COLUMBIA, Mo. — The University of Missouri Board of Curators announced today that Valerie Slayton, current interim secretary of the Board of Curators, has been selected to fill the role permanently. Slayton will report directly to the board, and the appointment is effective immediately. Her focus on new processes, strategies and technologies will allow the board to better serve its fellow Missourians.
“As I step into the role of secretary of the Board of Curators, I’m honored to serve an institution that I deeply value and respect,” Slayton said. “I look forward to supporting the board’s mission with integrity and dedication, fostering meaningful collaboration and advancing the values that make the University of Missouri System exceptional.”
The search committee was chaired by past board chair Michael Williams and included Curator Jeff Layman and current Chair Robin Wenneker. The secretary of the Board of Curators is a high-level leadership position and one of three offices directly hired by and reporting to the board. The secretary serves as the primary liaison between the board (the university’s governing body) and the university administration.
“Valerie Slayton has been a stellar part of the Board of Curators since she joined in 2019,” Williams said. “Since August, she has supported the board, evolved the role and managed all her duties strategically and efficiently. We are excited to select her for the role of secretary and look forward to working together moving forward.”
In her interim role, Slayton was pivotal in advancing strategic initiatives and fostering seamless communications across university campuses.
Slayton joined the Board of Curators office in 2019, bringing a decade of experience in financial analysis, business operations and strategic planning. Slayton’s previous roles include administrative consultant for the University of Missouri System and business management for McClure Engineering and Plaza Dental Group, LLC.
Since moving to Columbia in 2006, Slayton has been committed to the community through her work with Heart of Missouri Girls on the Run, Rainbow House and the Columbia Human Services Commission.
The University of Missouri System has a unique and important role in providing teaching, research, service and economic development to the state. In addition to its four campuses — the University of Missouri-Columbia (MU), the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T) and the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) — the UM System includes a statewide healthcare system, multiple research parks and business incubators, agricultural research stations and a vast network of small business and technology development centers, extension centers, telehealth network sites and MOREnet sites. Collectively, the UM System is a $4 billion enterprise that represents one of the greatest assets of the state of Missouri.
