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List of presidents of the University of Missouri System

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23 individuals had held the title of president since 1841 with one person holding the office at two different times. 8 additional persons had the power of a president for a limit period of time and were called acting president, interim president, or chairman of faculty.

Since the four-campus system was created in 1963, 11 individuals had held the title of president for the system with 4 additional persons serving as interim president.

The following persons had led the University of Missouri from 1841 until 1963 as president and later the University of Missouri System since 1963:[1][2]

No. Image Name Term start Term end Ref.
1 John Hiram Lathrop 1841 1849
2 James Shannon 1850 1856
3 William Wilson Hudson 1856 June 14, 1859 [a]
interim George Matthews 1859 1860
4 Benjamin Blake Minor 1860 1862
University closed as a result of the Civil War from March 1862 until 1865
5 John Hiram Lathrop 1865 1866
6 Daniel Read 1866 1876
7 Samuel Spahr Laws 1876 1889
interim [b] Michael Fisher 1889 1891
interim [b] James Blackwell 1891 1891
8 Richard Henry Jesse 1891 1908
9 Albert Ross Hill 1908 1921
10 John Carleton Jones 1922 1923
acting Isidor Loeb 1923 1923
11 Stratton Brooks 1923 1930
12 Walter Williams 1931 1935
13 Frederick Middlebush 1935 1954
14 Elmer Ellis [c] 1955 August 31, 1966 [3]
15 John C. Weaver September 1, 1966 October 27, 1970 [d] [4][5]
interim C. Brice Ratchford October 27, 1970 June 24, 1971 [6]
16 June 24, 1971 May 21, 1976 [e] [7][8][9]
acting [f] A.G. Unklesbay [g] May 21, 1976 May 31, 1976 [8][10][11]
interim James C. Olson June 1, 1976 March 18, 1977 [12][13]
17 March 18, 1977 June 30, 1984 [14][15][16][17]
interim Mel George July 1, 1984 December 31, 1984 [18][19]
18 C. Peter Magrath January 1, 1985 November 1991 [h] [18][19][20]
19 George A. Russell November 1991 August 31, 1996 [21][22]
interim Mel George September 1, 1996 July 31, 1997 [22]
20 Manuel T. Pacheco August 1, 1997 December 31, 2002 [23][24]
21 Elson Floyd January 6, 2003 April 30, 2007 [i] [25][26][27]
interim Gordon H. Lamb May 1, 2007 February 17, 2008 [28]
22 Gary D. Forsee February 18, 2008 January 7, 2011 [j] [29][30]
interim Steve Owens January 7, 2011 February 14, 2012 [30]
23 Timothy M. Wolfe February 15, 2012 November 9, 2015 [k] [31][32]
interim Mike Middleton November 12, 2015 February 28, 2017 [33]
24 Mun Choi March 1, 2017 present [34][35]

Table notes:

  1. ↑ Died in office.
  2. 1 2 Serving as Chairman of Faculty
  3. ↑ Elmer Ellis had been president of the University of Missouri since 1954 and became president of the University of Missouri System upon its creation in 1963, while a new person was selected to become the first chancellor of the Columbia campus.
  4. ↑ Resigned to lead the University of Wisconsin.
  5. ↑ Resigned under pressure.
  6. ↑ Serving as "chief executive".
  7. ↑ Vice president of administration (given name is Athel Glyde)
  8. ↑ Resigned to head the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges.
  9. ↑ Resigned to head Washington State University.
  10. ↑ Resigned to care for his ailing wife.
  11. ↑ Forced to resign over several race-related incidents.

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Former Presidents of the University of Missouri". University of Missouri System.
  2. ↑ "University of Missouri Leaders". University of Missouri.
  3. ↑ "Dr. Ellis To Retire". Washington Citizen. July 8, 1965. p. 20. The Board of Curators of the University of Missouri has named a screening committee to make recommendations to the Board of appointment of a new president to succeed Dr. Elmer Ellis when he retires as president of the University System in August 1966. Dr. Ellis reaches 65, the retirement age for administrative officers of the University in July 1966.
  4. ↑ "Dr. Weaver to Become 14th President at M.U." Columbia Missourian. Vol. 58, no. 101. January 12, 1966. pp. 1, 2. Dr. John C. Weaver, 50, vice president for academic affairs at Ohio State University, will become the 14th president of the 127-year-old University of Missouri in September upon retirement of Dr. Elmer Ellis... Dr. Weaver will step into the administrative vacancy that will be created upon retirement Aug. 31 of President Ellis, who reaches the mandatory retirement age of 65 on July 27.
  5. ↑ "Weaver Resigns as President of M. U." Columbia Missourian. Vol. 63, no. 36. October 27, 1970. pp. 1, 2. Dr. John C. Weaver confirmed late Monday afternoon what the news media of two states and both major wire services had been reporting as rumors: He has resigned as president of the University of Missouri and shall assume the presidency of the University of Wisconsin no later than Feb. 1, 1971.
  6. ↑ Stanley, Marsha (October 28, 1970). "Curators Pick Interim President". Columbia Missourian. Vol. 63, no. 37. p. 1. Dr. C. Brice Ratchford, University vice president for extension, became interim president of the University's four-campus system at noon Tuesday, pledging to do his best "to provide leadership and guidance." Pleasant R. Smith, president of the Board of Curators, announced the appointment Tuesday morning. Ratchford succeeds Dr. John C. Weaver who resigned Monday to accept the presidency of the University of Wisconsin. AT THE TIME of his appointment, Ratchford assumed all the duties of president, Tom Richter, director of University information said. Weaver has announced no definite date for his departure, but said he will begin work at Wisconsin no later than Feb. 1, 1971. Richter said that although no definite plans have been made, he expects Weaver to be here "for another month or two." During the transition Weaver will serve as a consultant to Ratchford.
  7. ↑ "Ratchford Named New University President". Columbia Missourian. Vol. 63, no. 240. June 25, 1971. p. 1. Dr. C. Brice Ratchford has been named president of the University of Missouri and will assume the responsibilities of the office immediately, Pleasant R. Smith, president of the University Board of Curators, announced Thursday. Dr. Ratchford has served as interim president since Oct. 27, 1970 when he replaced Dr John C. C Weaver who accepted the presidency of the University of Wisconsin. "Dr. C. Brice Ratchford has been named by the Board of Curators after a comprehensive eight-month search all across the nation to serve as permanent president of the University of Missouri," Smith said.
  8. 1 2 "Brice Ratchford resigns". Daily Capital News. May 22, 1976. p. 1. President C. Brice Ratchford of the University of Missouri, who was under increasing fire for more than a month over a controversial university lobbying plan, resigned Friday. John Hall Dalton, president of the school's board of curators, said the resignation was accepted unanimously by the nine board members during a four hour closed session on the campus. Ratchford, the school's 15th president in its 137 history, attended the initial two hours of the meeting and then left Columbia to begin a three-month vacation and sick leave. Dalton said A.G. Unklesbay, vice president of administration, would serve as chief executive until an interim president is selected, possibly as soon as next week's regular board meeting. Following that, a committee of alumni, faculty, and students will be named to search for a permanent replacement, Dalton said.
  9. ↑ Buell, Debbie; Hurley, Anne (May 22, 1976). "Ratchford Resigns at M. U." Columbia Missourian. Vol. 68, no. 205. pp. 1, 16. Shortly before noon Friday, C. Brice Ratchford slipped out the back door of a Memorial Union meeting room, dashed across a hall guarded by University police and disappeared. Two hours later, University Board of Curators President John Hall Dalton stepped before cameras and microphones and announced that after 5-1/2 years Ratchford had resigned as the 15th president of the University, effective immediately... A. G. Unklesbay, vice president for administration, will serve as chief executive officer until the board can appoint an interim president, possibly by next week's regular board meeting Dalton said.
  10. ↑ Conway, Chris (May 23, 1976). "4 M. U. Officials Mentioned for Interim Post". Columbia Missourian. Vol. 68, no. 205. pp. 1, 12. Acting University President A. G. Unklesbay said Saturday he would accept an appointment as interim University president if asked by the board of curators. Unklesbay is one of four University administrators most frequently mentioned in speculation on who will be appointed interim president in the wake of the resignation Friday of C. Brice Ratchford... The board is expected to make an interim appointment at its regularly scheduled meeting in Columbia Friday. Unklesbay, 62, was named acting president by the board Friday, after Ratchford resigned.
  11. ↑ Brady, Kathy (December 17, 1978). "Unklesbay leaves lasting imprint on University". Columbia Missourian. Vol. 71, no. 81. p. 1. Unklesbay told Ms. Gregory when she first came to work in the office that the only time people call him by his given "name" – A.G. (for Athel Glyde) – is when they are angry with him. Most people call him "Unk."
  12. ↑ "Interim President At Missouri U.". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. May 29, 1976. p. 3. James C. Olson, chancellor of the University of Missouri at Kansas City since 1968 has been appointed interim president of the university's four campuses. The Board of Curators announced the unanimous selection Friday, effective June 1. Olson replaces C. Brice Ratchford, who resigned May 21 after serving as president for five years.
  13. ↑ Staab, Robert (May 29, 1976). "Olson to be Interim M. U. President". Columbia Missourian. Vol. 68, no. 211. p. 1. James C. Olson, 59, chancellor of the University of Missouri at Kansas City, Friday was named interim president of the University, effective Tuesday. The University Board of Curators announced the appointment of Olson, who has been in Kansas City since 1968, in Columbia Friday. He succeeds C. Brice Ratchford, who resigned last week.
  14. ↑ "Olson Is Appointed President Of Missouri U.". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. March 18, 1977. p. 3. The University of Missouri's board of curators announced today the selection of James C. Olson as the president of the university. Olson has been interim president of the university since C. Brice Ratchford resigned under pressure last May 21. Olson was chancellor of the university's Kansas City campus from 1968 to 1976. The announcement of Olson's appointment came as a surprise because the university's timetable called for selection by Sept. 1. Instead the board of curators acted this morning, voting in a private session just before the open meeting that started at 10:30 a.m.
  15. ↑ Volland, Victor (March 19, 1977). "Missouri U. Curators Appoint Olson President". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 3. James C. Olson, who has been interim president of the University of Missouri for the last 10 months, was appointed president by the university's Board of Curators at a meeting here Friday. Announcement of the appointment, which was effective immediately, came as a surprise...
  16. ↑ "Missouri U. Head To retire". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. May 8, 1983. p. 51. University of Missouri curators will begin planning next month the selection process to replace university president James C. Olson, who will retire next year. Olson announced his retirement here Friday at a meeting of the Board of Curators. He will leave the post July 1, 1984.
  17. ↑ George, Kathy (May 7, 1983). "Olson to Retire as University President". Columbia Missourian. Vol. 75, no. 201. p. 1. University President James Olson formally told the assembled Board of Curators here Friday that he will step down July 1, 1964.
  18. 1 2 Singer, Dale (June 19, 1984). "Minnesotan Is Named Missouri U. President". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 1. If his track record is an indication, C. Peter Magrath will bring to the University of Missouri system-wide planning, a knack for private fundraising and an ability to lobby the Legislature. Magrath, president of the University of Minnesota, was appointed Missouri system Monday by the university's Board of Curators... The curators named Melvin D. George interim president to serve until Jan. 1, 1985, when Magrath, 51, takes over.
  19. 1 2 Lyman, Faith; Gutierrez, Ernie (June 19, 1984). "Magrath Called Top Choice for M. U. President". Columbia Missourian. Vol. 76, no. 229. p. 1A, 8A. Not one to pass up challenges, Magrath, pronounced Magraw, took on a new one Monday when he announced he would leave his $95,000-a-year job and become the 17th president of the University of Missouri... The announcement marks the culmination of an exhaustive, and at tunes exasperating, search by the Board of Curators for a replacement for James Olson, who will retire July 1 after eight years as president... Magrath will take the $100,000-a-year helm Jan. 1, 1985. In the meantime, Mel George, the University's vice president for academic affairs, will serve as interim president.
  20. ↑ Ganey, Terry; Young, Virginia (June 21, 1991). "MU President To Leave Post". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 1. University of Missouri President C. Peter Magrath announced plans to resign Thursday to become president of a national organization in Washington that represents public colleges. Magrath, 58, said he would leave sometime between November and the beginning of next year. The schedule will allow him to campaign for Proposition B, $385 million tax increase for education, which will be on Missouri's general election ballot Nov. 5.
  21. ↑ Young, Virginia (July 27, 1991). "New MU President Named". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 1. George Russell, chancellor of the University of Missouri at Kansas City for the last 14 years, was appointed president of the University of Missouri on Friday... Russell will succeed C. Peter Magrath. He is leaving in November to become president of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges in Washington.
  22. 1 2 "UM system news". The Current (newspaper). No. 860. August 1, 1996. p. 3. George Russell will retire as the University of Missouri system president, effective Aug. 31. Russell, who has been president since 1991, had a contract that was to expire June 30, 1997. The UM Board of Curators appointed Melvin George to serve as president in the interim.
  23. ↑ Baugher, David (September 8, 1997). "New system head meets with UM student leaders". The Current (newspaper). Vol. 31, no. 894. p. 1. Manuel Pacheco, who took over as head of the University of Missouri system Aug. 1, met with the presidents of the four campuses last week to discuss his goals for the university.
  24. ↑ Granger, Jason (October 7, 2002). "Pacheco changes date of retirement" (PDF). The Current (newspaper). Vol. 36, no. 1064. p. 1. System president announced he will retire in December, months ahead of original date
  25. ↑ "Floyd Begins as MU's President". KPCC (FM). January 6, 2003. Floyd held a news conference today on his first day as chief executive of the four-campus system... Floyd succeeds Pacheco, who retired last week after five years as University of Missouri's president.
  26. ↑ "Elson Floyd named new WSU president". Washington State University. December 13, 2006. Elson S. Floyd, president of the four-campus University of Missouri, was selected Wednesday by the Washington State University Board of Regents as the university's 10th president. He will succeed WSU President V. Lane Rawlins, who will retire June 30 after serving as WSU president for seven years.
  27. ↑ May, Kylee (June 20, 2015). "Former UM President Elson Floyd was an 'apostle for public higher education'". Columbia Missourian. Floyd was the 21st president of UM's four-campus system from 2003 to 2007. He was also the first African-American to be UM System president.
  28. ↑ Zagier, Alan Scher (April 4, 2007). "Missouri curators select interim leader for university system". Plainview Herald. University of Missouri curators have selected Gordon Lamb to temporarily lead the four-campus system, The Associated Press has learned... He succeeds Elson Floyd, who will leave Columbia at the end of the month for the Washington State University presidency.
  29. ↑ Spencer, Laura (December 19, 2007). "Forsee Appointed President of UM System". KCUR-FM. Native Missourian and former Sprint Nextel CEO Gary Forsee was appointed Thursday as the 22nd President of the four-campus University of Missouri system... Forsee begins his new job on February 18, 2008 and succeeds Interim President Gordon H. Lamb, who's served since April.
  30. 1 2 "MU President Gary Forsee resigns". KRCG. January 7, 2011. School officials announced Friday that the former Sprint Nextel chairman and chief executive is resigning immediately. He has been on an extended leave of absence since early December following his wife Sherry's cancer diagnosis. Forsee has been president of the four-campus system since February 2008. Steve Owens, the system's general counsel, will continue to handle Forsee's duties until a replacement is chosen.
  31. ↑ "Timothy M. Wolfe to be next UM System president". Columbia Missourian. December 13, 2011. the University of Missouri (System) Board of Curators today announced the appointment of Timothy M. Wolfe, 53, as the 23rd system president. The MU business school alumnus will assume responsibilities presently held by Interim President Stephen J. Owens, effective Feb. 15, 2012.
  32. ↑ "Missouri Tigers President Tim Wolfe Resigns". ESPN. November 9, 2015. The president of the University of Missouri system stepped down Monday, and the flagship Columbia campus' chancellor announced he will "transition" into a different position at the end of year amid criticism of their handling of student complaints about race and discrimination. President Tim Wolfe said his resignation was effective immediately.
  33. ↑ Arkin, Daniel (2015-11-12). "University of Missouri Board of Curators Name Michael Middleton Interim President". NBC News. Retrieved 2015-11-12. The Board of Curators announced that Michael Middleton, 68, will lead the four-campus university system until it finds a permanent replacement for Tim Wolfe, who resigned Monday under pressure from students who criticized his administration's response to a series of racial incidents.
  34. ↑ "About the President". Office of the President. University of Missouri System. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  35. ↑ Samples, Bob (November 3, 2016). "Mun Choi to serve as University of Missouri System's 24th president". UMSL Daily. Following a nearly yearlong national search, the University of Missouri Board of Curators have chosen Mun Choi, 52, as the 24th president in the history of the four-campus system. Currently provost and executive vice president of the University of Connecticut (UConn), Choi will succeed Interim President Michael Middleton on March 1, 2017.
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