As Thanksgiving approaches, I’m grateful to each one of you for your dedication to Missouri State University and our students. Every day, your work brings our public affairs mission to life.

Last Friday, the 2025 Wall of Fame induction ceremony took place, honoring two deserving former staff members: Don Simpson and Kathy Davis. Together, they contributed 66 years of service to the university, making an impact in the areas of enrollment management and advising.

I was honored to join many of you in celebrating their legacies. The examples they set highlight the positive difference one person can make in the life of a university.

A Homecoming to remember

Our sense of pride and community was also on full display during Homecoming, our first as members of Conference USA. And to top it off, our Bears football team won against University of Texas at El Paso, making five wins in a row!

Thank you to everyone who made this year’s event such a success. From those who organized alumni and student events to the staff who made sure our campus looked its best, your hard work showed what Bear spirit is all about. It was indeed a special weekend to welcome alumni back, celebrate our traditions and cheer on our student-athletes.

Support for Bear Pantry

Finally, I want to express my appreciation to everyone who has supported the Bear Pantry. The demand for food assistance has increased significantly in recent weeks, and your generosity is helping us meet that need. Whether you’ve donated items, volunteered or helped spread the word, you’ve made a tangible difference in the lives of our students and fellow employees. This is what community engagement looks like – Bears helping Bears.

Additional support is still welcome. Check out the ways you can give to the pantry on this page.

Happy Thanksgiving and have a safe and enjoyable celebration.

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

Biff