Dedicating the Stephens Indoor Facility  

Sep. 19, 2023

Last week, I attended our dedication ceremony for the Stephens Indoor Facility. Around 150 supporters were on hand to celebrate, including Brad and Rachel Stephens and their family.

This spectacular facility sends a strong message across Missouri and the nation: We’re building a championship culture here at Mizzou. Tigers past and present can be proud of what we’ve accomplished, and we’re already seeing the results. 

I want to again recognize Brad and Rachel Stephens for their leadership. I’m also thankful to the University of Missouri Board of Curators and all who supported this facility, as well Athletic Director Reed-Francois, Coach Drinkwitz and our incredible student-athletes.

I can’t wait to see what we achieve next. M-I-Z! 

— Mun

The importance of Connection

Sep. 15, 2023

Every month during the academic year, the Division of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity and the Provost’s Office host Connection – a gathering that offers support and community to faculty from all backgrounds and phases of their academic careers. I attended the most recent event and enjoyed sharing our progress as a university and answering faculty questions.

Connection helps faculty members thrive and achieve their goals at Mizzou. Programs like Connection are one of many ways we support the success of our faculty and their outstanding contributions to our land-grant mission of teaching, research and service.  

I’m grateful to IDE Vice Chancellor Maurice Gipson and Associate Provost for Faculty Success Candace Kuby for facilitating the session. I hope to attend again soon. 

— Mun

Mizzou Law honors a life of service

Sep. 12, 2023

More than 100 people gathered in Hulston Hall to dedicate a classroom in honor of Marcy Graham – a friend, mentor, benefactor, distinguished graduate of the MU School of Law and University of Missouri curator emeritus. At the end of the celebration, we also surprised Marcy with a Mizzou Football shirt in recognition of his time as a linebacker in high school.

Marcy was Board Chair when I began my appointment at the UM System, and he’s made an indelible impact on me and so many others. He is always generous with his time, especially for his many mentees, and lives life with purpose and integrity. I was proud to join others in honoring his contributions.

Marcy’s supporters contributed more than $100,000 to help renovate the classroom prior to the dedication. The modernized Maurice B. “Marcy” Graham Classroom will remind future law students that they too can make a difference.

I’m grateful for Marcy’s many years of service. I also want to thank his wife, Edna Mae, for sharing him with the University of Missouri community.

Congratulations, Marcy!

— Mun

Celebrating Mizzou families 

Sep. 8, 2023

Each member of our community plays an important role in supporting student success, including our dedicated Tiger families. We’re thrilled to show our appreciation and celebrate their impact during Mizzou’s annual Family Weekend. 

Beginning today, there’s a full schedule of free events, starting with a noon Football Friday Spirit Rally at Traditions Plaza. Later this evening, families can stroll to Francis Quadrangle for Illumination on the Quad, or enjoy a free movie in Leadership Auditorium at the Student Center. Tomorrow, we encourage everyone to attend one of several Mizzou tailgates and fill the stands at Memorial Stadium as we take on the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. 

Throughout the weekend, families are also invited to explore Columbia and – most importantly – to connect with their students’ experiences on campus. I can’t wait to meet Tiger families and to share our incredible community. 

— Mun 

Empowering strong communities in rural Missouri

Sep. 6, 2023

While in the Bootheel, I was pleased to attend the opening of an important new facility in Caruthersville. The New Day Recovery Center is a project of Divine Holiness Outreach Ministries (DHOM) and will offer housing and job training to individuals seeking recovery from drug and alcohol use. DHOM is a local partner for MU’s ParentLink – a unit of the College of Education & Human Development that is based in the Bootheel – and this new center offers an additional way to reach community members.

Over fifteen years, ParentLink has developed strong relationships in rural southeast Missouri. Partnering with trusted community organizations like DHOM helps more parents and caregivers access the no-cost assistance provided by ParentLink. A dedicated team of ParentLink navigators offers a range of services in Caruthersville and throughout the state by connecting parents to vetted resources that meet their needs, providing evidence-based information and helping them navigate barriers encountered along the way.

Many leading state officials attended the event, including Gov. Mike Parson. University of Missouri Board Chair Michael Williams, Curator Keith Holloway, Curator Robin Wenneker and General Counsel Mark Menghini were also present. Curator Holloway is from the region and is a dedicated supporter and donor to the center’s mission. Other MU representatives included Chad Higgins, interim vice chancellor for extension and engagement, Bradd Anderson, ParentLink director, and Freda Kershaw, ParentLink associate director, southeast Missouri.

It was great to be in the Bootheel and celebrate this vital effort.

— Mun

Mizzou Football is back: Let’s turn Missouri black & gold 

Aug. 29, 2023

Mizzou Football is almost here, and I can’t wait! 

The season opener against South Dakota is Thursday. I hope you’ll join me in cheering for our Tigers as they take on the Coyotes at Faurot Field. We’re thrilled that SEC Nation will also be at Memorial Stadium to highlight our incredible student-athletes and community. 

Adding to the excitement, the first game means the return of Black & Gold Fridays. Each Friday during football season, Mizzou fans show their support by wearing their favorite Tiger gear. This Friday is also annual College Colors Day – another excellent reason to represent MU with pride. 

We have a great coach, talented student-athletes, a visionary athletic director and a strong fan base. Those are the elements we need to build a championship culture and compete at the highest level. Our Tigers are ready to rise to the occasion and shock the nation all season long. 

— Mun

Sharing the power of MURR with Lt. Gov. Kehoe

Aug. 25, 2023

On Wednesday, I accompanied Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe on a tour of the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR). MURR Executive Director Matt Sanford led the tour, and we were proud to highlight our work producing medical isotopes for more than 1.6 million cancer and heart disease patients each year.

We also discussed the university’s plan to grow MURR’s lifesaving impact. This fall, we’ll celebrate the groundbreaking of MURR West, an addition to the existing facility that adds more lab, production and administrative space. We’ve also made incredible progress on NextGen MURR – a new, state-of-the-art reactor that will expand our capacity to produce medical isotopes that will be used in advanced cancer medicines for decades to come.

I enjoyed sharing our record of safety and excellence with Lt. Gov. Kehoe. Thanks to support from state leaders, we are securing MURR’s place as the world’s most important university research reactor for fighting cancer, while also attracting innovative research, economic investment and jobs to Missouri.

— Mun

A trusted partner for northwest Missouri

Aug. 23, 2023

Last August, I attended the groundbreaking of a new machine shed at the Graves-Chapple Extension and Education Center in northwest Missouri. I was pleased to return this year for the ribbon cutting, as well as the center’s annual fish fry and field day. More than 140 community members visited for the celebrations.

The new facility houses essential equipment in one central location and offers expanded capacity for community events. The additional space also provides room for future growth as staff extend their outreach and explore innovative techniques to help local agribusiness, like using GPS for precision farming and drones to monitor and spray crops. The building was funded thanks to the support of the Missouri General Assembly.

I appreciate the dedication shown by our elected officials and the center’s advisory board and staff to advancing agriculture throughout the region.

— Mun

Championing our student-athletes

Aug. 17, 2023

We were pleased to welcome Gov. Mike Parson, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and many elected officials to Memorial Stadium for the signing of Missouri House Bill 417. State leaders were joined by Curator Wenneker, representatives from MU and Mizzou Athletics, as well as coaches and student-athletes to celebrate this cutting-edge legislation that benefits current and future Tigers.

To win championships, we need to recruit the best players – especially from our own state. This law lets student-athletes achieve their ambitious goals while still competing close to home. Our lawmakers have created a new way forward that serves students and is a model of integrity for others to follow across the country.

The bill passed overwhelmingly in both chambers, and we’re grateful for the vision of our elected officials and the support of Gov. Parson and Lt. Gov. Kehoe. Thanks to their leadership, we can continue to deliver even more for student-athletes and our gameday best to fans everywhere.

— Mun

Honors College students meet research head on

Aug. 15, 2023

Since 1958, the MU Honors College has provided world-class learning and research opportunities to generations of remarkable Tigers. There are now more ways than ever for Honors College students to get involved and create solutions that change the world. 

The Cherng Summer Scholars program concluded last month and featured the largest cohort in MU history. Cherng Summer Scholars explored potential cancer treatments, international migration and human behavior, along with many other ambitious projects. The program provides mentorship as well as research funding and is supported by a gift from Andrew and Peggy Cherng and the Panda Charitable Foundation.

As we begin the fall semester, the college is welcoming more than 950 students – 100 more than last year. Among the incoming class are eight participating in Stamps Scholars, Mizzou’s premiere scholarship program. These incredible students receive a four-year scholarship, a significant enrichment fund, as well as mentorship to achieve their research goals. We’ve partnered with the national Stamps Scholars Program since 2016 to bring some of the country’s best students to Mizzou, and we’re eager to see what this new group will accomplish.

Throughout the Honors College, we’ve also made transformative investments in student success and undergraduate research. For example, in the last year we hired seven additional advisors, brought in additional faculty members and developed a new interdisciplinary Social Science sequence. We are growing the Honors College to even better prepare students to address society’s biggest challenges. 

Our world-class students are driven to make a difference. The Honors College gives Tigers the tools and support they need to create discoveries with impact.

— Mun