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BFA in Art Senior Exhibition now on view at Brick City Gallery

April 17, 2025 by Reynolds College

Missouri State University’s Department of Art and Design announces the BFA in Art Senior Exhibition is on view at the Brick City Gallery.

The exhibition is open April 22-May 2 and ends with the First Friday Art Walk May 2 from 6-9 p.m. Visitors can enjoy a range of artworks, including drawing, sculpture, metal work and new media.

The event is free and open to the public.

Artwork on display in exhibition — Some of Paige Lenahan’s drawings on view at the exhibition.

Brick City Gallery provides a venue for graduating seniors to display pieces that showcase their dedication and creativity in their chosen artistic disciplines. Faculty members Sarah Williams and Jodi McCoy guided the exhibitors through the BFA Studio Art capstone course toward what could be their first major art exhibition.

Artistic painting in pink, purple and red hues. — Detail of one of Megan Aiello’s paintings “We’re Going to Need a Bigger Band-Aid.”

Williams described the showcase as a “pivotal moment” in the students’ artistic careers, as it represents more than just the culminating experience of the BFA in Art program. It also creates for students a solid foundation for professional and personal growth going forward.

The exhibition educates beyond studio practice, Williams noted. It encourages “the development of professional artistic practices such as résumé construction, artist’s statements, preparation and installation of an exhibition and development of exhibition proposals.”

Every artist must complete the core program coursework, but no two students will produce the same work, according to department head Vonda Yarberry.

“This may be obvious to some people, but the underlying purpose of the degree is to help students to develop their unique ‘voice,’” Yarberry said.

“That is what makes these senior exhibitions incredibly exciting.”

Row of artistic figurines — Closeup of Ayo Oyedeji’s work, on view in the exhibition.

Spring 2025 Exhibitors

Megan Aiello, Painting
Mikayla Buneta, Computer Animation
Jadyn Frey, Drawing
Cora Hill, Photography
Eli Houzenga, Computer Animation
Gavin Ichrist, Photography
Alexa Lambton, Painting
Paige Lenahan, Drawing
Hallie Lueking, Photography
Melissa Marrs, Painting
Chaise McCollum, Photography
Natalie McNeill, Computer Animation
Olivia Michaelson, Photography
Erinayo Oyedeji, New Media
Tim Pease, 3D Studies
Elisa Peters, Painting
Adrian Pham, Computer Animation
Gracie Potter, Drawing
Josh Riethmeier, Computer Animation
Jeanne Welch-Kurdle, Photography
Mindy Welland, Photography
Faith Wenzel, 3D Studies
Aly White, Computer Animation

Come celebrate the achievements of these hardworking seniors and see how passion, creativity and talent can build an astounding showcase for these emerging artists.

Brick City Gallery is located at 215 West Mill Street. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Email the gallery for more information.

Explore the BFA in Art program

Photos courtesy of Department of 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.

Alum Sarah Lynne Skrzypczak thrives in law school

April 14, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Contracts, Torts, Constitutional Law, Legal Writing and Analysis…these are just a few of the courses Missouri State University alumna Sarah Lynne Skrzypczak has taken during her first year of law school at the University of Wisconsin.

Skrzypczak graduated from Missouri State’s Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Gerontology in 2021 with a degree in sociology and a minor in law and society.

Now, as she wraps up her first year in law school, Skrzypczak reflects on her time at Missouri State and how she got to where she is today.

Taking things one step at a time

When Skrzypczak first enrolled at Missouri State, she was an undeclared major. She spent a year and a half taking different courses, learning as much as she could while waiting to see where her path would lead.

“I was in no way sure of who I truly was or what I really wanted to do moving forward with my life,” she said. “I just knew I liked to learn.”

By her sophomore year, however, Skrzypczak knew her future rested with sociology.

“Once I had gotten into the program, [there] was never a doubt that I was happy to be where I was in terms of academic progression and my own knowledge,” she explained. “Sociology for me was fun, complex and intriguing to learn about.”

“Learning of other cultures, studying the past, learning about people in general, I’ve always just been curious,” she said. “Sociology was a great way to get a better grasp on those things I found interesting. It was easy to learn about because I had always found it so fascinating in the first place.”

From sociology to law

Studying sociology led Skrzypczak to choose law as a career.

“Other studies such as criminology, pre-law and political science are all great to study before moving forward in law,” she said. But for her, sociology was the best choice because it included aspects of all those other disciplines.

“In a sense they all intertwine,” she said. “Sociology kind of seems like a bit of all of them plus more and just gives you a broader look on things.”

Still, Skrzypczak tailored her studies to include specific law-related courses with her minor in law and society. This gave her “a nice foundation of legal knowledge before moving into law school,” she said.

Young woman standing at law library shelves. — Sarah Skrzypczak hits the law books again.

“Collaboration” reveals hard work and big dreams of Missouri State dance students

April 10, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance wraps up the 2024-25 season with its annual Spring Dance Concert.

Titled “Collaboration,” the concert continues this year’s theme of “Connection.” It will feature a variety of both student and faculty choreographed performances.

This year’s concert is coordinated by Associate Professor of Dance Azaria Hogans.

Evening showtimes are 7:30 p.m. April 24-26. Matinee showtime is 2:30 p.m. April 27. All performances will be held in Coger Theatre in Craig Hall.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students/seniors. Special advance rates are available for students with an MSU ID.

Purchase tickets

Collaborating to connect

Using an interdisciplinary approach, the concert emphasizes connecting dance with different disciplines, Hogans said. “Every work that will be on the stage has some element of interdisciplinary exploration. This ranges from collaborations with animators to costume construction to STEM concepts and processes.”

Hogans is excited about how audiences will experience the performances.

“Even if an audience member does not know a lot about dance, they will be able to appreciate the interdisciplinary connections made in this concert,” she said. “[They] will be able to see concepts, ideas and maybe even themselves represented in the works.”

Kids Donation Drive for local center runs through April 14

April 4, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Kenzi Seay, a senior criminology and criminal justice major, has organized the Kids Donation Drive in coordination with the Greene County Family Justice Center (FJC).

Seay is collecting donations until April 14. The organization is asking for toys, books or children’s hygiene products.

Collections boxes will be available across campus until April 7. A collection box will remain in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice main office (Strong Hall, Room 207) until April 14.

But even after April 14, people can still help out.

“The Family Justice Center is always collecting donations for victims of domestic violence,” Seay said. “They also have volunteer opportunities, if you’d like to help in a hands-on way.”

Public affairs mission in action

According to senior instructor Caryn Saxon, the Kids Donation Drive was entirely Seay’s initiative and serves as an excellent example of Missouri State’s public affairs mission.

“I could not be more impressed and proud of Kenzi’s work on this,” Saxon noted. “She observed a problem, created a solution and then took action to make her vision a reality. Through her efforts, she is spreading awareness about FJC while also giving others a way to contribute to their mission.”

Seay volunteers at FJC and also interns with its partner agency, Legal Services of Southern Missouri. She began volunteering in October 2024 and started her internship in January 2025. Her duties include answering phones, clerical work and intake interviews.

“It’s a really interesting experience working as both an intern and volunteer in different parts of the building because I am able to see the process from start to finish in different roles,” she noted.

Political Science and Philosophy department’s Conversation Series continues April 9

April 2, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Department of Political Science and Philosophy will once again host its “Conversation Series” April 9 with “Trump’s America: A Nation at a Crossroads?”

The event will begin at 4 p.m. in Glass Hall, Room 101, with refreshments served at 3:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

Civil conversation between a Democrat and a Republican

Two influential authors and educators, a Democrat and a Republican, will discuss Donald Trump’s electoral victory and presidency. What does it mean for, and about, America, and why did he win?

The two speakers will conduct a civil conversation based on their knowledge of, and long experience in, American politics. [Read more…] about Political Science and Philosophy department’s Conversation Series continues April 9