On May 20, CNU granted an honorary doctorate to Brady Deaton, Chancellor of the University of Missouri-Columbia. Deaton received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from CNU before delivering a lecture, \"Global Imperative in the 21st Century,\" at Yongbong Hall of the International Conference Bldg. Chancellor Brady J. Deaton became the 21st chief executive officer of the University of Missouri-Columbia on October 4, 2004. With 15 years of service to MU and 33 years of experience in public higher education, Dr. Deaton brings an international perspective, a record of national leadership, and a strong devotion to Mizzou to his new position. Dr. Deaton began his journey in higher education as a student at the University of Kentucky, where he graduated with a degree in agricultural economics in 1966. After receiving his bachelor
s degree, Dr. Deaton pursued a master of arts in diplomacy and international commerce at the University of Kentucky, graduating in 1968. He went on to the University of Wisconsin where he earned a master of science in 1970 and a doctorate in 1972 in agricultural economics. Moving from the student to the faculty ranks, Dr. Deaton spent the next six years as an assistant and associate professor of agricultural economics and rural sociology at the University of Tennessee. During this time at Tennessee, he was appointed as staff director of the Special Task Force on Food for Peace for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. In 1978, Dr. Deaton took a professorship position at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in the Department of Agricultural Economics, where he also served as coordinator of the rural development research and extension program. Dr. Deaton spent 12 years at Virginia Tech, the last four as associate director of the Office for International Development. He transitioned from faculty to administration in December 1993, when he was appointed chief of staff in the Office of the Chancellor. He became deputy chancellor in 1997. In January 1998, Dr. Deaton was appointed interim provost and was named to the permanent position in October of that year. His duties were expanded in 2001 when he also became the executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. He developed a love of the land and a desire to study agriculture. His dedication deepened during a two-year tour as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand, from 1962-1964, where he taught vocational agriculture in the Thai language. For his contributions to the University, Dr. Deaton has been the recipient of many honors. He has been awarded the Outstanding Commitment to Multiculturalism and Diversity certificate by the Association of Black Graduate and Professional Students, honored as an invited lecturer at the Japan International Agricultural Council and recognized by Gamma Sigma Delta with an Award of Merit for Outstanding Administrator, among many other honors, grants and fellowships. To date, Deaton published three books:
Local Infrastructure Investment in Rural America
,
Food, Nutrition and Agriculture: A Text
. and
Local Economic Planning & Management
. At 1:40 p.m. on May 20, CNU President Kang Jung-chae and MU Chancellor Deaton signed an agreement for extending mutual cooperation for student exchanges and Korean summer program. Based on the signed agreement, CNU will send three students to MU annually and the exchange students
tuition and other fees will be waived. CNU will provide the Korean summer program for the MU faculty members. Since 1978, when the two institutions established cooperation ties, CNU and MU have strengthened the bond. Starting this year,
3+1
dual degree program has been offered for the Agriculture and Life Science students.