University of Missouri System

University Communications

Spectrum

Volume 33, Number 1, February 2006

Bennett shares good news from campuses in first report to board

In her first report as president of the University of Missouri Board of Curators, Angela Bennett focused on good news from each campus.

During her tenure as board president, Bennett said she will make such “did you know” sessions a priority to highlight news that is often overlooked.

Among the campus stories Bennett shared was that of Sheryl Tucker, a chemistry professor at UM-Columbia and founder of the Magic of Chemistry program. Tucker is a recipient of a 2005 U.S. Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.

Bennett praised the debate teams at UM-Kansas City, who captured three National Debate Tournament titles during the past four years at the Cross Examination Debate Association National Tournament.

Student members of the UMRolla Engineers Without Borders chapter were acknowledged for their work in Guatemala rebuilding homes destroyed by an earthquake. Students also traveled to Bolivia to design sewage and latrine systems. Bennett recognized UM-St. Louis graduate student Corneille Ewango, who won what many consider the “Nobel Prize for the environment” for risking his life to protect the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The University makes a statewide impact through the programs and services of extension, Bennett said. She also highlighted the uncompensated care provided by University of Missouri Health Care, as well as record growth in the University’s federal research and development expenditures.

Such stories are “only a drop in the bucket of the wonderful things we are doing at the University to the advantage of our state, nation and world,” Bennett said.

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