Michael Owens says he wouldn’t be where he is today without mentors like Dr. Philip Rothschild, director of the entertainment management program. When Owens, a Springfield native, enrolled at Missouri State University, he planned to be a teacher but soon discovered entertainment management. “I love live music. I never really understood that there was this entire … [Read more...] about Making his mark
When it comes to marketing, Megan Short, executive director of the Springfield Contractor’s Association (SCA), has tried it all. Short earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing management and Master of Business Administration from Missouri State University. The Springfield Business Journal named Short among the “2021 Most Influential Women.” As the face of the SCA, … [Read more...] about Finding her fit
Support is powerful. Everyone needs support. For Missouri State University graduate Victor Pagan-Cruz, support came in the form of MSU. During Pagan-Cruz’s time at MSU, he came out as gay to his family and friends. “My first boss at MSU was gay himself and we bonded well over it,” Pagan-Cruz said. “He was one of the first people I came out to. Still, to this … [Read more...] about Finding support outside of family and friends
Sandy Pundmann is a trailblazer. She was a first-generation student who bucked the odds and thrived in two male-dominated fields. When the St. Charles native was 13, her father died. Her mom, then a stay-at-home mother, went to work as a babysitter, waitress and telemarketer to support her two children. “She really instilled that education was important. She … [Read more...] about Alumna Sandy Pundmann receives prestigious auditing award
Tony Gunn Jr. grew up with the realization that there was a strong possibility he could become a negative statistic. He said he was “in a city surrounded by many of them.” Even though he had good grades and loved school, he was aware “there was a lot of activity as a young Black man from St. Louis that I had to push back against.” He wanted to find his own … [Read more...] about Alumnus is an advocate, author, academic and much more