Community Engagement Archives - Reynolds College Blog

Heather Walters wins outstanding achievement honors in writing and teaching

October 21, 2026 by Lynn Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Heather Walters recently received two outstanding achievement awards from the National Communication Association.

A senior instructor in the Department of Communication, Media, Journalism and Film, Walters won the association’s Outstanding Teaching Award. She has taught at Missouri State for 27 years.

Moreover, her book, “Understanding the Ethical Concerns of Generative AI: A Practical Guide,” won the Communication Ethics Division’s Book of the Year Award.

“It is always so rewarding to know that the long hours you put into typing ideas, editing and revising had some notable impact on others,” Walters said.

Teaching style uses current events and case studies

Walters developed and currently teaches the department’s AI and Human Communication (COM 310) course. She also teaches Ethical Issues in Communication (COM 313), Media Law & Ethics (MED 581) and Public Relations Theory and Research Methods (COM 219). In addition, she teaches ethical communication and coaches the speech and debate team at Greenwood Laboratory School.

Her teaching style, she said, is “current event and case study intensive.”

“Integrating current event discussion in the classroom helps students translate theory into practice,” she said. “[It helps them] understand why what they are learning in the classroom matters for their everyday life.”

To facilitate learning, Walters created a set of online activities that complement her textbook.

“There are not many of those resources available in this specific discipline,” she said. “I think [the Association] found my teaching style innovative and reflective of sincere effort to bring a discipline like ethics—which is often stereotyped as ‘ancient’—to life for students.”

Missouri State Chorale launches new album

October 16, 2026 by Reynolds College

The Missouri State University Chorale has released a new album, “The Cardinal and the Roller,” a collaboration with the University of Pretoria Camerata from South Africa.

It is now available on multiple streaming services, including Spotify. Apple Music has also included one of the tracks on its curated playlist, “The Classical Voice.”

Featuring eight South African tracks and eight American tracks, the album is the final product of a long-held dream for Dr. Cameron LaBarr and Camerata conductor Michael Barrett. It marks the fourth time the Chorale has worked with Grammy Award-winning producer Dirk Sobotka and the team at SoundMirror, LaBarr said.

Throughout their long friendship, the two often imagined how beautiful an album featuring both of their choirs would be.

When the Camerata received an invitation to perform in the United States as the headline choir at the National American Directors Association Conference, LaBarr and Barrett saw their chance. The door for the Chorale and Camerata to take flight together had opened.

Check out more Chorale music

Title song symbolic of partnership

The title song, “The Cardinal and the Roller,” symbolizes the union between the Chorale and the Camerata ensembles. In the piece, a lilac-breasted roller, a South African bird, and a cardinal, an American bird, take flight together. Composer Susan LaBarr wrote the music, and lyricist Charles Anthony Silvestri wrote the words.

“’The Cardinal and the Roller’ album was the project of a lifetime,” said LaBarr, director of choral studies and Clif and Gail Smart Professor of Music. “Combining the Chorale and Camerata for this work created one of the most beautiful musical experiences of my career. This album will forever serve as a reminder that the gift of singing can unite us all.”

Revamped public sociology class embraces community engagement

October 15, 2026 by Lynn Lansdown

When Associate Professor Dr. Lyle Q. Foster learned about the Engaged Civic Learning and Economic Mobility Project, he immediately saw an opportunity to apply its concepts in the classroom.

Specifically, Foster had his eye on revisiting Public Sociology and Community Studies (SOC 398), a course offered through the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Gerontology.

“I felt it was time for a revamp of the course, and some of the [project] criteria really interested me,” Foster said. “Community sociology is such a passion for me. The opportunity to blend it with entrepreneurship—a personal passion—seemed ideal.”

The project is a faculty and staff cohort initiative run by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) American Democracy Project.

Foster applied to the project, was accepted and began training in March. The training, which ended in June, included a one-week conference and several virtual sessions with cohort members.

From there, Foster was eager to implement its objectives into his community-facing classes “as soon as possible.”

Community-engaged learning focuses on economic mobility

Previous public sociology courses have always used community partnerships, Foster said. Key to the revised course, however, is the concept of economic mobility.

The goal of economic mobility is already built into the role of the community partners, Foster said. The revised course, however, allows students to also learn about its importance. For them to achieve this, Foster specifically sought businesses “where the students could potentially see themselves as customers.”

Foster also wanted students to work with businesses that are entrepreneurial in nature but have only a few employees. Doing so, he explained, allows the students to directly engage and work with the store owner/entrepreneur.

Moreover, he sought businesses willing to work with university students and listen to their ideas. The results, he noted, are community partners invested in the planning and evaluation of the course.

“Community-engaged learning encourages a still more active role for the community…in the curriculum design and the student engagement experience, which is quite exciting,” Foster said. “There is a different level of curiosity and engagement with this approach.” [Read more…] about Revamped public sociology class embraces community engagement

“In the Footsteps of Titans and Gods:” Missouri State students experience Greece

October 11, 2026 by Lynn Lansdown

The Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH) produced several successful Education Abroad programs for the 2025-26 year. Two of those programs—Ecuador and Italy—have already been featured in RCASH News. We conclude our coverage of these programs by heading to Greece.

Thirteen students and two faculty from Missouri State University helped launch the inaugural Education Abroad experience in Greece May 11-22, 2026.

The students were Nadia Adamson, Teagan Allison, Alia Barker, Katherine Bracy, Cal Bussen, Michaela Dickey, Sylvie Edwards, Loren Halmick, Ava Hurley, Scout Hutchinson, Sav Jordan, Julie Kate Moylan and Gabrielle Stonehouse.

Faculty members Dr. William Harwood and Nikki Ferry led the interdisciplinary program, “In the Footsteps of Titans and Gods: An Immersive Exploration of Philosophy and Theatre in Greece.”

When they applied for the Education Abroad Faculty Fellows inaugural cohort, Harwood and Ferry each selected Greece as their destination. The happy coincidence created an opportunity for them to collaborate.

“[We] were very excited to explore how our two disciplines, philosophy and theatre, intersected while imparting our love of the country of Greece to our students,” Ferry said.

Harwood is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science and Philosophy. Ferry is an assistant professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance.

Abigail Hardwick appointed to Parent-Teacher Association national committee

October 7, 2026 by Lynn Lansdown

Abigail Hardwick, who is in her second year in Missouri State University’s Master in International Affairs (MIA) program, has been appointed to the Resolutions Committee of the National Parent-Teacher Association (PTA).

Hardwick will serve a three-year term starting August 2026. The Resolutions Committee makes recommendations to the PTA Board of Directors regarding rescission, retention or amendment of current resolutions, she explained. “The committee also reviews new resolutions submitted by any PTA unit, region or state before recommending them to the PTA Board of Directors.”

The appointment is a volunteer position, Hardwick said. The committee meets monthly, but most of her work happens outside of the monthly meetings, she added.

Model UN experience creates opportunities

Hardwick stands proudly next to the Model UN display case in Strong Hall.

Not only is Hardwick working on her master’s in international affairs: she is also an active member of Missouri State’s Model United Nations team. In particular, her work with Model UN has given her both professional experience and the kinds of networking opportunities that led to the PTA national committee.

Hardwick was nominated for the committee by Missouri State alumnus Dr. William Datema. Currently, Datema serves as president of the national PTA. In addition to having graduated from Missouri State, Datema is also a fellow Model UN alumnus. Since he was a past member of the Missouri State team, Hardwick kept in touch with him.

“Datema knew my experience, and during networking, I guess I had made an impression,” she said.

With her Model UN experience, Hardwick feels well-prepared for her role as a PTA committee member. “My tenure has been a great way to fully understand resolution writing,” she said. “I am really excited to use that experience to go over these important documents and make the best outcomes for our students.”