This week, I was pleased to attend a reception at the Chancellor’s Residence celebrating the 20th anniversary of Flagship Council. More than 100 guests – including current and former members, as well as MU administrators and local legislators – gathered to recognize the group’s remarkable two decades of advocacy for Mizzou’s land-grant mission.

Flagship Council is a private organization founded in 2005 to communicate the value of Mizzou to state leaders and to help the university achieve excellence. Through their outreach, Flagship Council members have helped realize transformative initiatives, including the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center and the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building, along with supporting growth at MURR and the development of NextGen MURR.

Their advocacy recently contributed to another record year of state support, including key investments in NextGen MURR and Extension.

The reception brought together many phenomenal Mizzou supporters, including Richard Mendenhall, the first chair of Flagship Council, along with current chair-elect Jason Andrews.

Flagship Council members are important champions of teaching, research and meaningful engagement on Mizzou’s campus and beyond. I’m grateful for their commitment to the Tiger community.

— Mun