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About the Office of Engagement and Outreach

Engagement is the extension of knowledge, offerings, and influence of the University of Missouri System in communities for the betterment of people. This includes learning opportunities that lead to behavior change, research that leads to improvement in the quality of life of citizens, donor investment in research, teaching and communities, and partners who serve as champions to advance the mission of the UM System. Engagement is wide-ranging.

At the heart of engagement is the relationship and connectivity between citizens and higher education. This is based on a university presence with people in communities that is relevant, timely, and grounded. As a result of this relationship, engagement can serve to identify local and state needs and therefore inform teaching, research and philanthropy goals.

The Office of Engagement and Outreach works to support the Missouri Compacts for Excellence, and, like its name suggests, has a particular focus of furthering the Compact for Excellence in Engagement and Outreach:

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Staff Directory

Chadwick Higgins

Interim UM System Chief Engagement Officer &
Vice Chancellor for Extension and Engagement

108 Whitten Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
(573) 882-7477
cchiggins@missouri.edu

Assistant:Ā Sandi Peters, sandipeters@missouri.edu

Alison Copeland

Alison Copeland

Deputy Chief Engagement Officer, UM System
210 Whitten Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
(573) 884-4655
copelanda@umsystem.edu

Ashley Rhode

Ashley Rhode

Outreach and Engagement Associate, UM System
210 Whitten Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
(573) 884-3257
rhodea@umsystem.edu

Noah Washburn

Noah Washburn

Statewide Exension and Engagement Specialist
109D Whitten Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
(573) 882-7781
nwashburn@missouri.edu


University Contacts

MU

Graham McCauley

Graham McCaulley
Director, Office of Service-Learning

Sara Vassmer

Sara Vassmer
Director, The Connector

UMKC

Troy Lillebo

Troy Lillebo
Assistant Vice Chancellor, External Relations

Nate Addington

Nate Addington
Director of Engagement

S&T

Melanie Keeney

Melanie Keeney
Director of Engagement and Outreach, Marketing and Communications

UMSL

Patricia Zahn

Patricia Zahn
Director, Des Lee Collaborative Vision/Community Outreach and Engagement

Claire Rippel

Claire Rippel
Education Director - Community Development
Creating Whole Communities Director

Reviewed 2023-09-14