March 26, 2025
Contact: Janese Heavin, heavinj@missouri.edu
The University of Missouri will host two events on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. Members of the media may register to attend one or both of them.
President’s Distinguished Lecture
WHAT:
The University of Missouri will host a President’s Distinguished Lecture Series event featuring Craig Piercy. Piercy’s lecture is titled “Are we good enough for nuclear?”
WHO:
Piercy is the CEO and executive director of the American Nuclear Society, leading a community of over 10,000 nuclear professionals to advance the development of nuclear sciences and technologies for peaceful uses. Since joining ANS as its first CEO in 2019, he has restructured the organization, launched the 24/7 NuclearNews site, established offices in Washington, D.C., and Illinois, and created a Rapid Response Task Force to respond to media requests. These initiatives have bolstered ANS' ability to coalesce a community of nuclear experts, impact federal and state policy, and expand access to nuclear science education.
In 2024, Piercy was named one of “Washington, D.C.’s 500 Most Influential People” by Washingtonian Magazine. Before joining ANS, he led the Washington Office of Bose Public Affairs Group and worked on Capitol Hill for 8 years. Piercy holds a degree in government and politics from the University of Maryland.
The President’s Distinguished Lecture Series invites leaders of world-renowned research organizations, universities and other industries to share their expertise with the Mizzou community.
WHEN:
Wednesday, April 2
Keynote address: 9:30 a.m.
WHERE:
Monsanto Auditorium, Bond Life Sciences Center
1201 Rollins St.
Columbia, Missouri
**NOTE** Media members who wish to attend must RSVP no later than March 31.
Ribbon-cutting ceremony
WHAT:
University of Missouri leaders will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a 47,000-square-foot addition to the University of Missouri Research Reactor facility. Dubbed “MURR West,” the $20 million, three-story addition to the existing MURR North Building expands the available workspace for staff and allows for collaboration with researchers or industry partners through available shell space. The partnering opportunities offer more resources to discover new innovations in nuclear science and radioisotopes that provide benefits to people around the country and the world. Read more about the project here.
WHO:
Speakers include:
Matt Sanford, executive director of MURR
Mun Choi, University of Missouri president
Blaine Luetkemeyer, former U.S. Congressman; member, University of Missouri Board of Curators
Todd Graves, chair of the University of Missouri Board of Curators
Roy Blunt, former U.S. Senator
WHEN:
Wednesday, April 2
11:30 a.m.
WHERE:
University of Missouri Research Reactor
1513 Research Park Dr.
Columbia, Missouri
**NOTE** Images and b-roll video of MURR are available upon request. Media who wish to attend must RSVP no later than March 31.
