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MU College of Engineering Dean James Thompson stepping down

MU News Bureau

The man who has overseen the University of Missouri College of Engineering for the last two decades will step down in the fall.

According to a press release Monday, James Thompson will step down September 1st.

MU News Bureau spokesperson Christian Basi says Thompson is retiring for personal reasons, one of which is he wants to spend time with family. He has four children, eight grandchildren and one more grandchild on the way; and he wants to spend more time with them.

In the press release, Interim MU Provost Ken Dean was quoted as saying, “Dean Thompson leaves the College of Engineering well positioned to move to the next level in research and cutting-edge, market-responsive educational programs… He has built a strong engineering program, and we are indebted to him for his years of tireless work on behalf of MU.”

According to the release, undergraduate student enrollment in the College of Engineering has more than doubled since Thompson took over as Dean. He also oversaw the creation of new programs inside the school, including bioengineering, computer science and information technology.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to have served as dean for nearly 20 years,” Thompson was quoted as saying in the press release. “The college has amazing students and excellent faculty and staff who will assure that the reputation of the college will continue to grow in teaching and research.”

Ryan served as the KBIA News Director from February 2011 to September 2023