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President's Highlights - June 2025

Shaping the Future

We are proud to celebrate another successful spring semester, including the accomplishments of our new UM System graduates! I know they are ready to make an impact in our state and beyond. We also look forward to new opportunities to enhance our important work, and I am especially grateful to Governor Mike Kehoe and the Missouri Legislature for their strong support of our land-grant mission – including continued investment in lifesaving radioisotopes at NextGen MURR. Our four UM universities are determined to make a difference for all we serve. The following stories reflect the many achievements of our incredible students, faculty and staff. Together, our commitment to excellence stretches from outer space to communities in Missouri and throughout the world.


Commencement

Spring Commencement

Congratulations to our MU, S&T, UMKC and UMSL graduates! Collectively, over 9,000 degrees were awarded in numerous ceremonies during May 16-18.


Students

S&T

S&T Mars Rover Design Team Wins University Rover Challenge

S&T’s Mars Rover Design Team has won the 2025 University Rover Challenge, an international competition held annually at the Mars Desert Research Station in Hanksville, Utah.


Research

UMSL

UMSL Physicists Search for Secrets of the Cosmos

UMSL physicists Erika Gibb and Mohi Saki have been researching the composition of comets via the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility at the Mauna Kea Observatory in Hawaii and NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, learning more about the building blocks of the early solar system.


Community

UMKC

UMKC’s Carnegie R1 Designation Celebrated by Kansas City

Kansas City celebrates its Carnegie R1 university with an event at Union Station, illuminating its iconic skyline Roo blue and gold, and with a leadership roundtable about UMKC research impact.


Accolades

MU

Mizzou professor awarded Andrew Carnegie Fellowship

Mizzou’s Dr. Brian Kisida was named to the 2025 class of Andrew Carnegie Fellows to study civics education. The fellowship is one of the highest honors in the social sciences and humanities.

Reviewed 2025-06-30