The University of Missouri Board of Curators has elected Todd Graves to serve as vice chair for a one-year term, effective Jan. 1, 2024. Appointed to the board in 2021, Graves is in the middle of a six-year term as the sixth congressional representative on the nine-member board.

The Board of Curators serves as the governing body of the University of Missouri System, which includes the University of Missouri-Columbia, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Missouri University of Science and Technology and the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Graves succeeds newly elected board chair Robin Wenneker as the vice chair.

“The University of Missouri is on a great path,” Graves said in a release. “I’m very pleased with the progress and plans across the entire system, and I look forward as vice chair to contributing to our success.”

Graves earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics, summa cum laude, from the University of Missouri in 1988. Four generations of his family, including his great-grandfather, father and three of his four children, in addition to his wife, have graduated from the University of Missouri. Two of his children are currently attending classes there, including one pursuing a post-graduate degree.

At Graves Garrett, Graves represents clients nationwide before federal and state courts and administrative agencies. His areas of experience include white-collar criminal defense, political speech and election law, internal investigations, regulatory compliance, and complex commercial litigation.

Before founding his law firm, Graves served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. Prior to his role with the federal government, Todd was twice elected Platte County Prosecuting Attorney, in 1994 and 1998. At the time of his election in 1994, he was the youngest full-time prosecuting attorney in Missouri. He was appointed United States Attorney from his elected position.

Raised on a family farm near Tarkio, Missouri, Graves resides with his wife, Tracy, on a 270-acre farm north of Kansas City that has been in the family since 1867.