About the Office of Engagement and Outreach

The Missouri Compacts for Achieving Excellence, established in 2018 by the President of the University of Missouri System, identified engagement and outreach as a promise to Missourians to strengthen and grow connections between UM universities and communities, through and with MU Extension, to address pressing local and state challenges. 

The UM System Office of Engagement and Outreach was established to support and serve MU, UMKC, Missouri S&T and UMSL in amplifying and, when appropriate, aligning community engagement at and among these institutions through university-designated engagement leaders. This joint leadership structure of the UM System Office of Engagement and Outreach and university engagement leaders enables the sharing of best practices in community engagement at each institution and fosters collaboration among universities to address key challenges in Missouri and local communities. 

At the heart of engagement is the relationship and connection 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 and research 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. 

Staff Directory

Chadwick Higgins

UM System Chief Engagement Officer &
Vice Chancellor for Extension and Engagement
108 Whitten Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
(573) 882-7477
cchiggins@missouri.edu

Assistant: Sandi Peters, sandipeters@missouri.edu

Alison Copeland

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

University Contacts