Reynolds College Blog

History alum Sarah Myers “flying high” with new book on Women’s Airforce Service Pilots

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Dr. Sarah Myers, a 2009 graduate of Missouri State University’s MA in history program, recently published her first book, “Earning Their Wings: The WASPs of World War II and the Fight for Veteran Recognition” through the University of North Carolina (UNC) Press.

Title cover of book
“Earning Their Wings” by Dr. Sarah Myers.

“Earning Their Wings” examines the history of the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program during and after World War II.

A UNC press release states the book reflects on the “long-term consequences for the women who participated and subsequent generations of servicewomen and activists.”

Myers currently teaches courses in U.S. women’s and gender history, public history, oral history, human rights, veterans studies, aviation, and war and society at Messiah University.

She earned her PhD in history from Texas Tech University in 2014.

Discovering the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots

Myers first encountered the story of the WASP veterans while doing other research as an undergraduate.

“I was intrigued by their story and the fact that they were the only women’s unit during World War II that did not receive veterans’ status or military benefits until decades later,” Myers said. “Women were shut out of military aviation for three decades.”

“I found the entire situation infuriating and I needed to know more,” she added.

Myers reached out to some WASP members through a website and grew committed to telling their stories after she heard back from them.

“I was hooked,” Myers said. [Read more…] about History alum Sarah Myers “flying high” with new book on Women’s Airforce Service Pilots

Dr. Christopher Lynch publishes new book on Machiavelli

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Man smiling for camera while holding book
Dr. Christopher Lynch proudly shows off his new book, “Machiavelli on War.”

Missouri State University’s Dr. Christopher Lynch, professor and head of the Department of Political Science and Philosophy, recently published his second book on the Italian military strategist and philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli.

“Machiavelli on War” has been published by the Cornell University Press.

The book is divided into four parts, beginning with an examination of Machiavelli’s role as a military official and his assessments of political problems.

Using Machiavelli’s diplomatic and government correspondence, his musings on military commanders, and writings such as “The Prince,” Lynch argues that Machiavelli was among the greatest of modern philosophers because he was the first modern philosopher of war. [Read more…] about Dr. Christopher Lynch publishes new book on Machiavelli

ASB 4-State Competition brings high school talent to MSU

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Man with microphone
ASB 4-State’s Brandon Goodwin encourages the student competitors.

Around 350 high school students from across several states competed in the Academy of Scholastic Broadcasting’s 4-State scholastic video competition Nov. 3-5, 2023, on the Missouri State University campus.

ASB 4-State has hosted the video competition for high school students since 2017, according to Brandon Goodwin, Director of Resources at ASB.

The competition features 24 different journalism and creative media contests that are held over a three-day period.

Students in the 2023 competition came from states including Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas and California, according to interim CMJF department head Dr. Deborah Larson.

Several local area high schools competed, including Central, Hillcrest and Nixa, as well as four high schools from the Lee’s Summit, Missouri, area.

“Some schools had as many as 60 kids competing in multiple categories,” Larson said. [Read more…] about ASB 4-State Competition brings high school talent to MSU

Fall 2023 BFA in Art Exhibition on view Nov. 27-Dec. 8

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Graduating seniors in the BFA in Art program are celebrating their artistic successes and growth in the BFA in Art Senior Exhibition.

Each semester graduating art students in the Department of Art and Design showcase their different media and concepts.

The works in the Fall 2023 exhibition include painting, ceramics, sculpture, photography, drawing, animation and new media.

The exhibition is on view in Brick City Gallery Nov. 27-Dec. 8 and during the First Friday Art Walk Dec. 1 from 6-9 p.m. [Read more…] about Fall 2023 BFA in Art Exhibition on view Nov. 27-Dec. 8

Dr. Perry Mears brings new chamber music to Midwest audiences

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Missouri State University’s Dr. Perry Mears, assistant professor of collaborative piano in the Department of Music, performed with oboist Michelle Vigneau, hornist Robert Patterson and cellist Craig Hultgren as part of the Iowa Composers Forum (ICF) Sept. 8, 9 and 10.

The ICF tours feature new music by composers from across the Midwest.

Informal performance format engages audiences

The tour adopted a unique format by holding performances in informal settings throughout Iowa. During the Casual Classics event at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, for example, the performers got to interact with the audience.

“Often times audiences can appreciate newer, more challenging music if the environment is casual, or in some way subverts their expectation of what a classical music event should be,” Mears said.

They also performed in house concerts, such as the historic Potter House in Decorah and a Frank Lloyd Wright House in Quasquaton.

“It was pretty amazing to perform in a Frank Lloyd Wright house,” Mears said. “It’s definitely not a commonplace experience. The piano [had] also been redesigned by Wright to match the sightlines of the living room decor, which affected its height and such, making for a singular performing experience.” [Read more…] about Dr. Perry Mears brings new chamber music to Midwest audiences