When we joined Conference USA (CUSA) last summer, we gained access to an exciting, new level of competition — on and off the field.

“As members of CUSA, we have opportunities to showcase our academic and scholarly excellence to broader audiences,” says Provost Clarenda Phillips. “I could not feel more proud of the way our campus community has shown up and competed in every realm.”

This year, we participated in two CUSA programs that recognize achievements in academics: CUSA Stars of Tomorrow and the CUSA Faculty Achievement Award.

CUSA Stars of Tomorrow

This spring, Mo State’s Cole Coursen and Isaac Moon were among 20 students selected for CUSA’s Stars of Tomorrow program. They traveled to Huntsville, Alabama, for the 2026 Air National Guard CUSA Basketball Championships at Propst Arena. During the visit, they enjoyed a full day of professional development and engagement with the local business community.

“My favorite part of the experience was the chance to interact and network with high-achieving students from each CUSA member institution — all while representing and sharing my experience at Mo State with fellow students, local leaders and conference representatives,” Moon says.

CUSA Faculty Achievement Award

We also celebrated our first CUSA Faculty Achievement Award winner. Dr. Paul Durham, distinguished professor in the biology department, was honored with this award, thanks to his outstanding contributions in teaching, research and service.

Durham’s research has produced more than 7,400 citations, secured over $18 million in funding and resulted in 18 patents for novel therapeutic approaches. Beyond his research, Durham has mentored more than 170 undergraduate and graduate students.

Dr. Ken Brown, chief academic strategy officer, notes that Durham’s selection is particularly meaningful, given that it marks our university’s first year of eligibility for the award.

“It is both a personal achievement for Paul and a historic moment for our institution,” Brown says.

Next Year’s CUSA Faculty Achievement Award

Our university will select a recipient of the CUSA Faculty Achievement Award each year. The next round of applications will open in December. Learn about the award and the application process.