UM System vice president Nichols appointed to state non-profit board
Michael Nichols
The Missouri Partnership announced Tuesday that Michael Nichols, UM System Vice President for Research and Economic Development, has accepted an invitation to serve as a member of its Board of Directors.
“Mike’s dedication to education as well as his commitment to the economic development of the state makes him a great selection for the Board,” Hawthorn Foundation Board Chairman Mike Esser said in a news release. “After adjusting our strategy this year to align more with higher education, we were pleased that Mike accepted our invitation to the Board, and we look forward to working with him to attract more business to the state.”
The Hawthorn Foundation extended the invitation to Nichols. Former Governor Kit Bond created the organization in 1982 to brighten Missouri’s economic future. It is made up of corporation and business leaders all committed to this goal.
The Missouri Partnership was created in 2007 and is a branch of this organization. The non-profit business attraction and marketing organization has been frequently recognized as one of the nation’s premier statewide private sector business recruitment organizations. In addition to the Hawthorn Foundation, the Missouri Department of Economic Development also supports it.
“I am very excited to be joining the board of an organization as successful as the Missouri Partnership,” Nichols said in a release. “The integration of university economic development efforts with the advantageous work of the Missouri Partnership will allow progress towards increasing Missouri jobs, GDP and industry standings to be accomplished more effectively.”