MU senior selected as Mitchell Scholar

Christopher Dade is one of 12 American students to receive award for postgraduate study in Ireland

November 20th, 2017

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Christopher Dade, a senior majoring in chemistry at the University of Missouri, has received a George J. Mitchell Scholarship, which provides tuition, accommodations, a living expenses stipend and an international travel stipend for one year of postgraduate study in Ireland. Dade is one of only 12 Americans selected for the 2019 class.

Dade is Mizzou’s first Mitchell Scholar since the program began in 2001. He will study science communication at Dublin City University before obtaining a doctoral degree in chemical biology. Dade’s goal is to promote engagement between the scientific community and the public.

“Being named a Mitchell Scholar is a prestigious honor and everyone at MU is incredibly proud of Christopher,” MU Chancellor Alexander Cartwright said. “Christopher is an exemplary student, excelling in the chemistry department and giving back to campus. During his four years at Mizzou he has worked in labs, helped prospective students learn about campus and advocated on behalf of other students. He is a true example of what it means to be Mizzou-made.”

Dade, 22, of Rogersville, is the son of Jay and Christie Dade. He graduated from Logan-Rogersville High School in 2014. Dade will graduate from MU in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He is a trumpet player for Marching Mizzou, campus president of the Associated Students of the University of Missouri and vice president of External Relations for the Mizzou Alumni Association Student Board. He works as a campus tour guide, providing tours to prospective high school and transfer students.

In 2016, Dade received a DAAD Summer Research Internship at the Leibniz Institute for Plant Biochemistry in Germany to research lead compounds for new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and HIV. For the past three years, Dade has served as a site leader for Mizzou’s alternative spring breaks, organizing projects focused on natural habitat restoration, public lands preservation, and food insecurity.

“I am thrilled to be one of only 12 Americans to study in Ireland as a Mitchell Scholar,” Dade said. “I am very thankful for the support I received at Mizzou in preparing me for this next chapter.”

Sponsors of the Mitchell Scholarship program include Ireland’s Department of Education and Skills, Morgan Stanley, Pfizer, and the American Ireland Fund. The scholars will begin their studies in Ireland in September 2018.