I am saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. George Russell who served both as UM System president and UMKC chancellor. Dr. Russell’s decisive leadership greatly strengthened the university. Most notably under his tenure, the university introduced a robust financial plan to realign its resources on a scale unmatched in the country. His efforts allowed the UM System to answer critical needs including competitive faculty recruitment, infrastructure maintenance and repair and enhancement of student financial aid, among many others. His legacy of public stewardship remains strong in Missouri higher education.
Michael Middleton, interim president
Reviewed 2017-02-07