Mizzou Legislative Advocacy

Chris Chinn was named Director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture in January 2017. She has held leadership positions in agriculture on the local, state and national level for more than 15 years, working to move the state’s agriculture industry forward through legislative advocacy, social media outreach and publicly speaking on her own lived experience as a fifth-generation farmer. 

As the Director of Agriculture, Chinn has worked closely with Missouri Governor Mike Parson and fellow cabinet members to advance the Governor's development and infrastructure priorities, which include expanding job opportunities in agriculture and repairing roadways, bridges and buildings. Her advocacy has included significant support for the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, where she is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council; her work in elevating the voices of university experts has served to benefit both Mizzou and the state of Missouri as a whole.

"Chris is an inspiration to the next generation of leaders, a dedicated public servant and valued by her peers in agriculture and state government," says 2023 Geyer Award recipient Pat Thomas, BS '97. "She was an early advocate for this industry and brought a commonsense form of conversation to the message that needed to be told."

Chinn resides on her family’s farm in Shelby County with her husband, Kevin, and her two children, Rachelle and Conner.

Senator Tony Luetkemeyer, BA '06, JD '09, has represented Missouri’s 34th District since 2019. He is Chairman of the Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, and was reelected to a second term in November 2022. 

Senator Luetkemeyer began his advocacy and public service to the university while still on campus, serving as the student representative to the Board of Curators and President of the Missouri Students Association. In office, he has been a vocal advocate of both the UM System and the Columbia campus; his leadership has been key to building support for the NextGen MURR initiative, which seeks to build a new, larger research reactor on campus. Once online, this facility would expand critical cancer-fighting research and medical isotope production at MU, benefiting patients both in Missouri and around the world. 

 "It was my privilege to serve with Tony when he was a student Curator," says Curator Emeritus Judith Haggard, BSN '67. "He showed great maturity and leadership, and was able to share the student perspective with us on many issues. It's no surprise to me that he has continued to show that leadership in the Senate."

He and his wife, Lucinda, live in Parkville, MO and enjoy spending time outdoors with their dog, Truman.