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

Empowering the future with the Energy Innovation Center

June 26, 2025

Earlier today, the University of Missouri Board of Curators approved the Energy Innovation Center, a groundbreaking, interdisciplinary project to meet the growing energy needs of Missouri and our nation.

This dynamic, 116,000-square-foot facility is designed to advance critical breakthroughs in energy technology, production, storage, distribution and policy. Once completed in 2028, the Energy Innovation Center will help Mizzou’s world-class faculty create solutions that strengthen national security, prepare tomorrow’s workforce and drive transformative economic growth.

The Energy Innovation Center is also a historic partnership between the College of Engineering, College of Arts and Science and College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, with contributions from the School of Law, Trulaske College of Business and Missouri School of Journalism. The center will bring researchers together to make important new discoveries – while also leveraging our existing strengths in key areas, including nuclear energy, energy materials, AI and grid efficiency and security.

We are grateful to the Board of Curators, including Chair Todd Graves, for their visionary support of this important initiative. We’re thrilled to take the next step in powering a better future for all we serve.

— Mun

Sharing Mizzou’s lifesaving impact with our Denver community

June 20, 2025

The Denver area is home to more than 6,300 Tigers – making it one of the largest Mizzou alumni communities in the country. Earlier this week, I was pleased to join many accomplished Colorado alumni to celebrate all things Mizzou, including our transformative research that is saving and improving lives.

The program kicked off with a warm welcome from Rusty Martin, president of the Rocky Mountain Tigers Alumni Chapter and Jefferson Club Board of Trustees member. The keynote was a moving presentation from Dr. Paul de Figueiredo, NextGen Precision Health Endowed Professor of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, about his innovative cancer research.

Dr. de Figueiredo previously secured a $20 million grant to develop affordable, accessible treatments using an unlikely source – bacteria. He shared the story behind his work, including personal connections to both Colorado and Missouri, and how Mizzou’s investments in research excellence are shaping a new generation of medical breakthroughs.

At Mizzou, we are building healthier communities and finding new solutions to society’s most difficult challenges. It was great spending time with our supporters in Denver, and I look forward to returning soon!

— Mun

Building strong communities with DC alumni

June 11, 2025

As summer begins, we’re continuing our series of events that unite Mizzou supporters, faculty and students in cities across the country. These gatherings bring the best of our campus directly to alumni and provide hands-on demonstrations of our incredible impact. Last week, we stopped in Washington, D.C. for a memorable evening at The Hay-Adams, a remarkable location with expansive views of the White House and the Washington Monument.

We proudly highlighted how Mizzou strengthens communities through a commitment to civil discourse, intellectual pluralism and service. We heard firsthand from faculty and students representing university programs that are benefiting society, including the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, the Civic Leaders Internship Program and the Open Minds Initiative. Alumni had a chance to ask questions, share Mizzou’s impact on their lives and learn more about our ambitious plans for further excellence.

I also attended a unique event at Mount Vernon, the historic home of George Washington, with Kinder Institute advisory board members, supporters and the 32 students in our Kinder Scholars D.C. Summer Program. Activities included tours of the grounds and insightful remarks from Doug Bradburn, President & CEO of George Washington’s Mount Vernon. I also enjoyed a special presentation on Gettysburg by Jay Sexton, Rich and Nancy Kinder Chair of Constitutional Democracy and Director of the Kinder Institute, and Adam I. P. Smith, Edward Orsborn Professor of U.S. Politics & Political History and Director of the Rothermere American Institute at the University of Oxford.

Mizzou prepares students to get involved and make a difference, while also engaging civilly with those representing many viewpoints and perspectives. We were pleased to share our important work with leading Tigers in our nation’s capital.

— Mun

Reaccreditation reflects community support and impact

June 4, 2025

Last week, Provost Matthew Martens and I were proud to share that Mizzou received reaccreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). This honor reflects our sustained drive for excellence across academic programs. It also demonstrates our strong support for student success and our proven impact in Missouri and around the country.

Reaccreditation occurs every ten years and requires substantial engagement across campus. In February, we hosted HLC reviewers who met with 200 university stakeholders to better understand our mission and community. In total, nearly 700 students, faculty, administrators and staff contributed to the preparation process, including participation in a mock site visit in November.

HLC accreditation is essential to continuing our important work. Thank you to the Office of the Provost for their leadership and to all who advance our land-grant mission of excellence.

— Mun

Mizzou student-athletes complete a record-setting semester

May 28, 2025

This spring, our student-athletes set a new standard for excellence with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.402 – the highest spring GPA in Mizzou Athletics history! Our student-athletes have posted a cumulative GPA above 3.0 for an incredible 17 consecutive semesters. Eight programs also achieved individual record spring GPAs.

Tigers continue to excel in the classroom while also competing for championships, including impressive showings from our men’s and women’s track and field teams. At the Southeastern Conference Track and Field Championships, Kristi Perez-Snyman and Valentina Barrios were named to the All-SEC First Team and Second Team, respectively. Kristi became the first women’s team member in Tiger history to win gold in high jump, recording a leap of 1.90m (6-2.75) and setting a new school record.

Across both teams, nineteen track and field student-athletes progressed to this week’s NCAA Track and Field West Regional Championships. We look forward to cheering their continued success! 

Mizzou student-athletes are the pride of Missouri. We are pleased to celebrate their hard work and many accomplishments. 

— Mun