RCASH Highlights Archives - Reynolds College Blog

Rodrigues presents research at American Sociological Association annual conference

August 31, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Dr. Herbert Rodrigues presented his latest research at the 121st American Sociological Association (ASA) annual conference Aug. 7-11, 2026, in New York City, New York.

Rodrigues is an associate professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Gerontology.

In “Between Consent and Coercion: An Analysis of Obedience Among Brazilian Adolescents,” Rodrigues explores how and why adolescents obey authority figures, especially parents, teachers and police officers. To help answer this question, he used data collected on 800 11-year-old students from public and private schools across São Paulo, Brazil. This information came from a previous study he coordinated at the University of São Paulo.

“The findings are both striking and nuanced,” Rodrigues said. “The vast majority of adolescents agreed they should obey authority figures: 98.3% in relation to parents, 96.1% for teachers, and 91.7% for police. But the reasons behind that agreement vary considerably.”

Michelle Harvey’s theatrical design recognized by United States Institute for Theatre Technology

August 24, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

The United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) has featured Michelle Harvey’s scenic design from “Così fan tutte” in its national trade publication, Theatre Design and Technology.

Harvey is an associate professor in the BFA in Design, Technology and Stage Management program, housed within the Department of Theatre and Dance. She has been with Missouri State since 2019.

Professionals from across the country submitted their work for consideration to USITT’s “Design Expo” March 18-21 in Long Beach, California. Held every two years, this juried exhibition showcases scenery, costume and lighting design in the performing arts, Harvey explained.

Start with a script and a concept

Directed by actress and opera soprano Renée Fleming, “Così fan tutte” was performed at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen, Colorado in July 2025. Harvey’s role as designer was to help Fleming transform her vision to the stage.

“A design always starts with the script and a concept,” Harvey said. For “Così fan tutte,” Fleming placed the opera in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, a small New England town, during the 1980s. Most of the story takes place within a boxing gym.

Working from the concept, Harvey researched the time period and locations, creating scenes that told the story visually while staying within budget parameters. She also needed to keep in mind the Wheeler Opera House’s limited space.

The venue is a “historic space with little to no backstage space,” Harvey explained. “The set had to be able to transform from the gym to several other locations, including the beach/boardwalk on the coast.”

Women’s Chorus selected as performing choir for 2027 National ACDA Conference

August 19, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Women’s Chorus has been invited for a second consecutive time to perform at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) national conference.

The ensemble will perform two featured concerts at the conference, scheduled for March 7-10, 2027, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They will also participate in collaborative concerts and exchanges with collegiate and community ensembles from across the Twin Cities.

The Women’s Chorus was one of only 16 choirs nationally to receive an invitation this year, said women’s chorus director, Dr. Erin Plisco. Every two years, hundreds of collegiate, professional, school, community and church choirs submit recordings for consideration, but only a small number are selected, she explained. From there, the selected ensembles will perform for thousands of music professionals and educators from across the country.

The invitation is the highest honor a choir can achieve in the United States, Plisco added.

Yet the invitation also marks a historic milestone for Missouri State. The Women’s Chorus wasn’t just invited to perform at the ACDA for a second time. This is the first time in university history that one of its choral ensembles received two consecutive national invitations as a performing choir, Plisco said.

Over the past few years, the Women’s Chorus has earned an extraordinary reputation, she said. Since 2022, the ensemble received performance invitations for six state, regional and national conferences. In addition, the group completed its first international concert tour through Germany and the Czech Republic in 2025.

“[The invitation] represents recognition from colleagues we deeply respect,” Plisco said. “But what makes me most proud isn’t simply that our students sing at a high level. It’s that they have built a community where every singer feels valued, challenged and empowered to become the best version of themselves.”

Department of Art and Design announces exhibitions at Carolla and Brick City galleries

August 10, 2026 by Reynolds College

From Aug.3-Sept. 18, Missouri State’s Department of Art and Design will host two new exhibitions highlighting Indigenous contemporary art.

“Linear Irregularities” is currently on view in the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center. “Crossroads” is housed in the Brick City Gallery. Both exhibits will also be on view during the First Friday Artwalk Sept. 4.

“These two shows are the start of a great year of programming for the art and design department,” said Dr. Mitzi Kirkland-Ives, department head. In addition to a robust exhibition schedule for the 2026-27 year, the department will also continue its Visiting Artists, Designers and Scholars series, she added.

Missouri State archaeologists attend crime scene investigation training

August 3, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Two research archaeologists from Missouri State’s Bernice S. Warren Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) attended an archaeological crime scene investigation workshop June 15-18 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

CAR director Kevin Cupka Head and research archaeologist Jennifer Rideout were invited by Stephanie Nutt, Fort Leonard Wood’s Cultural Resource manager, to attend the Archeological Resources Protection Training workshop. Upon completing the training, Cupka Head and Rideout will partner with Texas State University’s Center for Archaeological Studies to support archaeological investigations at Fort Leonard Wood.

According to Cupka Head, the workshop taught archaeologists how to apply their expertise to support criminal investigations. They learned how to collaborate with federal law enforcement in cases of unauthorized digging for artifacts, vandalism of sacred sites and similar acts prohibited on public lands.