Wenneker and Graves elected as chair and vice chair of UM Board of Curators

ST. LOUIS, Mo.— The University of Missouri Board of Curators elected Robin Wenneker and Todd Graves to serve as chair and vice chair, respectively, of the Board for one-year terms, effective Jan. 1, 2024.

“I’m honored and humbled to be elected as the chair of the Board of Curators for 2024,” Wenneker said. “Over the last several years, the Board has worked to help the University of Missouri increase its economic development impact across the state, grow our research of medical treatments, develop cutting-edge technology, and strengthen support throughout the state. I am proud to represent and support Missouri's land-grant institution and look forward to continuing to work with our students, faculty, staff and citizens of Missouri in its success.”

Gov. Mike Parson appointed Wenneker to the Board in 2020.

Wenneker is the managing partner of CPW Partnership, a family business that owns commercial, residential and agricultural land holdings. She has worked with her family for more than 20 years managing investments, legal, government and accounting interfaces. Prior to working in her family business, Wenneker worked for Procter & Gamble, the 1996 Paralympic Games and Marketing Mix.

Wenneker is a board member for the Columbia Housing Authority, the Columbia Community Housing Trust, Commerce Bank’s Central Missouri Advisory Board and the UM System Intercampus Alumni Council. She is an alumna of both the Greater Missouri Leadership Challenge and the Agricultural Leadership of Tomorrow programs.

She is a past president of the Mizzou Alumni Association and recipient of their Outstanding Graduate of the Last Decade Award in 2001. Wenneker is also a past president of the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Foundation, and she has been honored for her commitment to the land-grant mission of the University of Missouri with the Mumford Distinguished Service Award. This past March, Wenneker was a recipient of the 2023 Lieutenant Governor’s Women of Achievement Award. The award recognizes the accomplishments of 10 Missouri women in conjunction with Women’s History Month.

Wenneker earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from MU and her Master of Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis.

Wenneker currently serves on the Finance Committee; Governance, Compensation and Human Resources Committee; and the Health Affairs Committee, which she chairs.

Graves is a lawyer in private practice with the law firm of Graves Garrett. He represents clients nationwide before federal and state courts and administrative agencies.

“The University of Missouri is on a great path,” Graves said. “I’m very pleased with the progress and plans across the entire system, and I look forward as vice-chair to contributing to our success.”

Gov. Parson appointed Graves to the Board in 2021. Previously, Graves served as the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri. At that time, he also served as a member of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, advising the attorney general on Department of Justice national priorities and policies. 

In 1994, Graves was elected as Platte County prosecuting attorney and held that position until 1998. Prior to that position, Graves was in private practice with the Bryan Cave law firm and also served as an assistant attorney general for the State of Missouri.

Graves is the immediate past president of the Pony Express Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors for Ballotpedia, an organization dedicated to building the Encyclopedia of American Politics and is a founding board member of the Kansas City Missouri Police Foundation.

In 1991, Graves received his law degree and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Virginia. He received a bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Missouri in 1988.

Wenneker succeeds Michael Williams, who served as chair, and Graves succeeds Wenneker, who served as vice chair in 2023.