It’s the midpoint of the semester. Some days, spring is fully here. Other days, it’s barely here. But every day, it’s Bear-ly here. Regardless of what the weather serves up, we can count on fellow Bears to wow us.

Enjoy this sampling of good news from recent weeks!

Career Milestones

Congratulations are in order for 53 faculty members who learned that their applications for tenure and/or promotion were approved. University leadership, including President Dr. Biff Williams, Interim Provost Dr. Tamera Jahnke and the deans of Missouri State’s colleges, recently made rounds to deliver the good news in person. Applications for tenure and/or promotion from the following faculty members received approval from academic leadership and are scheduled to go into effect in August, subject to approval by the Missouri State University Board of Governors:

College of Business

• Dr. Kimberly Church, promoted to professor
• Dr. Daniel Goering, granted tenure and promoted to associate professor
• Dr. Raju Mainali, promoted to senior instructor
• Dr. Megan Ramsey, granted tenure and promoted to associate professor
• Kristen Thornton, promoted to senior instructor

College of Education

• Dr. Lindsey Murphy, granted tenure and promoted to associate professor
• Dr. Kayla Robinson, promoted to professor
• Dr. Melissa Schotthofer, promoted to clinical associate professor

College of Natural and Applied Sciences

• Dr. Natasha DeVore, granted tenure and promoted to associate professor
• Dr. Ngoc Do, granted tenure and promoted to associate professor
• Dr. Avery Russell, granted tenure and promoted to associate professor
• Dr. Steven Senger, promoted to professor
• Dr. Patrick Sullivan, promoted to professor

Darr College of Agriculture

• Dr. Albert Barreda, promoted to professor
• Dr. Christine Sudbrock, granted tenure and promoted to associate professor

Libraries

• Jessica Bennett, promoted to professor
• Raegan Wiechert, promoted to associate professor

McQueary College of Health and Human Services

• Dr. Cindi Aurentz, granted tenure and promoted to associate professor
• Dr. Michele Brown, granted tenure and promoted to associate professor
• Emery Bryant, promoted to senior instructor
• Dr. Ashlea Cardin, promoted to professor
• Dr. Christie Cathey, promoted to professor
• Dr. Sapna Chakraborty, promoted to professor
• Dr. Michael Clayton, promoted to professor
• Karla Conner, promoted to clinical associate professor
• Alyssa Dieterich, promoted to clinical associate professor
• Dr. Leslie Echols, promoted to professor
• Dr. Stacy Goddard, granted tenure and promoted to associate professor
• Dr. Wafaa Kaf, promoted to distinguished professor
• Dr. Amanda Keys, promoted to professor
• Anna McWoods, promoted to senior instructor
• Dr. Ashley Houston, granted tenure and promoted to associate professor
• Dr. Hillary Roberts, granted tenure and promoted to associate professor
• Ami Rohr, promoted to clinical associate professor
• Regina Russell, promoted to clinical professor
• Maria Shade, promoted to clinical associate professor
• Ashley Simpson, promoted to clinical associate professor
• Dr. Diane Smith, granted tenure and promoted to associate professor
• Dr. Ronda Entlicher-Stewart, promoted to clinical associate professor
• Tara Stulce, promoted to clinical associate professor
• Dr. Scott Zimmerman, promoted to professor

Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities

• Dr. Heidi Backes, promoted to professor
• Azaria Baggett, granted tenure and promoted to associate professor
• Dr. Jessica Elliott, promoted to associate professor
• Michelle Harvey, granted tenure and promoted to associate professor
• Jeff Loughary, promoted to senior instructor
• Jennifer Murvin, granted tenure and promoted to associate professor
• Cristina Pippa, granted tenure and promoted to associate professor
• Dr. Herbert Rodrigues, granted tenure and promoted to associate professor
• Dr. Vanessa Rodriguez de la Vega, promoted to professor
• Dr. Rhonda Stanton, promoted to professor
• Dr. Alan Tinkler, promoted to professor
• Dr. Tonia Tinsley, promoted to professor

In the News

• Missouri State received the designation “Research Colleges and Universities” from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. This designation identifies institutions that spend more than $2.5 million on research each year but do not meet specific doctorate-granting benchmarks for classification as Research 1 or Research 2 institutions. During fiscal year 2024, Missouri State received $63.2 million in external funding. Interim Provost Dr. Tamera Jahnke expressed gratitude for this external funding and for the faculty who apply for it, noting that it supports student learning and faculty scholarship in a variety of ways. “This recognition is a tribute to Missouri State’s faculty,” Jahnke says.
• The City of Springfield’s Department of Workforce and Economic Vitality received a $150,000 sub-award for the Apprenticeship Building America 2 Grant from the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. The grant will serve at least 50 pre-apprentices in the education, health care and construction sectors. Missouri State’s Registered Youth Apprenticeship program provides consulting services for this work, something the City’s news release describes as “instrumental in program implementation.”
• Dr. Judith Martínez, associate professor in the department of languages, cultures and religions, was named one of Biz 417‘s 2025 Women Who Mean Business.
• Elizabeth Reger, coordinator of the graduate programs office in the College of Business, is one of Springfield Business Journal’s 2025 40 Under 40.

Save These Dates

• April 25: The Einhellig Interdisciplinary Forum showcases graduate research from all disciplines. Faculty are welcomed and encouraged to serve as judges.
• May 5: The All Faculty Recognition Reception is coming up! Set aside space on your calendar to connect, recharge and celebrate colleagues.
• May 9: Spring Commencement 2025 will feature three ceremonies: 9 a.m. (graduates from the McQueary College of Health and Human Services and the College of Natural and Applied Sciences); 1 p.m. (graduates from the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities and the College of Education); and 5 p.m. (graduates from the Darr College of Agriculture, the College of Business, and interdisciplinary academic programs).