A year nears its end and the University of Missouri Board of Curators makes way for changes. Curator Paul Steele of Chillicothe has been elected the new president of the board. He tells his colleagues it’s an honor, especially for someone who wasn’t exactly sure what a curator did when he first stepped on campus. Three vacancies will have to be approved in the new year. Curators Sean McGinnis of Springfield, Paul Combs of Kennett and Ted Beckett of Kansas City are leaving after serving their terms. The governor appoints curators, who are then confirmed by the state senate.