Cultural Competence Archives - Reynolds College Blog

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.

Dr. Abby Templer Rodrigues publishes research on STEM scholarship program

April 3, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Associate professor Dr. Abby Templer Rodrigues of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Gerontology (SAG) recently published her research on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) scholarship equity.

The article, “Participation of women in STEM: an intersectional approach,” appeared in the open-source Brazilian journal Revista Estudos: Feministas in March 2025. Templer Rodrigues originally presented this research in 2023 at the 21st Biennial Conference of the Brazilian Sociological Society in Belém, Brazil.

Templer Rodrigues has taught at Missouri State since Fall 2018. Her research interests include work and occupations, qualitative methods and social inequities. She is currently writing a book on the creative economy in rural Massachusetts.

Answering a request to evaluate a scholarship program

Previously, Templer Rodrigues has researched equity issues for faculty in higher education. When asked to evaluate a scholarship program that supports academically talented students with financial need, she saw an opportunity to explore equity in higher education for students as well.

Templer Rodrigues was asked to study a scholarship program designed to increase access to STEM degrees based on social class. Her objective was to evaluate whether the program had met its goals.

In addition, Templer Rodrigues examined the program’s impact on participants based on their multiple or intersectional demographic characteristics. She wanted to determine whether a scholarship program aiming to improve class-based equity in STEM could also impact gender- and race-based equity.

Department of Theatre and Dance presents “Blue Stockings” April 3-6

March 31, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance continues the 2024-2025 season with its production of “Blue Stockings.”

Professor Sarah Wiggin directs the turn-of-the-century period piece, written by Jessica Swale.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. April 3-5 and April 6 at 2:30 p.m.

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

All performances will be held in Coger Theatre Craig Hall.

Get tickets

Play explores historical moments

Set in 1896 England at Cambridge University’s Girton College, “Blue Stockings” is the story of four female students. Cambridge was a pioneer in offering university-level education to women.

In 1896, though, while women could be educated, they could not earn a degree. The play’s young heroines hope to change that.

Consequently, “Blue Stockings” explores a powerful moment in the history of women’s education. As the woman suffrage movement takes place in the background, the women struggle to gain acceptance among their male peers while confronting their own insecurities.

“The play emphasizes the value of education and encourages audiences to think critically about societal structures and injustices,” Wiggin said. “It challenges audiences to reflect on the progress made in women’s rights while acknowledging the work that still needs to be done.”

Tackles themes with humor

With humor and authenticity, the play addresses themes such as equality, education and fighting for one’s beliefs. “I hope the audience will be pleasantly surprised by the comedy in a play tackling such serious subject matter,” Wiggin said.

Meanwhile, although the stage setting is minimalist, “the costumes are period (1896) and should be quite stunning,” she added. “The cast is doing excellent work, and I am very excited to see all the elements come together.”

Reflecting shared dreams

Wiggin believes audiences will find the themes in “Blue Stockings” to be relevant and universal.

“Despite being set in the past, the play raises issues that resonate with contemporary struggles for gender equality and access to education,” she said.

“I expect the audience will see that the kinds of dreams the characters have are shared by them: love, education, a place to belong.”

Dr. Yuhua Qiao publishes book on state tax systems

March 24, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Dr. Yuhua Qiao, professor in the Department of Political Science and Philosophy, recently published her second book, “State Tax Systems: Policy Making for Fiscal Stability.”

Qiao has been teaching at Missouri State since 1998. She specializes in state budgetary issues, including taxes, expenditure, intergovernmental fiscal relations and voter impact on state budgeting.

“I am always interested in state finance. States are responsible for so many public services, and their fiscal wellbeing is critical to the welfare of the people,” she explained.

She published her first book, “Interstate Fiscal Disparities in America: A Study of Trends and Causes,” in 1999. The book, based on her dissertation research, examines state expenditures in various service areas and why they differed among states. She has also published numerous journal articles on state finance.

Qiao’s latest book is “highly useful to policymakers,” said Dr. Christopher Lynch, head of the political science and philosophy department.

Examines impact of tax policies after the Great Recession

Although “State Tax Systems” is an extension of Qiao’s long-term research and teaching in public budgeting, the Great Recession of 2007-2009 inspired her to place her research in book form.

“The Great Recession of 2007-2009 was the worst fiscal time for states,” Qiao said. “Nearly all states suffered huge budget deficits, and the cuts on public services were widespread, significant and persistent.”

“The fiscal troubles not only reflected the impact of cyclical economic recession on state finance but also exposed the dire long-term fiscal imbalance between their revenue systems and expenditure policies,” she added.

Qiao said previous scholarship had explored various aspects of state fiscal sustainability, but the Great Recession made it clear that states governments had to act to address fiscal imbalances.

“What happened in the Great Recession and its aftermath provided pressure and political will for state governments to reform their tax policies to improve their fiscal stability,” Qiao explained.

Brown Bag Concert Series launches second season April 9

March 21, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s “Brown Bag Concert Series” is back for its second season, boasting a diverse lineup of creative performances.

This year’s performances include country, indie-pop, folk and opera. Performers were selected through an application process.

Hosted once again at the John Goodman Amphitheatre (JGA), the event series is free and open to the public. The amphitheater is located immediately north of Craig Hall in the Judith Enyeart Reynolds Arts Park.

“We are thrilled with the increase in applicants for this special spring campus event,” said Mark Templeton, Executive Director of JGA Marketing and External Relations. “Bring your lunch and have a relaxing time while enjoying some great performances.”

All performances start at noon. Public parking will be available starting at 11 a.m. across Grand Street in Parking Lots 22 and 24.