Dear University community:
I share with you that Chancellor Tom George has decided to retire from UMSL, effective Sept. 1, 2019. I join the 91Ï㽶¶ÌÊÓƵ-St. Louis and the entire 91Ï㽶¶ÌÊÓƵ System community in congratulating and thanking him and his wife, Dr. Barbara Harbach, for their years of dedicated service to the University.
Since 2003, Dr. George has led UMSL and advanced the mission of excellence in research, teaching, community engagement and economic development. Under his leadership, UMSL has awarded 44,820 degrees and Dr. George helped celebrate UMSL’s 100,000th graduate last May. Total research expenditures have reached $290.8 million in the past 16 years while the amount awarded in research grants is $337.7 million, including $33.6 million in fiscal year 2018 alone. During his chancellorship, UMSL raised an average of $21.7 million in philanthropic support per year. Most recently, UMSL met the five criteria of the Higher Learning Commission accreditation process with no need for follow-up for the next 10 years for the second time under Dr. George’s leadership.
As UMSL’s longest standing chancellor, Dr. George has truly transformed lives through his work. I am grateful for his contributions to UMSL and the UM System. In his 16 years at UMSL, he has made a lasting impression on the St. Louis region and the entire state of Missouri and we are indebted to him and Dr. Harbach for their service and wish them well in retirement.
I will be meeting with members of the UMSL community to develop a transition plan and the naming of an interim chancellor. We will launch a national search for a permanent chancellor to continue to build upon the successful programs of excellence at UMSL. I look forward to working with you all during this time of transition.
Sincerely,
Mun Y Choi, Ph.D.
President, UM System
Reviewed 2019-03-25