Stephen J. Owens

Stephen J. Owens was appointed interim president by the Board of Curators Jan. 7, 2011 following the resignation of Univeristy of Missouri System President Gary D. Forsee.

Owens, who previously served as the university's general counsel, will provide interim leadership for the university system until the search for a new president concludes. During this transition, works in close consultation with other university general officers, including chancellors of the four campuses, to continue pursuing the priorities and initiatives outlined by Forsee and approved by the curators. While Owens fulfills the role of interim president, Phillip J. Hoskins will serve as acting general counsel.

Before coming to the university, Owens was engaged in private legal practice for 26 years with Kansas City based law firm of Stinson Morrison Hecker, LLP (formerly Stinson, Mag & Fizzell). His practice emphasized business litigation, collegiate sports law, contracts and administrative law. Additionally, he served as the firm's hiring chairman; member of the firm's board of directors and its executive committee; and as chairman of the firm's business litigation division and its class action and complex litigation division. Prior to joining the firm, Owens served as a judicial law clerk to the Hon. William R. Collinson, United States District Court Judge for the Western District of Missouri.

Steve received his bachelor's degree in public administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his J.D. from the Wake Forest University School of Law. He is admitted to practice in the State of Missouri; United States District Courts for the Western District of Missouri and the District of Kansas; and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth, Fifth, Eighth and Tenth Circuits.