Longtime MU professor and administrator Jim Spain to retire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Jim Spain, a faculty member and administrator at the University of Missouri for more than three decades, will retire.

According to the university, Spain joined the MU faculty in 1990 as an Extension Dairy Specialist, before starting service as the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies in 2007.

At a meeting of the University of Missouri Board of Curators on Thursday, University President Mun Choi recognized Spain for his years of service.

"When I go around the state and talk to parents of students that graduated from our university, they bring up one name consistently," Choi said. "It's about how Jim Spain made an impact to students regardless of their discipline."

Spain earned a bachelor's degree in animal sciences from North Carolina State University, and both a master's degree and doctorate from Virginia Tech in Dairy Science.

"Many of the student success metrics that I shared at Mizzou, we can credit to Jim and his team," Choi said.

"When you're around him, you can tell he cares. He's interested in human beings. He wants to connect to you, he wants to understand what you're trying to do," curator John Raines said at the meeting.

Choi said Spain intends to retire to North Carolina and spend time with his family.