Leo E. Morton, chancellor of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, had the community in mind when he took the job nearly 10 years ago. In announcing his retirement, he showed the same concern. Morton said he would remain through spring 2018.
Morton said Tuesday he wanted to announce his retirement well in advance to help the campus lay the groundwork for a graceful transition. He reaffirmed the commitment of UMKC to be Kansas City’s university.
During his tenure as chancellor, which began on Dec. 15, 2008, Morton oversaw significant growth in enrollment. Additionally, Morton led the university’s most successful capital campaign, the creation of a strategic plan for diversity and inclusion and a successful campaign to advance UMKC’s Downtown Campus for the Arts. The latter is one of the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s Big Five priorities.
“I have always tried to serve with the best interests of UMKC and Kansas City close to my heart, and I’ll be working in partnership with our campus and the community to ensure that UMKC continues on the path to be the great university this city needs,” Morton said.
Morton noted that he has several major projects that he wants to complete before he retires. They include a new laboratory building to expand the School of Computing and Engineering, continued work on the Downtown Arts Campus and an urban youth development initiative. He also wants to launch a new Career Development Institute to place UMKC students in high-impact internships throughout the Kansas City community.
Morton was chairman of the UMKC Board of Trustees when he stepped out of his corporate retirement to take on the role of interim chancellor in 2008. Within a short time, he was asked to take on the UMKC leadership role on a permanent basis.
Before becoming UMKC chancellor, Morton held several senior management positions at Aquila Inc. He was named senior vice president and chief administrative officer in 2000.
Morton’s management career covered 40 years in the engineering and manufacturing sectors. Besides Aquila, he worked at AT&T Microelectronics, Bell Laboratories, General Motors, Rust Engineering Co. and Corning Glass.
His retirement plans come as the University of Missouri System and its four campuses undertake the challenge of a major transformation due to significant declines in state funding.
“Having worked through several significant and successful transformations at companies like AT&T and Aquila, I understand that it’s important for the team responsible for long-term execution to develop and own every aspect of the change,” Morton wrote. “There is no question in my mind that UMKC’s conversion will take several years. And, quite frankly, that’s a time commitment I am not able to make.”
He said the campus is in capable hands, however, and he has every confidence in its leadership team.
Barbara A. Bichelmeyer, UMKC provost and executive vice chancellor, said Morton had made the university stronger. “I’m also grateful that he, even in transition, has committed to helping the University find its way into the future as we face unprecedented challenges,” Bichelmeyer said.
Mun Y. Choi, president of the University of Missouri System, cited Morton’s leadership and vision. “Under Chancellor Morton’s leadership, UMKC has seen record growth in enrollment, a renewed commitment to diversity and inclusion, innovation in research and an international reputation in performing arts programs,” Choi said.
Morton has been a strong civic leader in Kansas City for many years. In 2014, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce named him “Kansas Citian of the Year.”
