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Military history class builds professional and personal skills

March 24, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Many students might agree that taking a class at 8 a.m. had better be worth the effort to even get out of bed.

Apparently, Dr. Jeremy Neely’s Military History (HST 315) is.

Neely, associate professor and undergraduate director in the Department of History, has been teaching HST 315 for nearly 10 years. He assumed responsibility for the class upon the retirement of Emeritus Professor William Piston.

Now, he teaches the class every semester, almost always at that dreaded early morning timeslot. Even so, the course regularly fills to capacity. Each semester, roughly 30 students decide that this 8 a.m. class is worth the effort.

American history with a global context

Chronologically, HST 315’s topics start with America’s colonial period and usually ends in the early 21st century, according to Neely.

“The course covers as much as I can squeeze into 15 weeks,” he said. “We cover a lot of ground, which unfortunately means that we don’t linger on any particular period for very long. Some events are more consequential than others, of course, so we do spend a bit more time on watershed events like the American Revolution and the Civil War.”

Even with the focus on American military history, the class still places that history within a global framework. American leaders have always been aware of the country’s position on the world stage, even during periods of isolationism, Neely noted. As an example, the Philippine-American conflict (1899-1902) was the topic during one class session.

“One of the recent turns in historiography is an effort to frame the American past within a wider global context,” Neely explained. “I’ve tried to help students see that you can’t understand the history of the United States without a sense of where it fits within the world around it.”

Missouri State alumni Carter Breaux and Taylor Hoos produce feature-length film

January 29, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University alumni Carter Breaux and Taylor Hoos will premiere their new feature-length film, “Kings,” at the Alamo Drafthouse in Springfield, Missouri, Feb. 6-8.

Breaux and Hoos co-produced “Kings.” They both graduated from Missouri State’s Department of Communication, Media, Journalism and Film in 2019, earning degrees in media and film production. Breaux also earned a certificate in screenwriting.

In addition to his co-producer role, Breaux is the film’s director, editor and screenwriter. Hoos is the film’s director of photography and colorist as well as co-producer. The film stars Jachin Like as Mark and Ethan O’Neal as Dylan.

“Alamo Drafthouse has been a phenomenal partner in getting this film shown,” Breaux said. “They’ve gone out of their way to add new theaters, promote the film and connect us with other theaters that may also want to show ‘Kings.’”

Get tickets

Chess, poker and a box of money

Four young men sitting on set of film — On the set of “Kings.” L-R: Taylor Hoos, Jachin Like, Carter Breaux and Ethan O’Neal. Photo credit: Karson Knudsen.

According to Breaux, the story follows a meticulous chess champion and a scheming poker hustler who find themselves in a battle of wits after discovering a box of money in a dumpster.

“I first explored the idea for this story in 2018, putting pen to paper in early 2023,” Breaux said. “After sharing the script at a local table read event, we decided we wanted to move forward.”

“Carter approached me in early 2024,” Hoos remembered. “He mentioned he had a script he wanted to make. I read [it] and, like I always do with Carter’s writing, was like ‘this is awesome, yes I want to be a part of it.’”

With Hoos on board as director of photography, he and Breaux began outlining scenes, color palettes and grades. They also discussed how they wanted to tell the story.

“Carter is a very involved director,” Hoos said. “He sees everything in his mind already and has specific shots he wants. It’s just up to me to make that into reality.”

Theatre and Dance alum Claire Marshall now starring in “Chicago”

October 24, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University theatre and dance alumna Claire Marshall has landed a starring role in the 2025-26 national tour of “Chicago.”

Marshall, who graduated with a BFA in musical theatre in 2024, plays Velma Kelly.

“I’ve always wanted to be in ‘Chicago,’” she said. “Truthfully, I did not think the opportunity would come this soon in my life.”

Marshall auditioned for the role while still touring with “The Cher Show,” which ran in 2024-25. For the “Chicago” audition, Marshall first sent in a self-filmed tape and then completed a second audition in person when she moved to New York City.

The “Chicago” tour opened Oct. 22 at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, Washington. The hit musical, set in 1920s Chicago, tells the story of Roxie Hart, a nightclub dancer who murders her lover when he threatens to leave her. Hart and her cellmate, Velma Kelly, try to avoid conviction by hiring a slick criminal lawyer.

See Claire Marshall in “Chicago”

Glamourous role built on hard work

Behind all the glamour of show business is a lot of hard work. “Chicago” is a physically demanding show, Marshall said, and rehearsals were especially grueling.

“The rehearsal process is, in my opinion, one of the hardest portions of a long contract,” she said. “We are working more than we ever do on show days, plus learning a large amount of material in two weeks is daunting.”

Marshall added that during these times “it’s imperative to listen to your body.” Plenty of rest, hydration and good nutrition are essential.

Paws to the Polls marks five-year milestone

August 20, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s campus voting initiative, Paws to the Polls, celebrates five years of service to the campus and Springfield communities this year.

The initiative’s faculty coordinator, Dr. Suzanne Walker-Pacheco, worked with 14 students to form Paws to the Polls – frequently shortened to “Paws” – in the spring of 2020. Recently, she completed its five-year report and was pleased with the findings.

“We’ve done a lot. We’re making an impact,” she said.

In its first five years, Paws accomplished several of its original goals. These include a First Year Foundations curriculum component, a non-partisan booklet on voting information, an annual voting fair on campus, and coordinating candidate panels and forums. They also traveled to the Missouri state capitol building in Jefferson City, where they met with legislators and advocated for voting access.

Walker-Pacheco admits she wasn’t sure at first exactly how the initiative would take shape.

“It was the sort of thing I wanted to do, something related to engaging more students in voting,” she explained. “I had no idea what that might have been, but I knew that this was a wonderful opportunity to get information, especially nonpartisan information, out to students and a number of other people.”

Now, Paws not only serves the campus and local communities, it has become a model for state and national institutions. In 2024, Paws members presented at two national conventions, including the League of Women Voters. Walker-Pacheco also serves as section editor for Civic and Voter Engagement for the eJournal of Public Affairs, which helps disseminate campus voter information more broadly.

Special topics course on 16mm filmmaking revives traditional skills

July 8, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

During Missouri State University’s May 2025 intercession, students who enrolled in “The Art and Skill of Shooting Super 16mm Celluloid Film” (Media 300/600) course got a first-hand look at the craft of celluloid filmmaking.

Instructor Conci Nelson, from the Department of Communication, Media, Film and Journalism (CMJF), taught the three-week practicum. The course trained students on how to plan and shoot celluloid footage using two Bolex H16 film cameras.

“The goal of this course is for students to gain an appreciation for the origins of filmmaking and content creation and better understand the utility of thorough planning and economic execution in a production,” Nelson said.

Nelson will incorporate footage that the class created into a short film she is producing, “The Princess of Ildereen.”

Reviving traditional filmmaking

In the fall of 2024, Nelson pitched the idea of a course devoted to celluloid filmmaking to the CMJF department. The class was needed, she said, because current technologies tend to inhibit students’ ability to learn essential filmmaking skills. Moreover, while digital and AI technologies might speed production, they don’t always encourage creativity, she added.

“Many students rely far too heavily on digital technology for focus, [but] what happens when you don’t have access to power?” Nelson asked. “Without power in digital filmmaking, there likely won’t be any shooting happening.” For example, a filmmaker might not have access to important peripheral tools, like Bluetooth monitors and scopes, which are used to represent focus using color or grids.

Instead, Nelson’s course teaches students how to use external light meters, tape measures to calculate focus, manual focus techniques and how to plan a shot. Even understanding the tangible qualities of film, such as its feel and smell or how it sounds when rolling properly, is part of the course.

Young man setting up celluloid film camera — Jake Martin observes Julian Garrett as he rehearses a shot on the Bolex H16 camera, mounted on the studio jib.

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