Amid criticism over his handling of racial issues, University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe announced his resignation on Nov. 9, 2015. On Nov. 12, the UM System Board of Curators appointed former University of Missouri-Columbia Deputy Chancellor Mike Middleton to serve as interim president during a search for a new president.
Middleton joined the MU faculty as a law professor in 1985. He retired as deputy MU chancellor on Aug. 31, 2015, after 17 years in the position.