President Choi’s Blog
Showcasing a world of music
Aug. 1, 2024
I enjoyed attending the Mizzou International Composers Festival (MICF), an annual event organized by the Mizzou New Music Initiative that connects our community with renowned performers and important figures in contemporary music.
Over six days, the festival welcomed incredible talent to venues across Columbia. Concerts included music by MICF Distinguished Guest Composers George Lewis and Mary Kouyoumdjian, as well as pieces by former MICF Guest Composer Andrew Norman, John Orfe and MU Composition Professor Stefan Freund.
Mizzou is an international destination for the creation and performance of new music thanks to our accomplished faculty, including Professor Freund, the initiative’s artistic director. We’re also grateful for the visionary support of Curator Jeanne Cairns Sinquefield and Rex Sinquefield, who established the Mizzou New Music Initiative in 2005. MU now offers one of the leading composition programs in the nation.
Congratulations to the Mizzou New Music Initiative and the School of Music on another year of memorable performances.
— Mun
Tigers go for gold
July 17, 2024
Our Tigers are ready to compete at the highest level, including at the upcoming Summer Paralympic Games in Paris.
Amaris Vazquez Collazo is a Mizzou sophomore studying social work and is representing Puerto Rico in the long jump and a metered dash event. Amaris transferred to Mizzou last spring and has worked since she was 8 to achieve her dream of competing for gold. Another Mizzou Paralympian, Lee Melymick, is a member of the Canada Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team – as well as the Mizzou Wheelchair Basketball Team. Lee also transferred to Mizzou and is a senior studying chemical engineering. He previously competed for Canada at the Paralympics in Tokyo.
Amaris and Lee will be joined by several Tiger alumni in both the Paralympic and Olympic games, including:
Paralympics
- Colin Higgins, Canada, wheelchair basketball
- Scott Meyer, United States, wheelchair basketball assistant coach
Olympics
- Karissa Schweizer, United States, track and field
- Mary Theisen-Lappen, United States, weightlifting
- Mikel Schreuders, Aruba, swimming
- Clement Secchi, France, swimming
I’m thrilled to cheer on all our incredible Tiger athletes.
— Mun
Thanking Missouri’s elected leaders for their support
July 1, 2024
I am grateful to Missouri Governor Mike Parson for approving a 3% core funding increase to the UM System for FY25, marking the fifth consecutive year of growth. I also want to thank Senate President Caleb Rowden, Senate Majority Floor Leader Cindy O’Laughlin, Senate Budget Chair Lincoln Hough, House Speaker Dean Plocher, House Majority Floor Leader Jonathan Patterson, House Budget Chair Cody Smith and the rest of our elected leaders in the Senate and House for their incredible support of our mission.
This historic investment recognizes the UM System’s 13-to-1 return for taxpayers, as well as our commitment to addressing the health, economic and workforce needs of Missouri. To grow our transformative impact, MU will receive $138 million for important capital projects advancing NextGen radiopharmaceuticals, animal science and health care engineering. Additional support will benefit Missouri agriculture, veterans, workforce development and many other MU and Extension initiatives across the state.
We take our responsibility to Missouri taxpayers seriously. We’re proud to deliver more value to those we serve and to partner with elected officials to strengthen each Missouri community.
— Mun
Emmy-winning SportsCenter anchor now endowed professor at MU
June 28, 2024
After 25 years at ESPN, today is the final SportsCenter broadcast for John Anderson, one of the network’s longest-serving anchors and a loyal Mizzou alumnus. We’re proud of what he’s accomplished and excited that next year John will come home to Mizzou as the Leonard H. Goldenson Endowed Chair in Radio and Television Journalism. He will teach courses that focus on writing, reporting and interviewing while working alongside students at all levels.
John was a track and field student-athlete and team captain at MU. He graduated from the Missouri School of Journalism and became an Emmy-winning sports reporter and anchor. He’s remained close to the Mizzou community and has sponsored a long running internship for our students at ESPN. That internship has kept Mizzou at the forefront of sports journalism while benefiting students for more than two decades.
His experience and expertise are truly world-class. I can’t wait to see how he inspires the next generation of journalists.
— Mun
‘Lucky’ monument to pivotal MU leader turns 100
June 3, 2024
A campus landmark recognizing an influential figure in Mizzou, state and national history celebrates its 100th anniversary this week.
David R. Francis served as U.S. secretary of the Interior, governor of Missouri and president of the University of Missouri Board of Curators, among many accomplishments. He was instrumental in helping rebuild campus after Academic Hall was destroyed by fire, and he was a strong advocate for the university. To commemorate his contributions, in 1923 the curators approved a new monument in his honor.
That monument – featuring a sculpture of Francis – was unveiled 100 years ago on June 3, 1924. Originally on Ninth Street, it now sits at the north end of Jesse Hall and faces Francis Quadrangle, which bears his name. University tradition has it that students who rub Francis’ nose receive good luck on their exams.
This summer, we’re completing necessary improvements to Francis Quad, including the area around the monument. Completion is anticipated during the fall semester, when the sculpture of Francis will again welcome students and visitors.
We continue to strengthen the land-grant mission that David R. Francis did so much to preserve. A century later, his monument still provides a lasting example of Mizzou’s legacy of excellence.
— Mun
Appreciating staff excellence
May 28, 2024
We recently marked another memorable Staff Recognition Week, an annual celebration of our more than 15,000 Mizzou and UM System staff and their contributions to our teaching, research and engagement mission.
Along with a free staff lunch, fun activities and opportunities for professional development, we also held our Staff Recognition Week Awards Ceremony. We were proud to acknowledge significant service milestones and distribute awards for excellence. Among the many recipients were six receiving Chancellor’s Outstanding Staff Awards. All were nominated by colleagues for their incredible commitment to others.
2024 Chancellor’s Outstanding Staff Award honorees:
• Dr. Julie Birt – Administrative/Professional Staff
• Willie Brown, Jr. – Crafts/Maintenance Staff
• Secley Kennedy – Clerical/Office Staff
• Ken Neff – Part-Time/Temporary Staff
• Peter Norgard – Technical/Paraprofessional Staff
• Guy Wilson – UM System Staff
Congratulations to all award and milestone recipients. I’d also like to thank the Staff Advisory Council for organizing this important week of appreciation. I’m grateful for the hard work and dedication shown by each of our staff members.
— Mun
IPG hosts global gathering of research leaders
May 23, 2024
I was pleased to address the annual symposium of the Interdisciplinary Plant Group (IPG) at the Bond Life Sciences Center. Founded in 1981, IPG has grown from nine original members to more than 50 teams in three MU colleges, the School of Medicine and the USDA-ARS Plant Genetics Research Unit in Columbia. This collaboration also brings together partners throughout the state, including from MU Extension and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis.
This year’s symposium unites around 200 global leaders in plant science and features speakers from the U.S., the U.K., Spain, South Korea and Germany. We’re also proud to celebrate the symposium’s 40th anniversary. It’s a remarkable accomplishment and shows IPG’s reputation for research excellence.
The symposium’s topic, “Plant Hormones at the Intersection of Stress and Development,” covers critical research in agriculture and biology, among many areas, as well as potential impacts to human health. These important discussions improve food security, contribute to lifesaving pharmaceuticals and benefit communities around the world.
Thank you to IPG Director David Braun and all who helped organize this year’s symposium. Global issues require global solutions. IPG’s collaborative focus is central to our mission as a land-grant university.
— Mun
Mizzou student and alumni win Pulitzer Prize
May 14, 2024
Lisa Krantz, a Mizzou doctoral candidate and teaching fellow, is among The Washington Post staff members recently honored with a Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting.
Lisa joins three Mizzou alumni also on the award-winning team: Tim Elfrink, deputy editor for political investigations, Amy Fiscus, deputy national editor, and Monique Woo, photo assignment editor.
These incredible journalists join more than 50 Mizzou students and faculty honored with Pulitzer Prizes. Many additional Tigers have been recognized as finalists across various Pulitzer categories.
Congratulations to Lisa, Tim, Amy and Monique! Their success is part of a long tradition of excellence at the Missouri School of Journalism.
— Mun
Commencement weekend celebrates Tiger excellence
May 10, 2024
(Left to right) President Choi, Sarah Leen, Dr. Gilbert Ross, Dr. Marcia Chatelain and Interim Provost Matt Martens during a brunch celebrating honorary degree recipients.
Congratulations to the more than 5,100 students graduating this weekend! I’m so proud of their accomplishments and know they are prepared to lead our state and nation.
As we celebrate the Class of 2024, I also want to recognize four incredible MU alumni receiving honorary degrees. An honorary degree is the highest form of recognition offered by the university. We are pleased to acknowledge their many contributions to Mizzou and their fields.
• Dr. Marcia Chatelain is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and a widely published scholar. She is currently the Penn President Compact Professor of Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
• Sarah Leen is an award-winning photojournalist and former director of photography at National Geographic. She now serves as a photo editor, teacher and mentor to a new generation of visual storytellers.
• Dr. Gilbert Ross orchestrated mid-Missouri’s first kidney transplant surgery and is a founding member of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. He has spent more than 60 years serving throughout the MU School of Medicine.
Don Walsworth will receive an honorary degree during the Trulaske College of Business ceremony.
• Don Walsworth is a well-known business leader, former chair of the Board of Curators and an incredible supporter of the university and Mizzou Athletics. He is CEO of Walsworth, Inc., one of the nation’s largest book and magazine publishers.
I look forward to formally recognizing our honorary degree recipients – and all Mizzou graduates – at commencement ceremonies throughout the weekend.
M-I-Z!
— Mun
Guggenheim Fellow is newest MizzouForward faculty member
May 3, 2024
Mizzou’s own Utku Asuroglu, a postdoctoral teaching fellow in composition at the School of Music, was recently named a 2024 Guggenheim Fellow. This fellowship is one of the most prestigious and competitive in the country. Dr. Asuroglu is the only 2024 recipient from Missouri.
We’re proud to announce that Dr. Asuroglu is also our newest MizzouForward hire! He is the 21st MizzouForward faculty in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and the 71st overall. Dr. Asuroglu will be teaching courses in music composition and electronic music.
Mizzou was the first university in the nation to offer postdoctoral fellowships in composition, thanks to the visionary support of Curator Jeanne Cairns Sinquefield and Rex Sinquefield. Because of MizzouForward, Dr. Asuroglu will continue to share his incredible talent with our community and grow our reputation as a center for contemporary music.
Congratulations, Dr. Asuroglu!
— Mun