The Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Mitzi Kirkland-Ives as head of the Department of Art and Design.

Kirkland-Ives has served as interim department head since August 2025. She joined Missouri State as an assistant professor in art and design in 2009. Specializing in art history, she earned her doctorate from University of California-Santa Barbara and has published multiple books and articles on the subject. Her latest book is “Hans Memling and the Merchants.”

RCASH Dean Shawn Wahl said he was thrilled Kirkland-Ives has joined the Reynolds College leadership team.

“Mitzi brings extensive leadership experience and continuity to the art and design department, one of the largest and most complex academic programs in the School of the Arts,” Wahl said. “She also possesses a broad set of advocacy skills that benefit students, faculty, staff and the arts community.”

Kirkland-Ives is looking forward to continuing her role as department head.

“The range of responsibilities is part of what makes the position so interesting to me,” she said. “The department is large and complicated, with a lot of moving parts in terms of facilities and programming and curriculum. Every day brings a completely new and interesting puzzle to crack.”

“I’m excited for the opportunity to think strategically and come up with creative solutions to help the students, faculty and staff achieve their goals,” she added.

Bringing community into art education

In addition to her work as department head, Kirkland-Ives also serves on the boards of the Springfield Regional Arts Council and the Springfield Art Museum.

Consequently, she hopes to use her connections to expand opportunities for students and faculty through partnerships in the community. Some examples she already has in mind include working with businesses and nonprofit institutions to develop more exhibition venues; talks and workshops; bringing in visiting artists and scholars; and international collaborations.

“In the past we’ve been very active in this kind of interface with the public,” she said. “I hope we can do even more in the future.”

Kirkland-Ives believes the art and design department serves an important leadership role in Springfield’s arts community.

“I want to make sure that we deliver on that,” she said. “I want to work with other arts leaders to see how much more we can accomplish.”

Supporting new and traditional art

Kirkland-Ives said now is an exciting time to be involved in the arts. One reason for that is the rapidly developing area of technologically driven visuals arts. These include computer animation, video game design and virtual reality environments.

And while she is committed to encouraging innovation in those areas, she also wants to support the traditional arts.

“Traditional media are still relevant and in demand,” she said. “I really want to preserve that traditional visual arts element in the curriculum, like the printing presses, darkroom photography, painting or metalsmithing.”

“I feel like there’s an interesting tension right now between the high-tech arts and the arts that have a more handmade or artisanal character,” she continued. “Successfully walking that tightrope results in something really interesting and distinctive, especially where these possibilities overlap and combine.”

She cited as examples interactive sculptural installations, the use of 3D printing in jewelry casting processes, and the extension of graphic design principles into web and app design. “All sorts of interesting combinations and solutions are possible.”

Meanwhile, Kirkland-Ives finds it “invigorating” to work among so many different artists and designers.

“I love seeing the creative process, the tools and materials, and the people themselves—the faculty and students—who have such a range of interesting perspectives,” she said.

Study art @ Mo State

Photo credit: Rae Ann Rockwell.

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