Published on March 31, 2020

Updated on Oct. 28, 2020

Dear Mizzou alumni and supporters,

First of all, I hope this message finds you safe and well. I have been thinking a lot about our global Tiger family during this challenging time. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your immense support for Mizzou, now and always.

As you may have heard, the Board of Curators has asked me to serve as the interim chancellor at Mizzou, as well as continue my duties as president of the University of Missouri System. I am honored to step into this new joint role and look forward to working and interacting with all of you even more. I wanted to reach out, remotely initially, until we have a chance to meet again in-person when the time allows. I know you are as committed to Mizzou as I am, and I am confident that, together, we can strengthen our world-class national research university and chart a ground-breaking future for Mizzou and Missouri.

It’s been three years since I arrived in Columbia, and I have had the pleasure of knowing firsthand the tremendous impact of our alumni. My wife, Suzanne, and I are grateful to be a part of this community and to have front row seats to your legacy. We are also thrilled that our daughter, Cosette, has chosen to become a Tiger herself. She looks forward to joining the incredible Mizzou family in the fall.

Cosette chose Mizzou for exactly the same reason as all of you: Mizzou changes lives and changes the world. Even during this challenging time, our entire community has responded with incredible resolve and resilience. Our outstanding medical and research teams – both human and veterinary – rose to the occasion to address the statewide COVID-19 testing shortfall. With the most recent crises of medical equipment shortages and foodbank demands, our students and other members of the Mizzou family have jumped in to help by using 3-D printing technologies. All the while, so many of you have reached out – to share concern, to offer support for our students and resources for our caregivers on the front lines, and to remind us that the Tiger spirit is unbreakable.

While these examples are only from the last two weeks, I expect these incredible acts of community to continue. Your tireless support is exactly what brought me to the University of Missouri in the first place. And I know you will help us tell those stories that demonstrate the special caring culture of Tigers everywhere.

I look forward to building on this pioneering history and moving the university forward with all of you. Thank you for everything you do.

MIZ!

Sincerely,

Mun Y. Choi

Interim Chancellor, University of Missouri

President, UM System