With a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, a master’s of science degree from MIT and almost 15 years of high-level experience in the corporate world, Leo E. Morton brings a diverse range of experience and expertise to his role as UMKC’s chancellor.

Leo was named UMKC’s chancellor on Dec. 15, 2008. Prior to assuming the chancellorship, Leo worked at Aquila Inc., joining the firm in January 1994 as vice president, performance management. He was named senior vice president in 1996 with responsibility for re-engineering, corporate procurement and environmental services. Morton assumed additional duties for the management of human resources in 1997 and information technology in 1998. He was named senior vice president and chief administrative officer in 2000 as he also assumed responsibility for additional corporate services. Before he joined Aquila, Leo’s management career spanned 41 years in a wide range of engineering and manufacturing positions with AT&T Microelectronics, Bell Laboratories, General Motors, Rust Engineering Company and Corning Glass.

Morton has been a UMKC Trustee since 2000 and was in his third year as chairman of the Trustees Board when he stepped down to serve as the university’s interim chancellor. Previously, he was a member on UMKC’s Center for the City board and chaired the community relations committee of the Trustees.

In addition to his day-to-day role as chancellor, Leo is active in the Kansas City community. He is on the committee of Prep-KC, a major regional youth educational development organization. In addition, he is on the MRIGlobal and Truman Medical Center's Board of Directors, Business & Education for Schools of Tomorrow (B.E.S.T.) Blue Valley School District, Urban Neighborhood Initiative, Western Athletic Conference, Pembroke Hill School Board, Kansas City No Violence Alliance (KC NoVA), Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, and the National Association of Corporate Directors, Heartland Chapter.

Morton has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Tuskegee University, and a master’s of science degree in management from MIT.