Boone County Extension dinner creates connections

Sep. 3, 2025

Last week, I enjoyed attending the 65th Town and Country Dinner hosted by MU Extension in Boone County at the Jeff Branch Farm in Ashland. This annual tradition brought together around 170 attendees, ranging from families and local leaders to state legislators and Extension representatives.

Founded as a way for rural residents to thank businesses that support the county fair, the dinner has evolved into an important opportunity to connect urban residents with Boone County’s agricultural heritage – which remains one of the county’s largest industries. This year’s guests included MU deans, Extension administrators, Boone County Presiding Commissioner Kip Kendrick, Boone County District II Commissioner Janet Thompson, state Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, state Rep. John Martin, state Sen. Stephen Webber and staff from Congressman Bob Onder’s office.

It was a memorable evening that celebrated the transformative work of Extension, Missouri 4-H and the many volunteers who make a difference across the county and around the state. I appreciated the chance to recognize MU Extension’s impact and to celebrate the strong connections it continues to build throughout our community.

— Mun

Mizzou initiative partners with elected leaders to serve Missouri

Aug. 27, 2025

Last week, we were pleased to welcome Missouri General Assembly members for the first Missouri Legislative Leadership Academy. State representatives and senators gathered on campus for a day of interactive sessions on key issues impacting all Missourians, including agriculture, health care and public policy.

The academy was developed in collaboration with Missouri House and Senate leadership from both parties. They nominated rising caucus members to attend and suggested program topics critical to Missouri’s future. The event was hosted in partnership with the MU College of Arts and Science, the Truman School of Government and Public Affairs and MU Extension.

The day included tours of campus – including the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building – and presentations from Mizzou faculty highlighting the many important ways our university gives back and how we can work with elected officials to make an impact.

Mizzou delivers an incredible $5 billion in value to the state and has a presence in each of our 114 counties and the city of St. Louis. We are proud to collaborate alongside legislators to ensure Missourians across the state benefit from our teaching, research and engagement, including access to state-of-the-art medical treatment, support for small businesses, information for crop and land management and opportunities for leadership development.

I enjoyed hearing firsthand how we can continue to be a trusted partner that delivers our land-grant mission of service for all Missourians.

— Mun

Mizzou Football is almost here – let’s Stripe the State black and gold!

Aug. 26, 2025

Thursday marks our sold-out “Kickoff in CoMo” home opener against Central Arkansas. I’m thrilled to welcome Tiger fans back to Memorial Stadium and to cheer on Coach Drinkwitz and our incredible student-athletes.

Throughout the season, we’re encouraging Tiger fans to Stripe the State and wear black and gold every Friday to show their Mizzou pride. This Friday, August 29, is also College Colors Day – a perfect chance to celebrate the start of the season and to let everyone know you’re a True Tiger.

Other important updates for Mizzou fans:

• Parking opens at 2 p.m. for this Thursday’s home opener. For all other home games, parking lots will open at 7 a.m. on game day.
• To help prepare for the increased traffic on Thursday, employees who have supervisor approval are encouraged to work from home starting at noon. In-person classes should continue as planned.
• Beginning this season, Mizzou students and fans will no longer rush the field. It’s costly and risks the safety of fellow Tigers. We expect to win each game that we play, so let’s celebrate responsibly.
• We’re making great progress and remain on-track for completion of the Memorial Stadium Centennial Project in time for the 2026 season. Thank you for your ongoing support of that transformational initiative.

Three other home games are also sold out, so act fast to get your tickets! I can’t wait to see you at Memorial Stadium for another historic season. M-I-Z!

— Mun

Welcoming our world-class faculty to Mizzou

Aug. 19, 2025

This week, we’re welcoming more than 100 new faculty members to the Mizzou community. To begin their three-day orientation, I was pleased to host cohort members for a reception at the Residence on Francis Quadrangle.

During orientation, new faculty receive an introduction to university traditions, along with important resources through the Provost’s Office to help them achieve success in teaching, research and engagement. There are also opportunities to hear from Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe and Mizzou Provost Matthew Martens – along with time to meet deans and new colleagues.

This is a historic moment to join Mizzou. We recently received our 10-year accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission and continue to achieve record highs in research and student success. We’re also preparing to launch a transformative new campaign to invest in Mizzou’s future – including the success of our faculty.

New faculty are joining us from some of the world’s top universities, and they are drawn to Mizzou’s bold commitment to innovation and reputation for excellence. I enjoyed meeting with faculty and am excited to begin the new semester next week.

— Mun

Inspiring STEM success through robotics

Aug. 14, 2025

I recently joined local leaders – along with some very talented Columbia students – to celebrate a new youth robotics space for the Columbia Educational Robotics Foundation (CERF). I was thrilled to join Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Klein and many others to dedicate this impressive facility.

CERF’s Board of Directors is chaired by Mizzou Professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Kevin Gillis, who works alongside fellow mentors to inspire interest in STEM education. CERF also organizes Columbia’s Army Ants robotics competition team. The Army Ants are part of the global FIRST Robotics program and recently finished a great competition season in the top 5% of all teams worldwide!

Mizzou’s commitment to CERF and Army Ants has taken many forms. Until this new facility, the Army Ants worked out of Mizzou’s Agricultural Engineering building for nearly a decade. The College of Engineering partners with Army Ants on STEM summer camps serving more than 100 campers and offers scholarships to FIRST Robotics students. Army Ants are also affiliated with Missouri 4-H, an MU Extension program.

The new lab and community space features leading-edge equipment and enhanced tools to help students learn more about robotics and explore their interests. It’s also an investment in the next generation (including many future Mizzou students) who will one day solve the significant challenges facing our world — in science, health, public policy and beyond.

The University of Missouri President’s Office, College of Engineering, College of Arts and Science and CAFNR were all proud to contribute toward this important facility. We joined more than 15 local and national sponsors, including Columbia Public Schools, Moberly Area Community College, Boeing and the National Science Foundation.

Robotics is a powerful vehicle through which students learn collaboration, resilience and all the life lessons we want them to carry forward. We’re proud to help prepare them for success in high-demand STEM fields that are critical to our state and nation.

— Mun

Help us launch a new era of Mizzou excellence!

Aug. 12, 2025

It’s almost here! On September 5, the day before our sold-out rivalry game against kU, the University of Missouri is unveiling a transformative new campaign to secure our land-grant mission and impact Tigers for generations. This is a pivotal moment for Mizzou, and we need your help to make history.

Register your attendance at one of the many events revealing campaign themes and celebrating the proud 186-year legacy of Mizzou excellence – as well as our ambitious plans for the future.

Friday, September 5

Experience Mizzou – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Discover incredible opportunities across campus to see the best of Mizzou and watch campaign priorities come to life.

Keynote Presentations at the Missouri Theatre

• Engaging sessions at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. explore the impact and history of the university and how our community continues to lead the way through innovation and excellence.

Illuminate Mizzou: Celebration in the Sky – 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Carnahan Quadrangle

• The sky around Jesse Hall comes alive starting at 9 p.m. with a drone and fireworks show that brings our campaign story to light.

Our success starts with your support. View a full schedule of events and register your attendance at Mizzou.us/RoarTogether by September 3. Come show your Mizzou spirit and help us get ready to roar!

— Mun

Mizzou Day kicks off 2025 Missouri State Fair

Aug. 8, 2025

It was great to return to Sedalia for both the 2025 Missouri State Fair and our annual Mizzou Day! We joined Governor Mike Kehoe and First Lady Claudia Kehoe – along with many leaders and community members – for an opening ceremony that celebrated the Missouri State Fair as a “Great American Fair” and highlighted Mizzou’s land-grant mission of service across Missouri.

Mizzou is proud to once again host Mizzou Central, a one-stop-shop for fairgoers to experience Mizzou’s incredible resources and impact. Mizzou Central includes hands-on activities and community resources, including health screenings, cooking demonstrations with Missouri-grown ingredients and estate planning for family farms – along with Mizzou favorites like Truman the Tiger and Tiger Stripe Ice Cream. A large range of Mizzou programs and expertise are represented, from CAFNR and MU Extension to Mizzou Athletics and the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR).

Missouri 4-H, a program of Mizzou Extension, is also a key part of the State Fair experience. Through Missouri 4-H, we support the next generation of ag leaders with events showcasing their hard work, skill and dedication. Check the full schedule of Mizzou events at the State Fair for more events at the 4-H Building and Mizzou Central. The fair continues until August 17.

Mizzou works with leaders, producers and citizens across the state to deliver even more for Missouri’s workforce, economy and rural health care needs. We look forward to sharing the best of Missouri – and Mizzou – with everyone at the State Fair.

— Mun

Promoting Missouri agriculture in the Bootheel 

Aug. 6, 2025

I was pleased to be back in the Bootheel for the 64th Field Day at Mizzou’s T.E. “Jake” Fisher Delta Research, Extension and Education Center (FD-REEC). This annual event in Portageville, Mo. brings together state and federal leaders, producers and community members to celebrate the center’s incredible impact.

Fisher Delta continues to add state-of-the-art resources – including the Roy Blunt Soil Testing and Research Laboratory, a renovation to our cotton lab and a soybean molecular breeding lab – to strengthen agriculture in the Bootheel and beyond. Field Day is an incredible opportunity to highlight this ongoing growth, honor community accomplishments (including Century Farm families) and express our gratitude to supporters.

I want to thank all the leaders who joined us, including Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, U.S. Congressman Jason Smith, Mo. Senator Jason Bean, Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn and Missouri Farm Bureau President Garret Hawkins. Many university leaders were also in attendance, including Curators Lyda Krewson and John Raines. Curator Raines is from the Bootheel and shared his deep connection to the center’s mission and outreach.

Each year, Fisher Delta receives over 500 calls from local producers and provides personal, research-backed assistance with the agronomic issues they face. We’re proud to partner with local communities throughout Missouri to support our state’s ag workforce and economy.

— Mun

Missouri Nuclear Summit charts new era in energy innovation

July 18, 2025

Mizzou was proud to welcome leaders from across government and industry for the Missouri Nuclear Summit. Thanks to the support of Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe and Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Kurt Schaefer – Missouri was one of just seven states selected by the National Governors Association and the U.S. Department of Energy to host a state-level summit to support nuclear innovation.

I enjoyed greeting a large crowd at the Missouri Theatre, alongside Governor Kehoe, Director Schaefer and Chief of Staff for the U.S. Department of Energy Grid Deployment Office Joe Alexander. Key topics included the importance of growing energy production and its vital impact on economic development and national security. Throughout the day, world-class speakers, such as previous President’s Distinguished Lecturer Craig Piercy, shared the incredible opportunities for nuclear energy in our state, including the role of institutions like Mizzou to train the next generation of leaders in the field.

Mizzou has championed nuclear discovery and excellence for almost 60 years. Our reactor, known as MURR, is the most powerful university research reactor in the country and the sole supplier of four medical isotopes to treat thyroid, liver, pancreatic and prostate cancers. We’ve also announced a working group to support an even more powerful research reactor, NextGen MURR.

Nuclear science plays an important role in advancing both energy production and medical breakthroughs – and Mizzou is ready to lead the way. We’re grateful for our many partners across the state and nation who are ready to secure Missouri’s nuclear future for generations.

— Mun

Energizing the nation for NextGen MURR

July 2, 2025

Last week, I was thrilled to see this Boston Globe article covering Mizzou and the critical NextGen MURR Research Reactor initiative. The article highlighted the life-changing impact that the state-of-the-art reactor will have on nuclear medicine and cancer patients in Missouri, the country and around the globe by securing domestic supply of critical medical radioisotopes.  

During last week’s UM Board of Curators meeting, Chair Graves announced a NextGen MURR Working Group to provide guidance and collaboration for all phases of the new reactor. This working group will provide the expert vision and support we need to achieve our ambitious goals and deliver a world-class research reactor facility. 

I also want to thank Governor Kehoe and the Missouri legislature for their continued support for this project. The 20-megawatt reactor will bring numerous opportunities, including creating thousands of jobs with tremendous economic benefits for our state and region. 

Our university is flourishing, and its prestige is known throughout the world. With our commitment to dynamic research, outstanding education and advancing our land-grant mission, we continue making a difference and improving lives for all. 

— Mun