$1 million endowed professorship to support autism research, services at MU

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

University of Missouri alumni Bill and Nancy Thompson established the Ron Ashworth Endowed Professorship in Child Development with a $1 million gift.

The gift honors Ron Ashworth, board chair for the Thompson Foundation Board of Directors and a longtime advocate of both neurodevelopmental disability issues and the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

“We are grateful for the continued support the Thompsons have expressed throughout the years, and their generosity will allow us to provide improved clinical care and achieve critical breakthroughs in research related to autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders,” UM President Mun Choi said. “This endowed professorship is a very fitting tribute to Ron Ashworth, as his dedication to helping patients and their families demonstrates his tireless advocacy for advancing autism services in Missouri.”

Ben Black, director of medical services at the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, will hold the Ron Ashworth Professorship.

Due to high demand for autism services in Mid-Missouri, the waitlist for new patients at the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders can last nearly a year in some cases.