Blanche Touhill
Chancellor
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Laureate 2006
When Blanche Touhill was starting high school, she decided she wanted to become a school teacher. She knew she would have difficulty carrying out her goal. Her father had recently died and her mother had taken a job to help support the family. Blanche’s mother told her she would help her accomplish her dream but she suggested that Blanche assume some of the responsibilities for attaining her goal. She asked that Blanche view going to high school as if she were going to a job. Her responsibilities were to study hard, get good grades and engage in extra-curricular activities so she could become a well rounded individual. If she did those things, her mother believed, the chances were very good she could get a scholarship to college. Blanche followed her mother’s advice and did win a four year scholarship to St. Louis University. Since she also wanted to teach on the college level she also obtained a master’s degree and doctoral degree. When Blanche started her career as a college teacher she finally had the “job” she had aspired to attain. While she was teaching she continued her extra-curricular activities which linked her to the St. Louis community. When Blanche became Chancellor of the University of Missouri – St. Louis, she made one of her themes the establishment of partnerships between the University and the St. Louis community. Those partnerships helped both the University and the St. Louis community to grow and prosper. Blanche’s main goal as Chancellor of the University of Missouri – St. Louis was to open opportunities for students to fulfill their dreams in their chosen profession. In addition, as a result of the various “partnerships” involving the students, she hoped the students would link with the St. Louis community and be involved not only in creating community opportunities, but meeting community challenges.
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