Reynolds College Blog

Day of the Dead festivities set for Nov. 5

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The Department of Languages, Cultures and Religions (LCR) will once again host Día de Muertos festivities from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 5 in the Plaster Student Union Ballroom.

The biennial event is free and open to the public.

“Día de Muertos — or Day of the Dead — is a joyful and meaningful celebration that honors and remembers loved ones who have passed away,” said Dr. Vanessa Rodríguez de la Vega, professor of Spanish in LCR.

The festival symbolizes the return of souls to the world of the living, according to de la Vega. “The event encourages reflection on life, memory, and community, reminding everyone that death is not an end but a continuation through remembrance.”

Día de Muertos emphasizes remembrance rather than mourning by combining pre-Columbian Indigenous traditions with Catholic All Saints’ Day customs, de la Vega said. And while the festival is associated primarily with Mexico, it is also celebrated in several Latin American countries, including Guatemala, El Salvador, Ecuador and Peru.

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Dr. Manuel Meléndez-Sánchez to speak Nov. 3

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Head shot of man in suit
Dr. Manuel Meléndez-Sánchez. Photo credit: Kellogg Institute.

Missouri State University’s Master of International Affairs (MIA) program will host a talk by Dr. Manuel Meléndez-Sánchez from 5:30-7 p.m. Nov. 3 in the Duane G. Meyer Library Auditorium.

The event is free and open to the public.

Meléndez-Sánchez will discuss the public security strategy of El Salvador’s president Nayib Bukele’s in “The ‘Bukele Model’: Public Security and Democracy in El Salvador.”

Meléndez-Sánchez is currently a visiting fellow at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies at the University of Notre Dame. His visit is part of an informal speaker event series hosted by the MIA program and the Department of Political Science and Philosophy.

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Anthropology Club to host “Vampire Talk” Oct. 23

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Missouri State University’s Anthropology Club will host a “Vampire Talk” at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 23 in Strong Hall 407.

Any student interested in learning more about the stories behind vampires is welcome to attend, said Erika Bears, Anthropology Club secretary. Students are also encouraged to dress up as vampires or in any other costume, she added.

Club members decided on holding a vampire talk because it seemed like a fun activity for the Halloween season, Bears said. It also presents a great opportunity to introduce students to anthropology.

Understanding vampire lore has a direct connection to anthropology, Bears explained.

“There have been archaeological discoveries of people who had unusual burials,” Bears said. “That indicates that they may have been accused of being vampires or were buried the way they were to prevent them from becoming vampires.”

During the talk, Anthropology Club members will present vampire stories and discuss archaeological discoveries from around the world. They will also answer audience questions about vampires.

Mark your calendar

Theatre and Dance presents “Dance Nation” Oct. 23-27.

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Missouri State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance continues its 2025-26 season with “Dance Nation.” Show times are 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23-25 and 27 and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 25-26 in the Credo Arts Center.

Theatre and dance Assistant Professor Nikki Ferry directs Clare Barron’s 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Drama nominee.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors. Missouri State students can receive special advance purchase discounts with their student ID.

MATURE CONTENT. Not recommended for a younger audience. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO.

Purchase Tickets

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Missouri Fine Arts Academy accepting applications for 2026

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The next session of the Missouri Fine Arts Academy (MFAA) is scheduled for May 31 – June 13, 2026, on the Springfield campus of Missouri State University.

Missouri high school students interested in attending can apply online starting Oct. 14, 2025. The application portal will be available through Jan. 30, 2026.

In addition, the Academy is accepting resident assistant and faculty applications.

Colorful graphic that spells out "Expressions"

2026 Academy theme is about “Expressions”

MFAA encourages young artists to express their ideas through a variety of artistic disciplines, including visual arts, music, theatre, creative writing and dance, said MFAA Director Dr. Fatih Benzer. He is an associate professor in Missouri State’s Department of Art and Design.

In addition to enhancing their artistic skills through discipline-specific and interdisciplinary courses, Academy students are encouraged to attend performances by acclaimed artists, writers, performers and musicians to enrich their experience.

“It is no secret that many great artists take cues from their own lives, experiences and inner thoughts to reach out to a world-wide audience,” Benzer said. “So, express yourself. And always remember: You are the inspiration.”

About the MFAA application process

Current Missouri high school freshman, sophomores, juniors or seniors may apply to attend MFAA in the following areas of study:

  • Visual Arts/Mixed Media (painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography and digital art)
  • Theatre (acting)
  • Dance (modern, ballet, jazz, tap and hip hop)
  • Creative Writing (fiction, short story, poetry, playwriting and spoken word)
  • Music (vocal or instrumental performance, songwriting, composition and electronic music)

There is no application fee.

Application packets must include a 500-word personal essay describing how involvement in the arts impacts the applicant’s life, a student evaluation from school personnel and a digital portfolio or video performance. More information about specific application criteria and guidelines on how to prepare applications can be found on the MFAA website. [Read more…] about Missouri Fine Arts Academy accepting applications for 2026