The midpoint of the spring semester is an ideal time to pause and take stock of a few of the remarkable things happening in the Missouri State community during this academic year. Thanks to our faculty’s expertise and recognition within their fields, they’ve created unique learning opportunities for students, taken on meaningful roles within their disciplines and earned accolades for their accomplishments.
Creating Outstanding Student Opportunities
- Sixteen entertainment management students were part of making Super Bowl LVIII happen. The group traveled to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl, where they assisted with operational and media relations tasks. This year’s event marked the 23rd year that Missouri State students have volunteered at the Super Bowl. “A major goal in our entertainment management program is to prepare students to be stagers of experiences,” says Dr. Philip Rothschild, professor of management.
- Dr. Santimukul Santra, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, recently received an award of $334,267 from the National Institutes of Health. In addition to supporting Santra’s nanosensor technology research, the grant will provide opportunities for students. Santra’s lab offers opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students. “He has an outstanding record of including students in his research,” says Dr. Tamera Jahnke, dean of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CNAS).
- A group of students and faculty attended the Missouri Association for Behavior Analysis (MOABA) conference. Students from the behavior analysis and therapy program and the Doctor of Psychology program, along with student researchers from the undergraduate lab, participated in research presented at the conference. Dr. Jordan Belisle, associate professor in the School of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences, serves as president of MOABA.
New Discipline-specific Leadership Roles
- Dr. Deborah Larson, interim head of the department of communication, media, journalism and film, recently accepted a position on the Board of Governors for the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Mid-America chapter. Larson expects the role to deepen Missouri State’s ties to the film and television industry. “Many of the members are news directors, public relations professionals, educators and industry people who are active in the industry now,” she says. “They have a handle on television and what is happening.”
- Dr. Philippa Koch, associate professor of languages, cultures and religions, was named an Interfaith America 2024–25 Faith and Health Fellow. The appointment comes with a stipend to support Koch’s research, which focuses on the relationship between religion and medicine. During her fellowship, she hopes to organize panel discussions and further her work on a textbook, “Religion and Medicine in America.”
Faculty Recognition
- Dr. Mollie Adams, assistant professor in the School of Accountancy, received the 2023 American Taxation Association’s Teaching Innovation Award. Adams and three co-authors (Kerry Inger, Tina Loraas and James Long from Auburn University) were recognized for an educational case titled, “La Maison des Comptables: A Tax Research, Data Management, and Visualization Case,” which earned notice for its innovative approach and practical applicability in accounting education.
- Dr. Michelle Morgan, associate professor of history, was recently presented with the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. We caught up with Morgan last fall to learn about her style in the classroom, where she strives to create an environment that ensures “each student feels welcomed and intellectually challenged.”
- CNAS named new appointed professorships and fellowships. These include new Roy D. Blunt Life Science Professors, Dr. Cyren Rico, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, and Dr. Razib Iqbal, associate professor of computer science. They also include the James F. O’Brien Fellow in Chemistry, Dr. Gary Meints, professor of chemistry and biochemistry; the Brian and Anna Tobben Professor in Mathematics, Dr. Ngoc Do, assistant professor of mathematics; and the Mace/Turblex Professor, Dr. Tayo Obafemi-Ajayi, associate professor of cooperative engineering. We recently talked with faculty who’ve received similar appointments about what such recognition means for their teaching and research.
Around Campus…
In upcoming weeks, Missouri State will welcome candidates for the next dean of the Darr College of Agriculture.
- An open forum for Dr. Derald Harp is scheduled for March 21
- An open forum for Dr. Melissa Bledsoe is scheduled for April 1
For more information and to view the candidates’ curricula vitae, visit the webpage.