By Eli Yokley

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon praised the service of University of Missouri-Columbia Chancellor Brady Deaton, after the university’s chief executive officer announced he would be stepping down later this year.

“I greatly appreciate the years of dedicated service and the sustained and valuable contributions of Chancellor Brady Deaton to the University of Missouri,” Nixon said in a statement to PoliticMo. “He is a highly respected academic leader who enabled the University to continue its rise in prominence, and I look forward to the leadership he will provide for the University in role of Chancellor Emeritus.”

Mizzou announced Deaton’s move during a press conference Wednesday afternoon in Columbia. Deaton, who took the job in 2004, is the university’s 21st chancellor. He will take an emeritus role to focus on the university’s international mission – a top priority of his over the past decade.

“I am extraordinarily honored and privileged to have led the University of Missouri through the last nine years of exciting, eventful and rewarding times,” Deaton said. “Any success attributed to my leadership is due to the wonderful support of my family; the skilled and dedicated work of my staff; the unmitigated, common commitment of deans and faculty to providing a world class education to our students; and the amazing spirit of our alumni.”

University of Missouri President Tim Wolfe, who oversees all of the university system’s campuses, said Deaton’s exit will launch an intensive search for a strong replacement.

“Finding a leader with the academic background and leadership prowess exhibited by Dr. Deaton will be our top priority,” he said.