As I connect with Missouri State University faculty, staff and students across campus, I continue to be impressed by all the great work taking place in our colleges. In the College of Natural and Applied Sciences, significant investments, dynamic research and faculty expertise are on full display.

A lot is happening — and it’s all moving our strategic plan forward: driving academic innovation, expanding research and strengthening our regional impact.

Building spaces for the future

If you’ve visited or walked by Roy Blunt Hall lately, you’ve seen plenty of progress. Renovations are ongoing, and we remain on track to complete the project before classes begin this August.

The Blunt Hall transformation is truly a game changer. It strengthens our ability to recruit undergraduate and graduate students who want to study science at Missouri State. We’re seeing similar progress in Cheek Hall. Phase I is nearly complete, and mathematics and computer science faculty and staff have moved into new office spaces. Phase II will wrap up before the end of this year, including updated areas for computer science and computer services.

These investments are about more than buildings. They reflect our commitment to providing exceptional learning environments that support student success and faculty excellence.

Showcasing research and discovery

April is a busy month for CNAS, filled with events and research. Last week, it hosted the 2026 Missouri Academy of Science Annual Meeting on campus, a statewide scientific conference that brings together students, faculty and professionals across many STEM fields.

Several of the college’s students and faculty, as well as faculty from the McQueary College of Health and Human Services and Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, presented at the event.

This week, more is happening:

• Tomorrow, the department of mathematics will welcome nearly 1,000 high school students and teachers for the Pummill Math Relays in the Plaster Student Union. An event like this inspires the next generation of problem-solvers and introduces them to Missouri State.
• On Thursday, the 17th Annual CNAS Undergraduate Research Symposium will take place in the PSU. There will be close to 100 student presentations, showcasing the kind of hands-on, experiential learning that defines our academic mission. Come and explore the student presentations and celebrate their achievements. The symposium will conclude with an awards ceremony at 3 p.m. in Blunt Hall, Room 101.
• On Friday, the college’s graduate students will present their work at the 33rd Annual Einhellig Interdisciplinary Forum in the PSU. This long-standing event highlights collaboration across disciplines and reinforces the importance of research in addressing real-world challenges.

Together, these initiatives show that our students are not just learning in the classroom. They’re applying knowledge, engaging with the community and contributing to meaningful discovery.

Recognizing excellence

Another point of pride for CNAS is its distinguished faculty members.

The college currently has 10 named professorships and fellowships that recognize outstanding teaching, research and service. It’s hopeful to add an 11th named position later this spring. That continued growth speaks to the support of our donors and partners, and it reinforces our commitment to academic excellence.

Everything happening in CNAS ties back to who we are as a university. We’re committed to developing educated individuals. We do that through innovative teaching, impactful research and strong community engagement. And we do it by investing in our people and our spaces.

To Dean Tammy Jahnke and the entire CNAS community, thank you for taking science education to greater heights.

University Council highlights

Last week’s University Council highlights included updates to the FERPA policy (removing student addresses and phone numbers), revisions to graduate assistantship eligibility and procedures, and the 2026-27 Springfield campus fee schedule.

You can find the agenda and presentation on the University Council website.

Thanks for checking in. It’s a great day to be a Bear!

Biff