Columbia, Mo. ? University of Missouri System President Gary Forsee will take an extended leave of absence to deal with his wife’s recent cancer diagnosis.

The university system said in a statement that Forsee’s wife, Sherry, was diagnosed with cancer after an emergency surgery last week.

The system’s Board of Curators met in a special session via conference call Thursday evening. The meeting was held out of the president’s office at University Hall, but Forsee, who was not present, participated by phone.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reported that Steve Owens, the system’s general counsel, will handle Forsee’s duties during the leave.

Forsee has been president of the four-campus system since February 2008. He and his wife have two grown daughters.