art history Archives - Reynolds College Blog

Dr. Mitzi Kirkland-Ives appointed head of art and design department

April 27, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

The Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Mitzi Kirkland-Ives as head of the Department of Art and Design.

Kirkland-Ives has served as interim department head since August 2025. She joined Missouri State as an assistant professor in art and design in 2009. Specializing in art history, she earned her doctorate from University of California-Santa Barbara and has published multiple books and articles on the subject. Her latest book is “Hans Memling and the Merchants.”

RCASH Dean Shawn Wahl said he was thrilled Kirkland-Ives has joined the Reynolds College leadership team.

“Mitzi brings extensive leadership experience and continuity to the art and design department, one of the largest and most complex academic programs in the School of the Arts,” Wahl said. “She also possesses a broad set of advocacy skills that benefit students, faculty, staff and the arts community.”

Kirkland-Ives is looking forward to continuing her role as department head.

“The range of responsibilities is part of what makes the position so interesting to me,” she said. “The department is large and complicated, with a lot of moving parts in terms of facilities and programming and curriculum. Every day brings a completely new and interesting puzzle to crack.”

“I’m excited for the opportunity to think strategically and come up with creative solutions to help the students, faculty and staff achieve their goals,” she added.

Art history and museum studies students bring research to the public

June 3, 2025 by Reynolds College

Several art history and museum studies students from Missouri State University spent a busy Spring 2025 semester showcasing their research at several conferences.

The students appeared at the Missouri Archaeological Society, the Catherine Reed Jolivette Art History and Visual Cultural Symposium and the Missouri Academy of Science.

The art history and museum studies programs are part of the BA in Visual Art and Culture in the Department of Art and Design.

Art History Alum Kari Mishler accepted into prestigious program

September 21, 2023 by Reynolds College

Kari Mishler, a graduate of the Department of Art and Design at Missouri State University, has been accepted into the master’s program in Conservation of Easel Paintings at The Courtauld Institute of Art in London, England.

According to The Courtauld’s website, the institute is a “research-led, independent College of the University of London, with one of the world’s most prestigious programmes of art history, curating and conservation.” The accompanying Courtauld Gallery is known for its collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works.

As part of her studies, Mishler will spend much of her time in Somerset House, located near London’s Thames River, and in the city’s Museum Mile.

Fallert awarded competitive museum internship

July 23, 2023 by Reynolds College

Missouri State University student Jenna Fallert, a double major in museum studies and art history and visual culture, was awarded a competitive, paid summer museum internship from the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (IAIA-MoCNA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The six-week internship program is offered through the Sealaska Heritage Institute partnership of the University of Alaska Southeast and the Institute of American Indian Arts in New Mexico.