Maya Angelou wrote, “I believe in living a poetic life, an art full life. Everything we do from the way we raise our children to the way we welcome our friends is part of a large canvas we are creating.”

The College of Arts and Letters develops the creative abilities of Missouri State University students and advances the arts in southwest Missouri.

An eight-figure gift from the C.W. Titus Foundation will support scholarships for students in the college, and funds for an art park.

Annual gifts will provide scholarships in the amount of $10,000 per student, per academic year for selected students, beginning in fall 2020. Within four years, more than 60 Missouri State students will be benefitting from this scholarship. The scholarships will eventually help hundreds of students.

College renamed Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts and Letters

In recognition of this gift, Missouri State announced that the College of Arts and Letters will be renamed in honor of Judith Enyeart Reynolds. In addition, the new art park, a prominent feature associated with the new, permanent amphitheater space located near Craig Hall, will be called the Judith Enyeart Reynolds Art Park.

Tim and Judy Reynolds are both long-time supporters of the university. Tim is a trustee of the C.W. Titus Foundation and Missouri State alumnus. Judy attended Missouri State as well and worked in the English department from 1966 until her retirement in 1994.

“This gift makes a transformational statement as one of the largest in our university history,” said Dean Shawn Wahl. “Select students in all seven academic departments in the college will receive full-ride scholarships for many years.

“I can’t think of anything more exciting than a gift that shapes both personal and structural dreams. It removes economic barriers for students and helps the university build structures that foster student success. This gift makes our community stronger.”

C.W. Titus Foundation has long history of supporting Missouri State

Over the years, the C.W. Titus Foundation has provided significant support for public broadcasting through Ozarks Public Television and KSMU.

“Tim and Judy have strong ties to Missouri State University,” said MSU President Clif Smart. “Judy was a member of our campus community for almost 30 years. And Tim is a graduate. For many years, the C.W. Titus Foundation has supported public radio and public television.

“The foundation has been a true partner in supporting public broadcasting in the Ozarks. We’re grateful for their continued support of the arts.”

Gift contributes toward Onward, Upward: The Campaign for Missouri State University

Recent gifts, including this gift from the C.W. Titus Foundation, brings the total raised in the university’s campaign to more than $185 million. The campaign goal is $250 million by the end of 2022.

“While we’re grateful for the financial support of this gift, we also celebrate the profound impact this gift will have on hundreds of students for many years to come,” said Brent Dunn, executive director of the Missouri State University Foundation.

About the Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts and Letters

The College of Arts and Letters promotes learning, scholarship and service to the broader community in all aspects of human communication — spoken, written, visual, musical, dramatic and electronic.

The college supports more than 45 undergraduate and 10 graduate programs in seven academic departments, including:

• Art and design.
• Communication.
• English.
• Media, journalism and film.
• Modern and classical languages.
• Music.
• Theatre and dance.

The college also supports five interdisciplinary programs in:

• Antiquities.
• Electronic arts.
• Global studies.
• Linguistics.
• Musical theatre.