President Choi’s Blog
ROTC volunteers clean up Memorial Stadium
Sep. 20, 2022
After the win, after Marching Mizzou plays the Alma Mater and after the fans leave Faurot Field, a different team gets to work.
Members of the Mizzou Air Force, Army and Naval ROTC programs volunteer to clean Memorial Stadium after each home game. Following our win against the Abilene Christian Wildcats on Saturday, Kirsten Robinson, Kylie Quinn and Lucas Iffrig were helping out.
ROTC began in 1917 at Mizzou with an infantry regiment. For more than a century, these cadets and midshipmen have shown their dedication to service. Thousands have gone on to successful careers as commissioned officers.
I can’t thank them enough for their continuing commitment to our university and our country.
— Mun
X-raying the origins of life
Sep. 14, 2022
Two Mizzou professors are doing fascinating work to understand the origins of life – from a worm.
Jim Schiffbauer, associate professor, and Tara Selly, assistant research professor, are using the Zeiss micro-CT in the X-Ray Microanalysis Core facility to analyze the oldest known gut from a worm that lived more than 550 million years ago.
I visited their lab in the Department of Geological Sciences along with College of Arts & Science Dean Cooper Drury, Associate Dean for Research Tim Glass and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs John Middleton.
In addition to their research, Profs. Schiffbauer and Selly educate and train students ranging from high schoolers to postdoctoral fellows.
I’m so proud of them and their work, which is a strong example of MizzouForward, our $1.5 billion long-term investment strategy to expand and sustain research excellence at MU.
— Mun
Mizzou hosts Patriot Day memorial with city
Sep. 12, 2022
Yesterday, I had the honor of joining our university and city community alongside new Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe to remember the nearly 3,000 who died on Sept. 11, 2001.
Among those lost was Navy Capt. Jack Punches, a 1973 Mizzou graduate with a degree in civil engineering. Capt. Punches was commissioned from our Naval ROTC program and went on to a decorated career. After retiring from the Navy, he served as a senior civilian employee in the Pentagon, where he was killed in the attack.
Representatives from the City of Columbia, first responders, ROTC and military members as well as MU Health Care personnel attended our community memorial and wreath-laying ceremony in the Jesse Hall Rotunda.
Together, we honored Capt. Punches and all those lost while also recognizing the many who continue to serve.
— Mun
Accelerating graduate student excellence
Sep. 8, 2022
This semester there are nearly 5,800 graduate students at Mizzou, representing all 50 states and more than 60 countries.
To support new, returning and prospective students, the Graduate School is expanding resources, including year-round fellowship application assistance and advising opportunities before key award deadlines (such as the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship due in October). There are also events for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows pursuing a Fulbright and other external funding programs.
In addition, we’re creating more ways to applaud excellence and build a welcoming community.
At a recent reception, we celebrated graduate students who earned competitive MU and external fellowships. We also honored a select group known as “MU Graduate Students of Distinction” for receiving highly-prestigious external fellowships and awards.
Graduate students are a key part of our research enterprise. We’re investing in what they need to make an impact.
— Mun
Meeting our 2022-23 Tour Team
Sep. 7, 2022
For many future Tigers, Mizzou Tour Team is their first introduction to campus life. As students themselves, tour guides display the best of Mizzou while also modeling what it means to get involved. Last year, the Tour Team welcomed more than 27,000 people and ran approximately 750 tours!
In an all-day session for new and returning guides, we discussed their important role on campus and how to ensure everyone, no matter their background or where they come to Mizzou from, knows they belong.
If you’re considering Mizzou, reach out to Visitor Relations today and schedule a tour. Our students would love to show you around!
— Mun
Mizzou Soccer beats KU
Sep. 6, 2022
On Sunday, Mizzou Soccer beat KU by a score of 2-1. Congratulations to Head Coach Stefanie Golan and the Mizzou team for an outstanding performance.
It was great to see the crowd, including many student-athletes, come out to support the team at Audrey J. Walton Soccer Stadium. One of those fans was Jude Dierker, a Mizzou diver and junior industrial engineering major, who cheered on his fellow Tigers.
We plan to beat KU again on Dec. 10 when Men’s Basketball takes on the Jayhawks at Mizzou Arena.
— Mun
Black & Gold Fridays return
Sep. 1, 2022
Tiger Football is back! Later today, I hope to see everyone in Memorial Stadium as we take on the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs for our home opener.
Tomorrow also marks two annual traditions – Black & Gold Fridays and College Colors Day. Each Friday during the football season, we encourage the Mizzou community to wear our colors with pride. It’s the perfect time to get in the game!
We’re building a championship culture with high expectations for athletics – as well as research, student success and outreach. Wearing black and gold reminds us of our shared bond as Tigers, no matter where you live.
Help us celebrate Mizzou excellence on and off the field.
— Mun
Op-ed shares the new Mizzou
Aug. 30, 2022
Over the weekend, the Columbia Daily Tribune published our editorial to commemorate a renewed era of Mizzou excellence.
Since last year, there’s much to celebrate:
• Five years of research growth (to nearly $400 million)
• Record high spring graduation rate (75%)
• 25 world-class faculty hired as part of MizzouForward
• Highest level of state and federal support
We’re just scratching the surface of what students, faculty and staff can accomplish with our historic investments and high expectations. Check it out for yourself and see what I mean by the new Mizzou.
— Mun
Growing Missouri agriculture
Aug. 24, 2022
In the northwest corner of Missouri – near the border with Nebraska and Iowa – the Graves-Chapple Extension and Education Center is at the forefront of promoting local agriculture.
At the center’s 33rd annual field day this week, we broke ground on a long-awaited machine shed. The project was recently funded thanks to the Missouri General Assembly and their strong support for Missouri agriculture and MU Extension. Curator Todd Graves, elected officials, university leaders and community members joined the celebration.
The center, established in 1988, collaborates between extension and local agribusiness covering a 50-mile radius and four states. Originally formed to promote no-till farming, the center is key to helping extension double the value of Missouri agriculture by 2030.
On Friday, I head to another corner of Missouri to attend the T.E. “Jake” Fisher Delta Research, Extension and Education Center field day in the Bootheel.
— Mun
Marching into a new semester
Aug. 22, 2022
The best marching band in the country never rests.
As we begin a new academic year, Marching Mizzou is back at it under the outstanding direction of Dr. Amy Knopps. Here is a recent photo of them practicing in the twilight.
Marching Mizzou epitomizes excellence, and I can’t wait to see them on Faurot Field as we begin the new season of Mizzou Football. This November, they’ll also appear in the world-famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
M-I-Z!
— Mun