Our MSU campus will be hosting the MACURH Regional Business Conference, February 26 – March 1. Our conference staff is made up of 11 student leaders, one graduate assistant, and three full-time staff advisors. While the entire conference team is has worked hard to make this conference come to life, we spoke to Sam Rudoy, RBC Conference Chair, to learn more about the conference preparation experience. Sam is a senior pursuing her Bacheolor’s in socio-political communication with a minor in non-profit leadership. Sam lives on-campus in Monroe apartments and holds many leadership positions in organizations across campus. She is the National Communications Coordinator for the Residence Hall Association and a Mentor for the Bears Mentoring Bears program.
When asked what the most challenging part of planning the conference was, she stated, “ensuring the completion of tasks that weren’t mine – with fourteen other awesome people working in fourteen different areas, it was hard to keep track of everything at times!” Sam has expressed that she is very excited to new and returning attendees at the conference, and she hopes they take away how meaningful it is to make connections. The conference theme for this year is Roadmap to Growth, which symbolizes the “focus on one’s leadership journey rather than the destination.” Sam said, “We want to take delegates on their own road trip, if you will, and help them create their own roadmaps to growth in their leadership roles. The meaning behind our ‘Roadmap to Growth’ theme is that while we all have individual paths, they’ve all intersected and led us to RBC. We want to celebrate that!” Thank you Sam and the Conference team for making this conference a possibility!
Sam Rudoy – Conference Chair, Gabriella Coambes – Finance Chair, Matt Koczan – Safety/Accessibility, and Transportation Chair, Benjamin Crawford and Kenzie Mullins – Marketing and Spirit Chairs, Maggie Murphy – Dining Chair, Zoe Stevens – Housing Chair, Peyton Griffith – Volunteer Coordinator, Triona Leach – Sponsorship Chair, Sadie Hugelman – Philanthropy Chair, Sarah Desmond – Technology Chair, Winston Laughlin – Registration Chair, Toni Braddish – Advisor, Andrew Thompson – Advisor, Reagan Mulungi Mwenyi – Advisor
Kai Jones is a sophomore majoring in vocal music education. Kai is a Resident Assistant in Kentwood Hall and has lived on campus for two years. Aside from being an RA, Kai is also a member of the Missouri Choral Directors Association. Kai said, “living on campus makes it very easy to get in touch with friends that also live on campus because they are just a short walk away.” We want to brag on Kai for going above and beyond in their duties as an RA. When Kai was visiting Hammons House, the fire alarm went off. There was one RA who was unable to clear their own floor, and Kai stepped in to help make sure that all of the necessary procedures were followed and the floor was clear of residents. Thank you for being an amazing Student Leader!
Kierstin Howard, Assistant Coordinator for Leadership Development and Programming, has worked at MSU for 4.5 years, starting as a Desk Assistant, serving as an RA, and now as a graduate assistant! Her favorite part of working at MSU has been the people, Kierstin stated. “This is my 5th year at Missouri State, and I truly consider it home. The people are the reason I’ve stayed and grown here, and I aim to return some of that kindness and support to students who may need it as I did.” She has mentored both RHA and NRHH student leaders to successfully host educational and social programs. Most recently, Kierstin helped a student leader execute the restructured version of Silver Bells, a large-scale banquet that is put on to recognize the hard work of student leaders like RA’s, Hall Councils, and Desk Assistants. The event was well received, and all our student leaders left feeling fulfilled in the work they do. It was said that “all of this wouldn’t be possible without the personal steps taken at the advisory level, which Kierstin is a large part of!”
When talking with Kierstin about this, she stated, “in terms of Silver Bells specifically, Zoe Stevens – RHA’s Leadership Development Coordinator, was the brains behind Silver Bells’ restructuring. I just had the opportunity to listen and translate the reasoning to other staff members. Really, the students do all the hard work!” Thank you, Kierstin, for being a champion for student success!
Inspired by Missouri Good Neighbor Week, the motto for Residence Life going into the 2026-2027 academic year, was to “Be a Good Neighbor.” Residence Life staff were encouraged to focus on our opportunities to be a good neighbor to our coworkers and residents and intentionally engage in our community as we began the spring semester. In acknowledgment of our theme, we provided staff members with a “neighBEAR” shirt to wear on BearWear Friday’s, as a way to help us keep positive community connections top of mind.
