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President-Designate Visits MU

University of Missouri System
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University of Missouri System President-designate Dr. Mun Choi addressed about 200 people about his upcoming inauguration in Stotler Lounge on Dec. 1.

“I am truly humbled and honored to serve the University of Missouri system by working closely with faculty, students, staff, retirees, alumni, civic leaders and industry leaders to create one of the greatest university systems in the country,” Choi said.

The stop at MU was the third of four inaugural visits to the system’s campuses this week. Other stops included the University of Missouri- St. Louis, Missouri S&T and the University of Missouri- Kansas City.

The university’s staff members, student body, alumni and community leaders were encouraged to attend the hour-long event held at 9:00 a.m. Interim MU Chancellor Hank Foley and Board of Curators Chair Pamela Henrickson introduced Choi’s speech with some words about the new system president’s selection process.

“I asked that they choose someone with high integrity, high energy and high intellect.” Foley said. “I think they hit it out of the park.”

Choi is currently the provost at the University of Connecticut. He was selected for UM system president after a nine month search by the Board of Curators. The search team consisted of the Board of Curators, student representatives, co-chairs and four additional representatives. The national search took over half a year, but members of the team said it was a necessary amount of time.

“It was worth it in the end because I think the search was done right and it yielded a good result,” Patrick Graham, student representative, said.

The search was a result of the resignation of former system president Tim Wolfe last November after protests erupted on MU’s campus. The protests, conducted by a group called Concerned Student 1950, were a response to claims that Wolfe failed to address instances of racism on MU’s campus.  

Choi’s inauguration will mark the first time the UM system has had a president with Asian-American heritage. While he said he plans to keep the campus inclusive for all, he also wants to focus on the financial state of the system, increasing graduation rates and improving opportunities for research.

“We have a broad responsibility, each and every one of us, to provide access, opportunity, but also encouragement so [students] develop confidence to tackle the many challenges that lie ahead,” Choi said.

Choi will officially replace Interim System President Michael Middleton as UM System President on March 1, 2017.