COLUMBIA — The University of Missouri has named Leo Morton chancellor of the University of Missouri System's Kansas City campus after a stint as interim chancellor.
Morton was not originally considered a candidate for the job. But university system President Gary Forsee persuaded Morton to take the permanent position.
He becomes the University of Missouri-Kansas City's seventh leader in the last decade as the institution faces a difficult financial picture.
Former Chancellor Guy Bailey left Aug. 1 to be president at Texas Tech University.
Before being named interim chancellor, the 63-year-old Morton chaired the University of Missouri-Kansas City board of trustees and served as senior vice president and chief administrator for Kansas City-based utility Aquila Inc.