Gravestone to the University of Missouri.
Growing our presence and impact in Springfield
June 26, 2026
Throughout this week, Mizzou was proud to showcase our ongoing investments in the workforce, health and economy of Springfield, as well as all rural communities in southwest Missouri and beyond.
On Wednesday, we celebrated the ribbon cutting for our new Mizzou campus in Springfield, home of a recently expanded School of Medicine program that will host students for all four years of their medical education. The campus also serves as a hub to introduce medical students to incredible opportunities to work in rural communities, helping create a pipeline of physicians to address a critical need for our state.
Highlighting our strong local support and partnerships, we were joined by many community leaders, including Missouri Senators Sandy Crawford and Lincoln Hough, Missouri Representatives Bill Owen and Melanie Stinnett, Springfield Mayor Jeff Schrag, Greene County Commissioner John C. Russell, as well as representatives from the offices of Senator Josh Hawley, Congressman Bob Onder and Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins.
Also in attendance were our health care partners, including CoxHealth CEO & President Max Buetow and Mercy Springfield Communities President John Myers, along with Springfield Chamber President Matt Morrow and members of the University of Missouri Board of Curators, including Chair Todd Graves, Vice Chair Bob Blitz and Curators Emeriti Fred Hall and Sean McGinnis.
Following the Board of Curators meeting on Thursday, we gathered with alumni and supporters for the next stop of Power the Roar at Finley Farms and the Ozark Mill, a historic local landmark preserved by Bass Pro Shops Founder Johnny Morris.
Attendees heard directly from leaders about how we are advancing our land-grant mission and Power the Roar’s transformative impact across the state, including in Springfield. We were also joined by special guest Dr. David Barbe, a Mizzoumade® leader who served as a family medicine physician for more than 40 years in and around Mountain Grove, Missouri.
Greene County is home to nearly 500 Mizzou students and 4,000 alumni. With the support of community members and dedicated Tigers, we’re proud to expand our footprint in the Springfield region and make an even greater difference for those we serve.
— Mun
A fresh source for water innovations
June 23, 2026
As summer officially begins, Missourians and visitors from around the world are heading to our state’s abundant lakes, rivers and other bodies of water. Missouri’s water resources aren’t just enjoyable, they connect communities and support critical industries that power our state’s future.
At the University of Missouri, we’re proud to partner with state leaders, industry experts and world-class faculty to address the water challenges we face, while also supporting the workforce and economy of Missouri. New, groundbreaking Mizzou research highlights the depth of our impact.
• Johnny Morris Institute of Fisheries, Wetlands and Aquatic Systems Director Dr. Rick Relyea and colleagues just published a study exploring how wood frog populations can reveal the health of freshwater areas, including in Missouri, and help guide how we protect them.
• The Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk in the Missouri School of Journalism distributed 50 stories over the past year, reaching nearly 400 outlets (including MSN and Yahoo! News) covering the nation’s largest watershed.
• Missouri Water Center core research faculty Dr. Brandon Sansom recently received U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) funding for a collaboration with the Army Corps of Engineers, USGS and other partners to control invasive carp using an inventive barrier of bubbles.
Our water research is also supporting important national priorities. Missouri Water Center Co-Director Dr. Baolin Deng, scientist Dr. Pan Ni and other collaborators have secured nearly $3 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to recover critical rare earth minerals from mining wastewater.
Across campus, our community is advancing Missouri’s water resources for recreation, business and innovation – helping ensure our state remains a great place to live and work during the summer and throughout the year.
— Mun
Developing champions and shaping leaders in Chicago
June 18, 2026
I was thrilled to return to Chicago for the latest stop of our nationwide Power the Roar campaign. Less than a year after publicly launching this historic effort to support Mizzou’s future, we’ve already raised more than $940 million thanks to dedicated Tigers in Chicago and across the country.
Among our exceptional alumni in attendance was Bill Baker, a consulting partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) LLP who is widely regarded as one of the most important living structural engineers. His groundbreaking work enabled the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, to exceed the previous record by more than 1,000 feet. He was also the lead structural engineer for the award-winning 800 Fulton Market, where our Chicago event was held.
We were also joined by Jason Liu, whose father, Dr. Henry Liu, taught civil engineering at Mizzou for more than 20 years. Before his passing, Dr. Liu helped develop a new type of fly ash brick, a building brick made from a waste by-product of coal power plants. Jason’s wife, Patricia Carl, is a Mizzou alumna who has held HR leadership positions with H&R Block, Career Education Corporation and FTD Companies.
As part of the event program, around 80 alums heard from College of Arts & Science Dean Cooper Drury and Mizzou Chess Head Coach and Grandmaster Cristian Chirilă about the team’s historic season and how we continue to develop champions who are ready to excel in competition and in life.
It was great to be back in Chicago with so many fellow Tigers and to share our ambitious vision for Mizzou’s future.
— Mun
Mizzou School of Medicine expands in Springfield
June 16, 2026
Next week, we’ll celebrate a historic ribbon-cutting for the expanded Mizzou School of Medicine campus in Springfield. This new, university-owned facility builds on our decade-long commitment to providing world-class medical education in southwest Missouri. The program has also grown from the final two years of medical school to all four years, creating even more opportunities for Mizzou students and faculty to serve throughout the region.
Among those joining us for this milestone is Dr. Rachel Plate (MD ’19), a graduate from the second Springfield Clinical Campus class. Originally from the Kansas City area, Dr. Plate was so inspired by her time in Springfield that she returned with her husband and is now an emergency room physician at Mercy Hospital Springfield.
As a student, she saw firsthand the many ways Springfield serves as a hub for nearby rural communities. Her hands-on experiences and close faculty mentors made her time on campus important to her growth as a physician and to her eventual decision to practice locally. She continues to stay involved with Mizzou, including as a lecturer for current students completing medical school on the Springfield campus. Dr. Plate will be featured in a video during the ceremony that highlights the program’s ongoing impact.
The new campus location will double the number of medical students in the Springfield program, preparing even more Tigers to work in rural communities. We are excited to launch the next chapter of the Mizzou School of Medicine in Springfield and to train talented physicians like Dr. Plate who are dedicated to saving and improving lives across Missouri.
— Mun
Mizzou welcomes Coordinating Board for Higher Education to campus
June 11, 2026
This week, we were pleased to host Missouri’s Coordinating Board for Higher Education (CBHE) at Mizzou, along with leaders from across the state, including Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development (MDHEWD) senior staff and administrators from many Missouri 2- and 4-year institutions. The CBHE plays an important role guiding the Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development and helping move Missouri forward.
The first day included tours of MURR and Memorial Stadium to see progress on the North End Zone, as well as presentations from talented Mizzou graduate and doctoral students, who discussed their research and answered questions from the board related to higher education policy. The second day featured a panel of world-class MU researchers who shared their incredible breakthroughs in critical fields such as geospatial intelligence, artificial intelligence, medicine and regenerative agriculture. They also discussed how those discoveries directly impact our state’s economy, health and workforce needs.
I want to thank CBHE Chair Hollie Elliott, Vice-Chair Allen Brooks, Secretary Anne-Marie Clarke, all CBHE board members and MDHEWD Commissioner Dr. Bennett Boggs for their support of Missouri higher education.
— Mun
Success at soccer’s highest level
June 9, 2026
The World Cup is about to kick off in Kansas City and stadiums across North America. The tournament will feature top players from around the globe, including many who play professionally for London’s world-famous Chelsea Football Club. Helping lead that historic team is a Mizzou alumnus who holds one of the most influential positions in the sport.
Mizzou graduate Jason Gannon (BA ’05, JD ’08) is president of Chelsea. As the club’s top business executive, he oversees the business side of the team, which has an international following and competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English soccer. Jason joined Chelsea in 2023 and was named president the following year.
Jason is originally from De Soto, Missouri, and was a student-athlete, receiving a varsity letter on the Mizzou Football team. After graduating with his law degree, he began what has become a nearly twenty-year career in professional sports, including serving as managing director of SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park in Los Angeles.
You can find Tigers like Jason leading in so many industries, including the world’s most popular game. His story shows that with a Mizzou degree, our graduates can achieve anything.
— Mun
Clover Classic raises $80,000 for Missouri 4-H
June 4, 2026
On Tuesday, I was grateful to attend the 16th Annual Missouri 4-H Foundation’s Clover Classic Golf Tournament. The annual fundraiser benefits Missouri 4-H and their important work developing citizenship, leadership and life skills for the next generation.
This year’s tournament raised an incredible $80,000 thanks to the many generous participants, sponsors and donors. Since its inception, the tournament has raised more than $870,000 to support youth initiatives and hands-on programs, including many in agriculture. Founded in 1949, the Missouri 4-H Foundation helps maximize the reach and impact of Missouri 4-H, a part of MU Extension, throughout the state.
We’re also proud to host the tournament at the Gustin Golf Course, Mizzou’s championship, 18-hole course that showcases 127 acres of natural prairie. It was great to come together as a community to show support for Missouri 4-H’s mission.
Thank you to all this year’s participants and to the Missouri 4-H Foundation for making a difference for more than 62,000 4-H youth across Missouri.
— Mun
103 years and a lifetime of service
June 2, 2026
As we mark our 250th anniversary as a country, I’m proud to highlight Tigers who provide extraordinary examples of service and excellence. Few show that dedication more than Mr. Edward Matheny Jr. (BA ‘43), who will turn 103 next month.
Raised in Kansas City, Mr. Matheny was a history major at Mizzou and an active part of our campus community, including as a Sigma Chi fraternity brother, Phi Beta Kappa member, editor of the yearbook, the Savitar, and a forward on the Mizzou Basketball team. He and his teammates were looking ahead to a series of games out West when news broke about the attack on Pearl Harbor, changing the course of his life.
After graduation, Mr. Matheny went on to serve as an officer under two legendary World War II leaders: Admiral Chester Nimitz, commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet, and Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, commander of the 5th Fleet. Following his distinguished service, he attended Harvard Law School, eventually returning to Kansas City and becoming a managing partner at the law firm now known as Husch Blackwell.
Mr. Matheny remains a fixture of the Kansas City community and has served as a leader supporting a number of important causes and institutions, including Saint Luke’s Hospital. He still enjoys attending events at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library, gatherings at Husch Blackwell and, as a True Son, Tiger basketball games.
We’re thrilled to wish Mr. Matheny a happy upcoming birthday and to show our appreciation for all veterans and active-duty military members who continue Mizzou’s legacy of service.
— Mun
Mizzou welcomes more than 10,000 to campus for summer events
May 29, 2026
It’s the start of summer at Mizzou, and our campus remains a busy place. Throughout the coming weeks, we’ll house more than 10,000 participants from across Missouri and beyond for conferences, camps, internships and other important programs that support student success and workforce development.
Beginning this week, Missouri 4-H, an MU Extension program, will welcome youth and high school leaders to support the next generation of agricultural excellence. We’re proud to host the 4-H Teen Conference, the State Congress and State Council Training. These opportunities give students hands-on experience in the ag industry and help them give back to their communities and the entire state.
Today also marks the start of MURR’s Nuclear Science Career Academy (NSCA) internship. MURR developed this program to support career development for those interested in the nuclear industry. The second cohort of 28 NSCA interns will earn a deeper understanding of reactor operations, regulations and nuclear innovation at Mizzou.
Then at the beginning of June, Mizzou’s College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) will host more than 10 high school students for the four-day Advanced Veterinary Academy. Led by CVM faculty, this intensive program dives into the daily responsibilities of a veterinary student. This year marked the program’s highest-ever number of applicants.
These are just three examples of how Mizzou is continuing to advance our land-grant mission of teaching, research and service now and throughout the year. We’re proud to welcome everyone to Mizzou and to share our world-class campus with Missouri and the world.
— Mun