Richard Wallace

Title: Chancellor emeritus

Background: Wallace, an economist, joined the MU faculty in 1966. He completed a bachelor’s degree in journalism at Northwestern University in 1958 and a doctorate in economics at Vanderbilt University in 1965. He taught economics at Florida State University from 1961 to 1966. Though heavily involved in administration since 1967, he has had funded research and numerous publications related to his research interests in health economics and the regulated industries. Wallace’s first administrative appointment was as chair of the Department of Economics from 1967 until 1970. He subsequently served in many regular and interim administrative roles at MU and at the University of Missouri System. On campus, he served as interim dean of the Graduate School, interim dean of the College of Arts and Science, associate provost, associate dean of the Graduate School, and returned from 11 years of service at the System to become interim chancellor in 1996 and then chancellor from 1997 until 2005. Wallace’s major roles at the System were acting vice president for Academic Affairs on two occasions and associate vice president for Academic Affairs. In his role as chancellor at MU, Wallace represented the campus in several national organizations including the Association of American Universities, the Missouri Council on Public Higher Education, the Board of Directors of the Big 12 Conference, and the Board of Directors of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. He continues to represent the campus in the area of development.

Education: PhD, economics, Vanderbilt University, 1965

Speaking Topic: The University of Missouri-Columbia in general; and the financing of public higher education