Last week, we had the privilege of hosting a reception and dinner for our emeritus faculty and staff.
It was a wonderful evening and a meaningful reminder of the people who helped build Missouri State University into the institution we are today.
Our emeriti represent decades of teaching, service, leadership and care for students. They shaped our culture, mentored colleagues, supported generations of Bears and carried forward our public affairs mission.
Missouri State is stronger when our retired faculty and staff remain connected to our campus community. They bring history, perspective and wisdom. They understand what makes this university special and help us stay grounded in the values that guide our future.
During the dinner, we shared updates on what has happened across campus over the past year. There’s a lot to celebrate.
Before I share a few highlights of this academic year, I want to thank our faculty for their outstanding work. These accomplishments reflect countless hours of teaching, mentoring, research, creative activity, grant writing, program development, community engagement and service to students.
Excellence in action
Our faculty members continue to raise the bar for Missouri State. They are building new academic programs, strengthening existing ones, expanding research, supporting workforce needs and bringing our public affairs mission to life in classrooms, labs, studios, clinics and communities.
In the Darr College of Agriculture, the college finalized and began implementing “Darr Next,” its 2025-30 strategic plan focused on academic excellence, student success, partnerships and community impact. The college also celebrated a ribbon cutting for the Small Animal Education Center and Agricultural Innovation Hub, added an agricultural technology certificate and launched an interdisciplinary tourism management degree.
In the College of Business, our IT cybersecurity program was designated a National Security Agency Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. The college celebrated the naming of the Pendleton Family School of Accountancy; the opening of the Construction Education Success Center addition to Kemper Hall; and students earning top three finishes in seven state, national and international competitions.
In the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, faculty designed and proposed the first PhD in university history through the School of Defense and Strategic Studies. The college also advanced an MFA in Creative Writing, with the first cohort set to begin this fall, and the Judith Enyeart Reynolds Performing Arts Complex and Craig Hall renovation are nearing completion. The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice received more than $500,000 from the Missouri Office of Homeland Security, trained nearly 1,000 law enforcement officers and conducted the first active shooter training inside a state capitol building in the United States.
In the College of Natural and Applied Sciences, faculty published more than 160 peer-reviewed publications in 2025, many with student co-authors. Faculty and students made more than 500 conference presentations; the college secured major external funding from the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health; and Roy Blunt Hall renovations will be completed this summer.
In the College of Education, the Future Educators partnership with Springfield Public Schools continued to strengthen the teacher pipeline. The Center for Rural Education expanded its work with rural school districts and earned a competitive national grant to support student success systems.
In the Graduate College, research doctorate planning moved forward through a Missouri State model focused on practice-based problems and apprenticeship elements. The college also expanded opportunities for alumni to continue their education and grew community assistantships with regional employers.
In Meyer Library, our faculty and staff continued their leadership in affordable and open educational resources. This spring, open educational resources impacted about 2,000 students and generated an estimated $200,000 in textbook cost savings.
These highlights show the momentum behind “Igniting Opportunity,” our 2025-30 strategic plan. They also show why our emeritus faculty and staff matter so much. The progress we made over the past year is built on the foundation they helped create.
To our emeritus faculty and staff: Thank you for your service, your commitment and your continued love for Missouri State.
It’s a great day to be a Bear!
Biff