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Contact: Jennifer Hollingshead

Office: (573) 882-0601

E-mail: hollingsheadj@umsystem.edu

University of Missouri President Elson S. Floyd today announced the appointment of Brady J. Deaton to be chancellor of the University of Missouri-Columbia, effective upon formal approval by the Board of Curators (October 4, 2004). Deaton currently serves as interim chancellor.

“After extensive conversations with faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the University, I have concluded that Brady Deaton is the ideal leader to build on the success of the University of Missouri-Columbia,” President Floyd said. “Brady cares deeply for Mizzou, its people and its traditions. He is committed to the University’s historic mission as a public research university with a strong land-grant tradition of service to Missouri and the nation. He is a nationally recognized leader in higher education and has demonstrated his ability to guide the campus during challenging economic times. I am convinced that his years of experience as an academic leader and administrator will serve him well in the role of chancellor.”

Deaton came to Columbia in 1989 as professor of agricultural economics, department chair and social science unit leader in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. He later served as chief of staff, deputy chancellor and, most recently, as provost and executive vice chancellor. Prior to that, he was associate director, Office of International Development, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University where he was on the faculty from 1978 to 1989. He was assistant and associate professor in the Dept. of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology at the University of Tennessee from 1972 to 1978. While on leave in 1978, he served as staff director, Special Task Force on Food for Peace with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. He currently serves as chair of the Council on Academic Affairs for the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges.

Deaton earned a B.S. in agricultural economics and an M.A. in diplomacy and international commerce from the University of Kentucky and a Ph.D. in agricultural economics from the University of Wisconsin. He is the author of more than 100 publications, several books, monographs and congressional testimony.

“From the first day I arrived on campus, I have been inspired by the exceptional quality of the faculty, staff and students and by the devotion of our alumni and friends,” Deaton said. “As one of the nation’s great state universities, Mizzou is one of the most exciting places to be in higher education today. I am committed to providing the people of Missouri with the very best teaching, research and service.”

Deaton said one of his first priorities will be to initiate national searches to fill top academic leadership posts on campus that are or will be open soon, including the position of provost—which is the chief academic officer—as well as the positions of dean of the College of Education and vice provost for Extension.