Over the past two weeks, I sat down with our state legislators and other constituents in conversations about our university. I emphasized the impact that we provide for Missouri through our missions of education, research and engagement. It was clear to me during those conversations that our legislators recognize the value of Mizzou, and that our communities are behind us. They’ve seen our faculty, staff and students rise to meet the challenges we face, to protect and enhance our communities, and to pursue excellence at every turn.

These days, I don’t get the chance to celebrate this excellence enough. That’s why I felt so fortunate last Friday when Provost Ramchand and I had the opportunity to recognize the extraordinary recipients of our 2020 Faculty Recognition Awards at a virtual ceremony. The work our faculty are doing benefits the community, the country and society with seminal contributions across the arts, humanities and STEM fields. This comprehensive focus on our mission sees us through to be a stronger university, and it provides a robust framework for the work of our staff and students.

— Mun