Faculty Research Archives - Page 3 of 15

Significant new findings by Pierce and Bodine highlight successful Amazon research trip

January 22, 2026 by Lynn Lansdown

Two research archaeologists from Missouri State University’s Bernice S. Warren Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) returned from the Amazon in December with information that will advance our understanding of the region’s ancient history.

Two men standing outside on a river bank — Dr. Daniel Pierce (left) and Christopher Bodine get ready to start their journey on the Rio Negro.

During their expedition to the region Dec. 14-19, Dr. Daniel Pierce and Christopher Bodine discovered evidence of large-scale ancient settlements. In addition, they confirmed the presence of previously undocumented geographical formations.

This information suggests that sophisticated civilizations existed in the Amazon long before the arrival of Christopher Columbus.

From geoglyphs to ancient settlements

Pierce and Bodine launched their Amazon expedition primarily to research previously unreported geoglyphs. Using data they collected from NASA, the pair identified those geoglyphs with LiDAR technology.

“We were especially interested in a specific geoglyph that we had identified in a region hundreds of miles from any other known glyphs,” Pierce explained. “In this regard, we were successful. We were able to locate the glyph in the field and confirm it on the ground in person.”

The pair didn’t just confirm their LiDAR observations, though. They also discovered evidence of a large-scale pre-Columbian settlement deep in the Amazon.

“The specifics of that evidence will all be in our scientific publication,” Pierce said. “We want to keep that information a bit closer to the vest for now to ensure the scientific process is maintained” through the peer review process, he added.

RCASH departments host screening of “Black Box Diaries” documentary

December 10, 2025 by Lynn Lansdown

Academic departments within the Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH) recently teamed together to co-host a screening of Shiori Itō’s 2024 documentary “Black Box Diaries.”

The screening, coordinated by Assistant Professor of East Asian History Dr. Linshan Jiang, was held Nov. 14 at the Moxie Cinema in Springfield, Missouri.

“Shiori Itō is such an iconic figure of the Japanese #MeToo movement and holds significance for me personally,” she said.

Missouri State’s Department of History; Department of Communication, Media, Journalism and Film; Department of Languages, Cultures and Religions; and Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Gerontology joined the Moxie Cinema to sponsor the event.

Jiang estimated 50-60 people attended the screening.

Dr. Herbert Rodrigues publishes research in top international sociology journal

November 24, 2025 by Lynn Lansdown

Associate Professor Dr. Herbert Rodrigues has had his research published in the Brazilian journal Contribuciones a las Ciencias Sociales (Contributions to the Social Sciences).

Rodrigues co-wrote “Parental Discipline and Legal Socialization in Brazil: A Longitudinal Analysis of Adolescent Rule Violating Behavior,” with Justin Lopez-Medina. The article examines the impact of parental discipline on adolescent responses to authority.

“This research represents years of collaboration with colleagues in Brazil and the United States,” Rodrigues said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to share these findings with a broader audience.”

Rodrigues teaches in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Gerontology. He specializes in youth development, legal socialization and juvenile delinquency. In particular, he examines how young people, especially those from marginalized communities, develop attitudes toward authority and law.

Berkwitz and Brinkman present research at “Metaphors of Religion” conference

November 20, 2025 by Lynn Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Dr. Stephen Berkwitz and Dr. Bryan Brinkman recently presented their research at the “Metaphors of Religion” conference at Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany.

Berkwitz is head of the Department of Languages, Cultures and Religions (LCR). Brinkman is an assistant professor in LCR.

The conference was held Oct. 27-29 at the Center for Religious Studies (CERES). Organizers describe it as an interdisciplinary event that “explores metaphors as fundamental elements of religious language, thought and practice across cultures and historical periods.”

Berkwitz and Brinkman attended the conference as part of a formal agreement between LCR and CERES. Created to foster collaborative relationships, the two groups signed a memorandum of understanding in 2019. Berkwitz helped write the memorandum in consultation with members of CERES.

In particular, LCR and CERES hope the agreement strengthens international collaboration. In turn, the agreement might increase research and course opportunities for graduate students and faculty members, Berkwitz said.

Art and Design’s Chris Rodgers named to Teaching Artist Cohort

November 17, 2025 by Reynolds College

Artist-in-Residence Chris Rodgers, ceramics instructor in the Department of Art and Design, has been named to the Center for Craft’s Teaching Artist Cohort.

The cohort is a six-month program that offers professional and financial support to artists who are both educators and practitioners. The honor includes a grant that provides unrestricted funding of $10,000.

Rodgers was one of only 30 artists selected for the cohort.

As a member of the cohort, Rodgers also participates in mentorship and peer-to-peer learning activities. These activities help sustain studio practices while strengthening community engagement.

Rodgers’ recognition by the Center for Craft highlights the department’s faculty who merge creative research with hands-on teaching, said Interim Department Head Dr. Mitzi Kirkland-Ives. His participation in the Teaching Artist Cohort grant program, she added, reflects the ongoing dialogue between making and mentoring that defines the department’s studio culture.

Various ceramic artwork items displayed on floor — One of the preliminary stages of Rodgers’ “Illuminated by the Moon” installation in Longquan, China. Rodgers created these 26 ceramic sculptures while in residency at Longquan Wangou.

Grant impact felt immediately

According to Rodgers, the grant’s impact began with space itself. “The first thing I did after receiving the grant was to design and build proper studio furniture,” he explained. “I now have three large tables and a shelving unit that are exactly what I need. This change has completely transformed how I work.”

The redesigned studio has made it possible for Rodgers to focus on a new series of ceramic paintings, a body of work that blurs the boundaries between sculpture and painting. He plans to continue expanding this process by using colored clay and hand-made grog. This process reveals color from within the material rather than applying it to the surface.

“The result is a tactile exchange between form and color that invites viewers to see ceramics and painting in a new way,” he said.

Busy upcoming exhibition schedule

Rodgers will present his evolving ceramic paintings in a solo exhibition in Fayetteville, Arkansas in the spring of 2026. Two larger solo shows will follow in 2027 at the Lux Center for the Arts in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Missouri State’s Brick City Gallery. “These projects would not be possible without the generosity of the Center for Craft’s Teaching Artist Cohort ,” he said. “The experience has helped me build not only better tables but a stronger foundation for my future as an artist and educator.” [Read more…] about Art and Design’s Chris Rodgers named to Teaching Artist Cohort

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