Reynolds College Blog -

Department of Art and Design announces exhibitions at Carolla and Brick City galleries

August 10, 2026 by Reynolds College

From Aug.3-Sept. 18, Missouri State’s Department of Art and Design will host two new exhibitions highlighting Indigenous contemporary art.

“Linear Irregularities” is currently on view in the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center. “Crossroads” is housed in the Brick City Gallery. Both exhibits will also be on view during the First Friday Artwalk Sept. 4.

“These two shows are the start of a great year of programming for the art and design department,” said Dr. Mitzi Kirkland-Ives, department head. In addition to a robust exhibition schedule for the 2026-27 year, the department will also continue its Visiting Artists, Designers and Scholars series, she added.

Missouri State archaeologists attend crime scene investigation training

August 3, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Two research archaeologists from Missouri State’s Bernice S. Warren Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) attended an archaeological crime scene investigation workshop June 15-18 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

CAR director Kevin Cupka Head and research archaeologist Jennifer Rideout were invited by Stephanie Nutt, Fort Leonard Wood’s Cultural Resource manager, to attend the Archeological Resources Protection Training workshop. Upon completing the training, Cupka Head and Rideout will partner with Texas State University’s Center for Archaeological Studies to support archaeological investigations at Fort Leonard Wood.

According to Cupka Head, the workshop taught archaeologists how to apply their expertise to support criminal investigations. They learned how to collaborate with federal law enforcement in cases of unauthorized digging for artifacts, vandalism of sacred sites and similar acts prohibited on public lands.

Percussion Studio hosts first Discovery Day event

July 27, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Percussion Studio recently held its first Discovery Day learning clinic for area middle and high school students.

Thirteen area students participated in the event, held in April this year on the Springfield campus. Participating students came from Springfield’s Cherokee Middle School, Central High School and Parkview High School as well as Neosho, Nixa and Ozark schools.

Students did not need to audition to attend, according to Dr. Yun Ju Pan, assistant professor in the Department of Music. “Anyone with an interest in learning percussion is warmly welcome,” she said.

The Percussion Studio consists of all music major and minor students who take private percussion lessons. The result is a sense of community and collaboration, Pan said. “For us, the Percussion Studio is like a family—a place where students learn, hang out, practice and rehearse together. They are constantly learning from and supporting one another.”

Paws to the Polls wins MSEED grant

July 20, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Paws to the Polls (PAWS) student organization has been awarded an Experiential Education for Student Development (MSEED) grant from the university’s strategic planning funding.

PAWS will use the MSEED grant during the Fall 2026 semester to conduct research on civic engagement and community involvement at Missouri State. Although the project will occur mostly on the university’s Springfield campus, other off-campus sites include the Greene County Election Center and area high schools. The group also plans to work with Leadership Springfield and the Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC). NAC oversees all neighborhood associations in Springfield.

With the grant, PAWS will coordinate focus groups, surveys, workshops, a voting fair, voter education materials distribution and voter registration events. Later this fall, the students will compile and analyze the data they collect from these efforts.

Between 15-25 PAWS members and other students will participate in the program, according to Dr. Suzanne Walker-Pacheco, faculty advisor to the group. Additionally, another 120-150 student volunteers will eventually participate in the broader program. In all, Walker-Pacheco estimates, the project will reach anywhere from 3,000-6,000 students.

Missouri State Chorale members describe tour to Australia and New Zealand

July 15, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

The Missouri State Chorale once again proudly represented the university on an international stage when they traveled to Australia and New Zealand May 9-26, 2026. During their stay, the Chorale visited six cities and performed in seven concerts.

“This tour marks the sixth continent visited by the Chorale in the past decade,” said Dr. Cameron LaBarr, director of choral studies and Clif and Gail Smart Professor. “Tours like this one allow us to engage with the university’s public affairs mission every day—changing the lives of our students forever and putting the goodwill of Missouri State out into the world.”

Whirlwind tour from Sydney to Auckland

Upon first arriving in Australia, the group spent three days in Sydney. While there, they took a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House, visited the Featherdale Wildlife Park and performed their first concert at Verbrugghen Hall.

Chorale members spent the remainder of the trip visiting various parts of New Zealand. After a brief stay in Queenstown, they traveled to Christchurch, where they performed with the Christchurch Youth Choir. Next, in Wellington, they performed at the Cathedral of St. Paul. From there, the Chorale traveled to Murupara and performed at the local school.

By May 23, they were off to Auckland to finish the final leg of their tour. First, they performed with the Auckland Youth Choir. Then they gave their seventh and final concert in Auckland’s St. Matthew-in-the-City church. After one more day of sightseeing and farewells, the group headed home May 26.

LaBarr described the entire experience as thrilling. In addition to a two-day immersion in Maori culture, the group enjoyed “incredible outdoor experiences.” These included the Australian Blue Mountains and Milford Sound, as well as a breathtaking view of New Zealand’s Mt. Cook.

More importantly, the students connected with the Australian and New Zealand peoples and their cultures on an intimate level simply by sharing music, LaBarr noted. The Chorale collaborated with a local choir at each location, “[singing] music together from each others’ culture, something we will never forget.”