Reynolds College Blog

Student artists “start their journey” at 2025 Missouri Fine Arts Academy

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Ready to “start their journey,” 125 high school students from nearly 60 Missouri schools attended the 2025 Missouri Fine Arts Academy (MFAA) June 1-14.

As a summer residential program, MFAA serves highly motivated high school student artists throughout Missouri. The program, taught by faculty from across the state, gives students an immersive training experiences in visual arts, theatre, dance, creative writing and music.

The academy received 209 applications for the 2025 session, according to MFAA Director Dr. Fatih Benzer, associate professor in the Department of Art and Design.

The Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH) at Missouri State hosts MFAA and works with the state legislature to manage the affordability of the Academy. As a result, MFAA 2025 students received free tuition, thanks to the support of the State of Missouri and private donations. Benzer said he remains grateful to Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for “keeping ‘MFAA 2025’ free.”

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It pays to be an art and design major, says U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Missouri State University’s Department of Art and Design has good news for students.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a career in art and design is worth pursuing.

In 2023, the average median wage for art and design careers was $51,660, which was 7.49% higher than the median annual wage for all occupations ($48,060).

Regarding salaries, Missouri holds its own in art and design-related occupations compared to national averages (see table).

Missouri National
Art Director $95.320 $106,500
Special Effects Artists or Animators $79,740 $99,060
Graphic Designers $52,130 $58,910
Craft and Fine Artists $53,000 $52,910
Museum Curators $62,600 $57,120
Photographers $46, 750 $40,760
Elementary School Teachers $55,530 $63,670
Middle School Teachers $60,510 $64,290
High School Teachers $63,500 $65,220

The median annual salary for craft and fine artists in Missouri increased from $43,000 in 2018 to $53,000 in 2023. This trend reflects an increase of approximately 24% in five years. Other professions have boasted similar numbers.

Demand for art and design professions is expected to grow through 2033, despite currently experiencing a slight decrease. The BLS projects an average of nearly 88,000 openings each year.

The growth potential for professions in museum studies like curators, conservators and other museum workers is 11%. Additionally, the mean wage for curators, craft and fine artists and art professors in Missouri is higher than the national average.

Explore career opportunities in art and design

 

News edited by the Reynolds College Communications Team.

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

MFAA now accepting applications for 2025 Academy

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The next session of the Missouri Fine Arts Academy (MFAA) is scheduled for June 1-14, 2025 on the Springfield campus of Missouri State University.

Missouri high school students interested in attending can apply online starting Oct. 14, 2024. The application portal will be available through Jan. 31, 2025.

In addition, the Academy is accepting resident assistant and faculty applications.

Graphic reading "Let's Start the Journey"

2025 Academy theme is about the “Journey”

The Academy selected “Journey” as the 2025 theme.

“Let MFAA 2025 be a remarkable journey of self-discovery,” said Dr. Fatih Benzer, MFAA director and associate professor in MSU’s Department of Art and Design. “Join the journey by exploring various forms of art such as music, visual arts, creative writing, dance and theatre to express who you are.”

Benzer said the MFAA format continues to be interdisciplinary. Students can explore a wide range of artistic options.

MFAA students can also enjoy performances by acclaimed artists and musicians throughout the two-week program, he added.

Students will receive guidance and feedback from experienced faculty and staff, Benzer said. “Get ready to be challenged by our outstanding faculty to step outside of your comfort zone while earning college credits.”

About the MFAA application process

Current Missouri high school freshman, sophomores, juniors or seniors may apply to attend MFAA in the following areas of study:

  • Visual Arts/Mixed Media (painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography and digital art)
  • Theatre (acting)
  • Dance (modern, ballet, jazz, tap and hip hop)
  • Creative Writing (fiction, short story, poetry, playwriting and spoken word)
  • Music (vocal or instrumental performance, songwriting, composition and electronic music)

There is no application fee.

Application packets must include a 500-word personal essay describing how involvement in the arts impacts the applicant’s life, a student evaluation from school personnel and a digital portfolio or video performance. More information about specific application criteria and guidelines on how to prepare applications can be found on the MFAA website. [Read more…] about MFAA now accepting applications for 2025 Academy

CSI Camp brings future crime solvers to MSU campus

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The first of two CSI Camps, hosted by Missouri State University’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, was held June 10-13.

High school students from around the Midwest, including Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Illinois, attended this year.

The camp offers introductory training in basic criminal evidence-gathering techniques, such as fingerprinting, blood spatter analysis and plaster casting.

Now in its second year, the June camp enjoyed full enrollment of 40 students. The second camp will be held July 8-11.

Expanded training, smaller groups for 2024 camp

According to assistant professor Dr. Samantha Tjaden, camp organizers used what they learned from the 2023 camp to base the 2024 experience on what students want to learn.

“We have added more hands-on experiences to our camp from last year,” Tjaden said. “For example, we were very lucky to have Springfield Police Department investigators come share their experiences with our campers this year. We have also evolved the blood spatter component of our camp to include Luminol.”

“Both years that we have had the CSI camp have been an amazing experience but—like anything—we are learning and adapting to the needs of our campers,” she added.

Teacher explains a procedure to a student
Kamina Andrisevic listens as Dr. Tjaden explains fingerprinting techniques.

Ideas for 2025 camp in the works

Tjaden is not only one of the camp faculty instructors, she also serves on the planning committee with fellow camp instructor Dr. Michael Kyle. Tjaden lends her professional expertise and assists with content delivery and development.

“Professors Kyle and Tjaden are superb at connecting and building rapport with high schoolers, and they both have a wonderful ability to explain complex aspects of forensics in very down-to-earth ways,” said Dr. Brett Garland, head of the criminology and criminal justice school.

Camp organizers are already planning more techniques and topics for 2025, according to Garland.

“I’m looking forward to us integrating more on the search and seizure and interrogation side—since both are critically important to successful investigations—and maybe running interactive scenarios in those areas,” he said.

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2024 World Language Day “Just for Fun” recruiting event big success

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The Department of Languages, Cultures, and Religions (LCR) hosted its “2024 World Language Day—Just for Fun” recruitment event April 16 in the PSU Ballroom.

Over 400 high school students from across the Ozarks attended the event.

The organizers, Cristina Sepulveda-Hinojosa, Dr. Maria Alejandra Cerdas Cisneros and Jeff Loughary, along with LCR department head Dr. Stephen Berkwitz, started planning the event in October 2023.

“It took us almost six months to organize it,” said Sepulveda.

The purpose of the event is twofold, Sepulveda added. One goal is to encourage or motivate students to attend Missouri State University. The other is to encourage students to study languages.

“[We want to] motivate them to continue studying a foreign language and make them aware of the advantage they will have professionally by studying a foreign language,” she explained.

three teens sitting on floor doing an activity
High schoolers enjoyed foreign language activities like relays, karaoke, dances and crafting.

Interdisciplinary and community outreach key part of event

One of the early goals of the planning committee was to reach out in an interdisciplinary capacity to academic departments outside of its college home in the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH).

“We thought about which departments could gain from prospective students who can speak foreign languages and therefore invited them to join our event,” Sepulveda explained. “Now we realize that it was a success, and we are happy to have done it that way.”

“It has been an enriching experience working with international business, hospitality and education, because we have realized that by joining forces, we also increase resources and the possibility of success. We all benefit,” she added.

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