Michael Frizell, Director of Student Learning Services here at Missouri State University, co-directs the Bear CLAW (The Center of Learning and Writing), the PASS program (Peer Assisted Study Session Programs), and the Absent Professor Program.
Michael holds two master’s degrees from Missouri State University, one in Creative Writing and Theatre, along with a MFA in Creative Nonfiction from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Besides being Director of Student Learning Services, Michael has several other roles on campus. These include: working with Office of Student Conduct for over ten years (hearing Title-1 cases), being a part of the resilience committee, and teaching. He teaches classes for theater and dance and on occasion will teach GEP 101 courses, and IDS 118 (which is focused on enhancing effective study skills).
He has worked for the university since the 2000s. He notes, “I was hired on right out of my grad program while completing my second master’s degree.” At first, Michael taught the collegiate reading and learning program then became the writing center director.
Through his time at Missouri State, he has worked to show students and family members that the Bear Claw is unique. Michael says, “Many universities have a learning center, but what makes ours unique is there are only three full-time employees and the rest of the workers are either students or grad assistants. These students are talented enough to go through training and work with other students. We know peer-to-peer interactions are powerful. The Bear Claw is a free service for students, which is rare for a university campus.” To find out more about the Bear Claw, click on the link to find out more: https://bearclaw.missouristate.edu/.
While Michael is dedicated to the university, he has other passions outside of the university such as published academic work for the National College Learning Associations. Along with his published academic work, he writes comic books for Title Wave. Explaining, he says he writes comic books on famous people for the company on many different subjects, such as: soccer players, politics, and rock bands. Just recently, he published a graphic novel, Bender. Bender is based on a true story about “serial killers in Kansas during the time of the Little House on the Prairie,” Michael explains. “Completing Bender took two years of research, six months writing with a mentor, and four years of artwork from his brother, a graphic designer.”
Michael offers this piece of advice to students attending Missouri State, saying “study smart and not harder. Students really do themselves a disservice following the same patterns that they followed in high school and think that it will help them survive the university. That won’t work. Classes are much more difficult.” Continuing he says, “We know real learning does not necessary all happen in the classroom but when leaving the classroom the student must make the information their own.”
In closing, Frizell is passionate about his work with the students and loves when students stop by his office hours!
(Kayla Andres is a junior, majoring in Elementary Education. She is a member of the Student Activities Council and the Student Alumni Association.)