Nov. 10, 2026

Mizzou is a global hub for music composition and performance, where students are recognized for excellence with the Sinquefield Composition Prize and learn alongside Grammy– and other award-winning faculty. 

We are also proud to bring the best in music to our community. This evening, Mizzou’s University Concert Series and Lloyd B. Thomas Lecture & Performance Series welcome the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra back to Jesse Auditorium for a sold-out concert. It’s the latest chapter in our legacy of drawing some of the biggest names to Columbia. 

On Nov. 13, 1935, legendary pianist and composer Sergei Rachmaninoff came to campus for a performance at Brewer Field House, playing works by Beethoven, Brahms and Chopin, among others, as well as his own compositions. He received “enthusiastic acclamation” from the approximately 6,000 in attendance, as reported the next day in the Columbia Missourian.

Rachmaninoff’s influence can be found across Mizzou’s world-class music community. 

As part of the Odyssey Chamber Music Series, Mizzou Piano Professor Dr. Peter Miyamoto and Executive and Artistic Director Ayako Tsuruta organize extraordinary performances, including of Rachmaninoff. Dr. Miyamoto also has a faculty recital later this month.  

Alumnus Jinhong Yoo, MM ’26, a student of Dr. Miyamoto, won the 2025 Masters Orchestra International Concerto Competition in Brescia, Italy, by performing Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto. The concerto is widely considered one of the most difficult pieces in the piano repertoire. 

More than 90 years after Rachmaninoff’s visit to Mizzou, we continue to show our dedication to musical innovation and excellence. For more information, please visit the School of Music and the Mizzou New Music Initiative.

— Mun

Nov. 5, 2026

For more than 20 years, our campus has celebrated the remarkable creativity and talent of our music students through the annual Sinquefield Composition Prize. Last night, I attended a special dinner recognizing the 2027 winner, Nate Leslie, a senior majoring in music composition.

It was an honor to commend Nate, who has roots in rural Missouri and as a Tiger has performed on some of the biggest stages with Marching Mizzou, including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as well as trips to Ireland and London. It was also a privilege to be joined by Curator Jeanne Cairns Sinquefield, whose generosity and dedication make this honor possible and have established Mizzou’s global reputation for music composition and performance.

Many others from our community were in attendance, including Provost Matthew Martens, Vice Chancellor of Advancement Chris Smith and College of Arts and Science Dean Cooper Drury, as well as leaders and faculty from our world-class School of Music and the Mizzou New Music Initiative (MNMI).

As part of the prize, Nate will have an original composition recorded and performed by a Mizzou large ensemble. His new work will premiere at the President’s Mizzou Arts Showcase next spring at the historic Missouri Theatre.

We’re grateful for the leadership of Curator Sinquefield, Rex Sinquefield and the Sinquefield Foundation. Their support of the Mizzou New Music Initiative and our students has made our campus a global hub for music innovation. We’re proud to prepare a new generation of leaders who are moving their art form forward and achieving excellence.

— Mun

Nov. 3, 2026

This weekend, the Tigers take on the University of Texas Longhorns at home for a Top-20 matchup in Memorial Stadium. These teams have a long history of competition, including a trip 130 years ago that has the dual distinction of being 1) the first college football game played in Mexico and 2) a precursor to the modern bowl game. 

After finishing the official 1896 season in Texas, including a 10-0 win over the Longhorns, Mizzou and UT agreed to a series of games in Monterrey and Mexico City as part of a cross-border journey stretching from December 23 through New Year’s Day. The Tigers reportedly received a personal invite from Mexico’s then-president, but not the permission of university administration back in Columbia, Missouri, leading some to call them the “runaway” team. I would have provided permission and probably would have joined the team.

Mizzou came out on top in the series, counting two wins that secured the team’s legendary status. Among the earliest events of its kind, a 1979 issue of the Sporting News called the series “the first post-season, holiday-week, neutral-site football games.”

We look forward to adding another historic win against Texas this weekend. To learn more about the Mexico series, check a recent article from ESPN.

— Mun

Oct. 29, 2026

More than 400 Tigers, from undergraduates to faculty, came together during Mizzou’s recent Week of Writing to support each other and achieve their writing and research goals.

The Week of Writing reflects our deep commitment to the success of our community, including our students. Across campus, that dedication drives our remarkable 77% graduation rate, 90% retention rate and 95% positive career outcome rate.

Mizzou has a proud legacy of comprehensive student support. Earlier this month, we marked the 50^thanniversary of the Writing Center, the Learning Center and TRiO Student Support Services, all housed in the Student Success Center on Lowry Mall. For five decades, these programs have made a proven impact.

We continue to build resources that support all Tigers. The Learning Center and Writing Center are now under the Office of Academic Support, offering a centralized hub for academic excellence. The recently launched Student Tutor Alumni Network (STAN) connects current students, including tutors in the Learning Center, Writing Center and TRiO participants, with fellow alumni across the globe. STAN expands both professional networks and creates even more opportunities for Tigers after graduation.

We are proud to invest in student success and prepare Tigers who are ready to thrive at Mizzou and beyond.

— Mun

Oct. 27, 2026

As we prepare to celebrate Veterans Day and the 100th anniversary of Memorial Student Union Tower, we’re proud to highlight Mizzou’s renowned Military Science program and its legacy of service to our country. 

The program’s founding connects to Mizzou’s earliest days as a land-grant university. The Morrill Act of 1862 established the land-grant system and required military science education, among other fields of study. In response, Mizzou established the Missouri Military School in 1868 and became one of the first universities in the nation to adopt the act. 

Mizzou’s Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program began after the passage of the National Defense Act in 1916 and has often been recognized as one of the strongest of its kind in the nation with a proven record of preparing future leaders. After World War II, Air Force and Navy programs were also established in other departments on campus. All proudly serve today, and students can commission into five different branches of the Armed Forces, including the Marine Corps and the recent addition of the Space Force.

A pivotal early figure in Mizzou’s military legacy is Lt. Enoch H. Crowder who was appointed head of the military department in 1885. His visionary leadership still impacts our university, including through a cadet band he established that later became Marching Mizzou. After Mizzou, he continued his distinguished military career, retiring as a major general. Named in his honor, Crowder Hall was built in 1938 and serves as the home of Mizzou’s ROTC community. 

Mizzou honors the generations of Tigers who have answered the call to serve. To learn more about Mizzou’s proud military history, please visit: 

• Army ROTC

• Navy ROTC

• Air Force ROTC

— Mun

Oct. 22, 2026

This week we hosted a celebration for the fifth anniversary of the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building. Led by Vice Chancellor for Research Tom Spencer and Dr. Richard Barohn, the event showcased the facility’s incredible impact on our university and those we serve.

Since opening in October 2021, NextGen has driven a remarkable growth in research breakthroughs. The building now houses more than 530 occupants, including more than 50 research groups pioneering innovations in key areas including neuroscience and aging, cancer and immunology, AI and data science, reproductive health and biology, advanced imaging, biomaterials engineering and cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. In total, our researchers have submitted 814 grant proposals totaling nearly $1.5 billion in value. They’ve also helped secure 415 research awards, amounting to nearly $290 million so far and totaling $466 million over the next few years.

NextGen’s world-class resources have also created new opportunities to save and improve lives. A great example is the Clinical & Translational Science Unit (CTSU), which is already supporting historic discoveries. Thanks to the CTSU, Mizzou is the first clinical research site worldwide to administer a novel new therapy for ALS patients. In total, we’ve seen a 125% increase in active clinical studies over five years.

The breadth and importance of NextGen research is making a difference in Missouri, across the nation and around the world. I want to recognize Dr. W. David Arnold, NextGen Precision Health initiative executive director, Dr. R. Scott Rector, Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building director, and the entire NextGen team. Their commitment to collaboration and research excellence makes our momentum possible.

— Mun

Oct. 20, 2026

This week, distinguished Mizzou alum Dr. Michael Jones, BA ’86, MD ’97, will be recognized at the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Night for a Cure with the prestigious Uniting to Care & Cure Award. This honor reflects his proven excellence in research and patient care. 

A native of Kansas City, Mo., Dr. Jones comes from a family dedicated to health care. His father was a urologist, and his mother was a nurse. He followed his parents’ example of service and care for patients. He met his wife, Lillian Mitchell-Jones, BA ’86, at Mizzou while both were undergraduates in biological sciences. Their three sons, Christian Jones, BA ’13; Andrew Jones, BS ’21; and Benjamin Jones, BS ’21, followed in their footsteps as Tigers, with Andrew and Benjamin continuing the family tradition as third-generation physicians. 

Now based in the Cincinnati area, Dr. Jones is the vice president and director of clinical research at Tri-State Gastroenterology Associates. As a distinguished clinician, he saves and improves lives and has served as principal investigator in over 55 clinical trials. Dr. Jones attributes his four years in the School of Medicine to gaining valuable insight and leadership skills through his involvement in pre-medicine clubs. 

His leadership extends beyond the U.S., through a profound commitment to service. He and Lillian sponsor four students in Kenya, covering their tuition, food and supplies. Several mission trips have allowed them to see their generosity in action, advancing the students’ educational opportunities and future success. 

Dr. Jones remains deeply connected to Mizzou. He’s served on the Jefferson Club Board of Trustees, as a cabinet member on the successful Our Time to Lead campaign and on the NextGen Precision Medicine Advisory Board. He and Lillian also support the next generation of physicians through the School of Medicine’s Pathways to Success Program, as well as the PBL-25 Scholarship Fund. 

We are proud to count Dr. Jones among our 376,000+ global alumni and to celebrate his contributions to the School of Medicine’s more than 150-year tradition of excellence. 

— Mun

Oct. 16, 2026

Yesterday, we were honored to host the Truman Symposium, commemorating the past, present and future of the U.S. and Republic of Korea’s enduring relationship. I was excited to deliver the keynote address to discuss Mizzou’s consortium partnership with KAERI, Hyundai and MPR Associates to advance nuclear innovation through NextGen MURR, as well as share my own journey from Korea to the U.S. 

Distinguished guests included Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of President Truman, Merrill Eisenhower, great-grandson of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Amanda Williams, director of the MacArthur Memorial, who served as discussant on the symposium panel, “The Legacy of President Truman and the Future of the U.S.-ROK Alliance.” 

Thank you also to the esteemed Korean delegates, industry leaders and sponsors for the event, including Admiral (Ret.) Yoon Hee Choi, president of The Sea Power League of the Republic of Korea and former Chairman of the Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff; Rear Admiral (Ret.) ByungOk Moon, Secretary General of the Sea Power League of the Republic of Korea; Mr. Hwan-Ku Lee, President & CEO, Heung-A Shipping Co., Ltd.; and Sung-Wook Nam, professor emeritus, for the department of Unification and Diplomacy at Korea University. 

During the symposium, Korean War Veteran Mr. Mitchell Bennett, U.S. Navy (Ret.), was recognized for his courageous service and unwavering dedication to protecting our country.  

As we reflect on the legacy of President Truman and the leaders who helped strengthen the U.S.-ROK alliance, we look ahead to new opportunities for collaboration. With these vital partnerships, Mizzou creates meaningful experiences for students and faculty, strengthens ties between nations and advances innovative, life-saving discoveries that positively impact the U.S. and the world. 

— Mun 

Oct. 13, 2026

Mizzou is recognized as one of the best foremost centers for swine genomics. Our facilities develop animal models to find solutions for the world’s toughest diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and cystic fibrosis. In addition, our experts pioneer animal models for organ transplantation in humans, contributing to a rapidly growing field with the potential to save thousands of lives. Mizzou researchers helped create animal models for the “knockout” process that made many of today’s advances possible. For researchers across the country, we continue to supply needed models, making Mizzou a destination for scientists at the forefront of progress in human and animal health. 

One of these pioneers is Dr. Xiu-Feng Henry Wan, a Curators’ Distinguished Professor, who was recruited from Mississippi State University. Dr. Wan just received a $19 million NIH grant to investigate influenza and develop novel vaccines. This brings his total research award to over $60 million.

To continue this momentum of breakthroughs in swine research, we recently opened three new swine facility expansions with investments from the State of Missouri and the NIH. Each facility continues to strengthen Mizzou’s role as one of America’s leading research universities. 

To learn more about:

• NextGen Center for Influenza and Emerging Infectious Diseases, click here  

• National Swine Resource and Research Center, click here 

— Mun

Oct. 12, 2026

Last week, I was thrilled to attend a special event celebrating the completion of renovations to our Audrey J. Walton Track/Soccer Stadium. We were joined by coaches, student-athletes and supporters, including Mrs. Walton, whose incredible generosity made this remarkable facility possible.

Mrs. Walton’s 2024 gift allowed us to make important updates to the stadium that bears her name, including a resurfaced field and surrounding track. It’s also the latest commitment from Mrs. Walton to advance opportunities for Mizzou’s track & field and women’s soccer teams.

Her commitment to this project spans nearly 30 years of leadership and support. The stadium was first built following a significant gift from Mrs. Walton in 1996. Further enhancements were undertaken in 2006, thanks to her continued generosity. Together, these investments in our student-athletes have cemented Walton Stadium’s status as one of the premier facilities of its kind in the SEC.

We are so grateful for Mrs. Walton’s dedication, which has created a legacy of competitive excellence that continues to impact Tigers and our entire community. Now, our talented student-athletes can compete at the top of their game, and we look forward to elevating our programs to the next level of success.

— Mun