President Best to Deliver State of the University Address Aug. 27

WARRENSBURG, MO – Setting the tone for a new academic year, University of Central Missouri President Roger J. Best will present the annual State of the University Address from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27. This is a virtual presentation that will be carried via livestream through the efforts of the UCM Digital Media Production team. To view the speech in its entirety, please go to ucmo.edu/sou.

 

The State of the University address gives the president an opportunity to discuss university progress, challenges, and priorities as the new academic year begins. This will be Best’s third State of the University address while leading the institution.

 

Best was named university president by the Board of Governors on Nov. 5, 2018. After growing up and earning his higher education in Georgia, he joined UCM in August 1995 as an assistant professor of finance, and climbed the faculty ranks to become a professor in 2005. He was named chair of the Department of Economics and Finance in 2003; associate dean of the Harmon College of Business Administration in 2008; and dean of the college in 2010. Following an extensive restructuring of academic programs, Best began service as dean of the newly formed Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies in 2011. Best’s strong business acumen contributed to him being named Interim Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration in August 2017, and concurrent with a university administrative reorganization, he was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in January 2018, and interim president on Aug. 1, 2018.