Missouri State University has honored the distinguished careers of Dr. Catherine Jolivette and Professor Keith Ekstam with the title of emeritus faculty.

Jolivette and Ekstam recently retired from the Department of Art and Design.

“As Dr. Jolivette and Professor Ekstam step into retirement, their influence will continue to resonate within the university and beyond,” said Professor Vonda Yarberry, art and design department head. “Their dedication to their fields, commitment to education and contributions to the arts and humanities have set a high standard for future generations of scholars and artists.”

Dr. Catherine Jolivette

For two decades, Dr. Catherine Jolivette has been a pivotal figure in the art and design department. Among her many accomplishments, she is most proud of curating and editing “British Art in the Nuclear Age,” a collection of essays that has garnered significant recognition.

“This was a book for which I handpicked the contributors, who accepted my invitation because of the reputation I have built over the years,” Jolivette said.

The volume was awarded the Historians of British Art Prize in 2014 and was longlisted for the William Berger Prize that same year.

Beyond her scholarly achievements, Jolivette has also made significant contributions to the university community. She structured a Mental Wellness discussion series, bringing together speakers from across campus to address crucial topics such as impostor syndrome, anxiety, depression and combating stereotypes.

Yarberry acknowledged Jolivette’s influence on both professional and personal levels.

“Catherine has been a personal inspiration to me for her thoughtful leadership and advocacy for the well-being of humans on all levels,” Yarberry said. “Her role and impact on the faculty senate will be felt for years to come, and her connection and impact on students will ripple on forever. It’s my hope that she will continue connecting with the department in her retirement.”

Jolivette now focuses on family and personal renewal. “I’ve finally started to read again. I’m gentle with myself about what I can and can’t do. I’m cherishing time with my children,” she said. She also hopes to travel one more time to Leicester, England, and attend Diwali celebrations and the Festival of Lights.

Upon her retirement, Jolivette shared a few parting words to the art and design department.

“I want to give a shout-out to those who have led the department through enormous changes: the move to Brick City, NASAD accreditation, launching the graduate program [and] expanding our gallery space with the Carolla Gallery. I wasn’t going to name names, but Vonda Yarberry is an inspiration.”

Professor Keith Ekstam

With a career spanning 37 years, Professor Keith Ekstam has made a mark on the university and the broader art community. Ekstam has exhibited his artwork in more than 350 invitational, juried and solo exhibitions both internationally and nationally. Besides the United States, Ekstam’s work has been showcased in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, China, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea.

Beyond his exhibitions, Ekstam has served as a visiting artist on over 50 occasions, leading residencies, workshops and lectures across the globe. His contributions to the field have been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the 2017 National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) Excellence in Teaching Award and Missouri State University’s 2017 Foundations Award for Excellence in Research.

Ekstam reflected on why he decided to stay at Missouri State University for nearly four decades.

“There’s an interesting mix of students here, and it reminded me of being back in Mankato, Minnesota,” he said. “Missouri State is an opportunity for lots of different people, whether they are wealthy or poor, to figure out a way to go to a school like this. I can appreciate the different perspectives my students brought, and I got the chance to raise a family here.”

“Keith has been a bedrock of this department for a long time, and he’ll be missed,” Yarberry said. “He’s been active and successful in research and creative activities since he started, and his impact on students is well-documented [by his awards]. I wish him well in his next chapter.”

In retirement, Ekstam plans to continue making art and creating a space in his home for an art studio. He also plans to spend quality time with his family and enjoy swimming and fishing at his lake cabin in Minnesota.

Photos provided by Department of Art and Design.

News written by Sam Barnette and edited by the Reynolds College Communications Team.

Barnette is a writer for the Department of Art and Design. She earned an MFA in Dramatic Writing from Missouri State’s Department of Communication, Media, Journalism and Film. She is now working toward an MS in Data Science and Analytic Storytelling at Truman State University.