Missouri State University

Skip to content Skip to navigation
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
  • About
  • Past Stories
  • Contact

Mind's Eye

On the trail of drug-resistant parasites

June 17, 2026 by Strategic Communication

Dr. Lacy Sukovaty uses a microscope to study parasites that are prevalent in small animals.

If you’re a dog owner, there’s a good chance that every month, you give your four-footed friend an antiparasitic treatment. For decades, these preventative medications have protected pets from parasites. Such treatments are pillars of responsible pet ownership, said Dr. Lacy Sukovaty, director of Missouri State University’s School of Agricultural Science and Conservation. … [Read more...] about On the trail of drug-resistant parasites

Filed Under: 2025, Featured Story Tagged With: animal science, faculty, Lacy Sukovaty, research

Family, media, culture: Three forces behind human behavior

May 4, 2026 by Strategic Communication

Dr. Muhammad Hassan Raza stands in the center of a hallway, as people blurrily move in the background.

Most people can tell you why Bruce Wayne became Batman. After witnessing his parents’ murder, he created a vigilante alter ego — someone who could hold the bad guys accountable.   Then there’s Norman Bates. His unhealthy relationship with his abusive mother sent him spiraling down a delusional path of violence. And Charles Foster Kane, who so desperately missed the freedom … [Read more...] about Family, media, culture: Three forces behind human behavior

Filed Under: 2025, Featured Story Tagged With: developmental sciences, faculty, Muhammad Hassan Raza, research

Identity and grief: Navigating loss and change through rebuilding your personal identity

April 15, 2026 by Strategic Communication

Erin Wehrman, an associate professor at Missouri State, crosses her arms while posing, surrounded by candles.

“I don’t even know who I am anymore.”   This sentiment is often expressed by people who are grieving the loss of a spouse.  “Identity is complex,” said Dr. Erin Wehrman, associate professor in the department of communication, media, journalism and film at Missouri State University. “We don’t have just one singular identity.”   External factors, such as the people we … [Read more...] about Identity and grief: Navigating loss and change through rebuilding your personal identity

Filed Under: 2025, Featured Story Tagged With: communication, Erin Wehrman, faculty, research

What career attitudes lead to success?

March 4, 2026 by Strategic Communication

Dr. Dan Goering, an associate professor in management, surrounded by professionally-dressed mannequins.

Dr. Daniel Goering’s path to academia was not a straight line. There were twists and turns along the way. Then, he found his career fit in 2018 — as a faculty member in the department of management at Missouri State University. “Missouri State attracted me for many reasons, one of them being it is balanced. I wanted to teach and do research, and I felt I could do both … [Read more...] about What career attitudes lead to success?

Filed Under: 2025, Featured Story Tagged With: Daniel Goering, faculty, management, research

Understanding the growing mind: How mentalization shapes a child’s development

February 13, 2026 by Strategic Communication

A portrait of Dr. Choi smiling for a photo as she leans against a wooden window frame.

Understanding the intricate relationship between a child’s social and emotional growth and the influences of their parents and caregivers is crucial.   Dr. Hailey Hyunjin Choi, assistant professor in Missouri State University’s School of Teaching, Learning and Developmental Sciences, focuses on unraveling these intricate dynamics. She sheds light on how children’s … [Read more...] about Understanding the growing mind: How mentalization shapes a child’s development

Filed Under: 2025, Featured Story Tagged With: Childhood education and family studies, College of Education, faculty, Hailey Hyunjin Choi, research

Compound Creator: How one professor is rattling cages and harnessing energy

January 29, 2026 by Strategic Communication

Dr. Tiglet Besara stands in front of his lab equipment as he holds a sample.

 Physicist Dr. Tiglet Besara doesn’t just study compound elements — he’s literally creating new ones.  The associate professor in the physics, astronomy and materials science department at Missouri State University is an element explorer of sorts, specifically in a field known as novel materials exploration. This is the process of discovering new materials with unique … [Read more...] about Compound Creator: How one professor is rattling cages and harnessing energy

Filed Under: 2025, Featured Story Tagged With: College of Natural and Applied Sciences, faculty, physics astronomy and materials science, research, Tiglet Besara

Advancing the plant nutrition analysis process

November 18, 2025 by Strategic Communication

Dr. Cyren Rico, chemistry professor, uses scissors to cut up lettuce at a worktable in his lab.

Imagine going on a run one spring afternoon. You pass by a vibrant garden. This flourishing scene is made possible by antioxidants and amino acids — essential nutrients that nurture not only our bodies, but also the soil we depend on.   Like skilled gardeners, these compounds support our immune systems, reduce inflammation and aid protein production. Unfortunately, recent … [Read more...] about Advancing the plant nutrition analysis process

Filed Under: 2025, Featured Story Tagged With: Chemistry, Cyren Rico, faculty, research

Navigating risk in a cancer cluster town

August 15, 2025 by Strategic Communication

Dr. Laura Hart, professor of sociology, examines a paper at her desk in her office. Kevin White/Missouri State University

In the mid-2000s, several residents of Clyde, Ohio, including children, developed cancer at an alarming rate. Then, in 2012, nine feet of toxic sludge was discovered under the basketball court at a recreational park donated to the community by Whirlpool, the town’s largest employer.  Several affected individuals filed a lawsuit against Whirlpool, claiming these illnesses … [Read more...] about Navigating risk in a cancer cluster town

Filed Under: 2025, Featured Story Tagged With: faculty, Laura Hart, research, sociology

The untold stories of faith, childbirth and women’s realities

June 23, 2025 by Strategic Communication

Dr. Philippa Koch poses in front of a farmhouse.

In a world teeming with religious narratives and expectations, what happens when lived experiences do not align? Dr. Philippa Koch, Missouri State University associate professor of religion, explored this question through her research on how Christians in colonial America held onto the doctrine of providence. This is the belief that God oversees everything and sometimes … [Read more...] about The untold stories of faith, childbirth and women’s realities

Filed Under: 2025 Tagged With: faculty, Philippa Koch, religious studies, research

Unraveling the complexities of corporate tax

May 5, 2025 by Strategic Communication

Portrait of Dr. Mollie Adams as she puts together a jigsaw puzzle of dollar bills.

In the complex world of corporate finance, tax compliance stands out as one of the trickiest areas to navigate. Here is where financial strategies and regulations meet.   In this environment, companies are like tightrope walkers. They must balance their desire for tax savings with the need to satisfy regulators. Dr. Mollie Adams, assistant professor in Missouri State … [Read more...] about Unraveling the complexities of corporate tax

Filed Under: 2025 Tagged With: faculty, Mollie Adams, research, School of Accountancy

Archives

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Disclosures
  • Equal Opportunity Employer and Institution
  • © 2026 Board of Governors, Missouri State University
  • Contact Information