University of missouri president biography
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In his role, he serves as the chief executive and academic officer for the four universities, including a land-grant research institution in Columbia; three diverse research universities in Kansas City, Rolla, and St. Louis; as well as a health care system and a statewide extension mission.
Successful launch of NextGen MURR initiative to grow nation’s domestic supply of lifesaving medical isotopes and strengthen Missouri’s economy and workforce
He is a member of the Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities (APLU) Board of Directors’ Executive Committee, secretary of the APLU Council of Presidents, chair of the APLU Commission on Food, Environment, & Renewable Resources and vice president of the SEC Executive Committee.
Professional and academic background
Choi came to Missouri in 2017 after nine years at the University of Connecticut where he served as provost and executive vice president (2012-2017) and earlier as dean of engineering (2008-2012).
He secured his master’s and PhD degrees in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Princeton University.
Biography courtesy of the UM System.
Education
PhD from Princeton University
MA from Princeton University
BS from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Website:
umsystem.edu/president
Google Scholar
Mizzou Scholar
President Choi’s Accomplishments
Mun Y.
Choi, PhD serves as the 24th president of the University of Missouri — a dual role as chancellor of the University of Missouri and president of the University of Missouri System. Choi has served as UM System president since March 2017 and MU chancellor since March 2020.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in General Engineering from the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign and his M.A.
and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University.
Personal history
His parents brought their family to the United States from South Korea when Choi was nine years old and grew up in Akron, Ohio and Chicago, Illinois. Choi is married to Suzanne Choi and together they have three children (Alex, Christopher and Cosette) and three bichon frises (Max, Coco and Yogi).
View President Choi's Curriculum Vitae.
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Biography
Mun Y.
Choi serves as the 24th president of the University of Missouri — a dual role as chancellor of the University of Missouri and president of the four campus University of Missouri System. In this role, he oversees the academic, business, and financial aspects of the four universities, as well as a health care system and statewide extension program.
Additionally, he holds a joint appointment as a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Missouri College of Engineering.
Choi came to Missouri in 2017 after nine years at the University of Connecticut where he served as provost and executive vice president (2012-2017) and earlier as dean of engineering (2008-2012).
Choi earned his doctorate in mechanical & aerospace engineering from Princeton University.
In this role, he oversees the academic, business and financial aspects of the four universities, as well as a health care system and statewide extension program.
In partnership with the University of Missouri Board of Curators and university leadership, President Choi introduced a new collective vision systemwide shortly after he arrived in Columbia: to advance the opportunities for success and well-being in Missouri, the nation and the world through transformative teaching, research, innovation and engagement.
As President, he helped transform the perception of higher education’s value with the university community, alumni, legislators and Missourians.
Across the four universities, several areas marked have historic records and stronger collaboration:
- Highest level of state support in 35 years
- Highest six-year graduation rates for all students, including Pell, Black/African-American and Hispanic students
- Highest research and development expenditures at more than $575 million, using the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development (NSF HERD) data for fiscal year 2023.
In this role, he oversees the academic, business and financial aspects of the four universities, as well as a health care system and statewide extension program.
In partnership with the University of Missouri Board of Curators and university leadership, President Choi introduced a new collective vision systemwide shortly after he arrived in Columbia: to advance the opportunities for success and well-being in Missouri, the nation and the world through transformative teaching, innovative research and meaningful engagement.
University of Missouri Chancellor
At MU, President Choi has led efforts to strategically grow MU’s stature as an AAU (Association of American Universities), land-grant flagship research university.
Mun Y. Choi is the President of the University of Missouri System and the Chancellor of the University of Missouri-Columbia campus. In 2021, he launched MizzouForward, a $1.5 billion, 10-year investment in faculty excellence, student success and modern infrastructure.
President Choi’s MU leadership team, working closely with faculty, staff and committed stakeholders, have set Mizzou on a record-breaking path with:
- $509 million in research (NSF HERD) expenditures in fiscal year 2024.
- 75% graduation rate, the highest among all public universities in Missouri.
- 95% of graduates obtaining successful career outcomes or continuing their education within six months of earning their degree.
- #4 Best Value among all flagship universities in the United States according to U.S.
News & World Report.
He is a member of the Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities (APLU) Board of Directors’ Executive Committee, secretary of the APLU Council of Presidents, chair of the APLU Commission on Food, Environment, & Renewable Resources and vice president of the SEC Executive Committee.
Professional and academic background
President Choi came to Missouri in 2017 after nine years at the University of Connecticut where he served as provost and executive vice president (2012-2017) and earlier as dean of engineering (2008-2012).
He holds a B.S. from the University of Illinois in general engineering.
About the President
Mun Y. Choi
President, University of MissouriBS, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 1987
MA, Princeton University, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, 1989
PhD, Princeton University, 1992Mun Y.
Choi serves as the 24th president of the University of Missouri — a dual role as chancellor of the University of Missouri and president of the University of Missouri System. Choi previously served as dean of engineering and then provost at the University of Connecticut. His 25-year career in higher education also includes serving eight years as a department head of engineering at Drexel University and six years as an assistant and associate professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
A product of and passionate champion for public higher education, he earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois.
His 30-year career in higher education also includes serving eight years as a department head of mechanical engineering and mechanics at Drexel University (2000-2008) and six years as an assistant and associate professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago (1994-2000).
He earned his bachelor’s degree in General Engineering from the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign and his MA and PhD degrees in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University.
Personal history
His parents brought their family to the United States from South Korea when Choi was nine years old and grew up in Akron, Ohio and Chicago, Illinois. Choi is married to Suzanne Choi and together they have three children (Alex, Christopher and Cosette) and three bichon frises (Max, Coco and Yogi).
View an accessible version of President Choi’s curriculum vitae.
Printable (PDF) version of President Choi’s curriculum vitae.
Mun Y.
Choi
University of Missouri President and Chancellor
Dr.