The University of Missouri System Board of Curators appointed Mike Middleton as interim system president on Thursday, after Tim Wolfe resigned from his position earlier this week under pressure in regards to recent racially charged incidents on campus.
Help us welcome Mike Middleton (BA '68, JD '71) as the interim @umsystem president! pic.twitter.com/8RVpP7OpBX— Mizzou (@Mizzou) November 12, 2015
Speaking to press after his appointment was announced, Middleton said of recent events, "I completely understand the frustration of our students, staff and community."
.@KOMUnews Middleton: let me make it clear though that one thing will not be tolerated - harmful or hateful actions to the community.— Samantha Myers (@SamanthaMyersTV) November 12, 2015
Middleton: We have to confront many uncomfortable issues moving forward... we have to improve climate and culture on campus— Ariel Rothfield KSHB (@arothfield) November 12, 2015
Middleton said that he had been working with activist group Concerned Student 1950, even before the group officially formed, and would continue to meet with them.
For their part, the group applauded Middleton's appointment.
We are excited for the new leadership under Interim President Middleton!— ConcernedStudent1950 (@CS_1950) November 12, 2015
We strongly support Deputy. Chancellor Middleton as Interim President; however we are still pushing for shared governance.— ConcernedStudent1950 (@CS_1950) November 12, 2015
Middleton -- who retired after 30 years at the school, most recently serving as deputy chancellor -- is a historic hire: according to the Missourian, he was the first black student to enroll in the University of Missouri's law school and also the the first black professor at the law school.
Following his graduation, Middleton served as an attorney with the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and later served as Assistant Deputy Director of the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. He returned to the University of Missouri in 1985 to teach.
On Thursday, the curators also hastened the transition of interim chancellor Hank Foley, giving him immediate authority as former chancellor R. Bowen Loftin moves to a different role within the system.