Nikki Ferry Archives - Reynolds College Blog

Wellness Week celebrates good health and good habits

November 12, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

For the fifth year, the Department of Theatre and Dance has sponsored Wellness Week, a three-day event for its students that provides information on how to maintain their physical, emotional and financial well-being.

Typically scheduled right before fall break each year, the event provides students with opportunities to engage in a wide range of health-related activities. They can also choose to hear from expert speakers on topics ranging from nutrition to digital and social media time management.

“Wellness Week is always one of the highlights of my year,” said Associate Professor Azaria Hogans, Wellness Week committee chair. “Wellness Week is depression prevention, social isolation prevention and, overall, the embodiment of prioritizing student mental health and well-being.”

This year’s Wellness Week committee members were theatre and dance Department Head Dr. Chris Herr, Assistant Professor Nikki Ferry, Assistant Professor Karen Sabo and Artist-in-Residence Kathleen Hains. Among their many tasks, the committee helped organize event activities, scheduled speakers and venue locations and promoted the event on social media. Hogans also handled budgeting and program analytics.

According to those analytics, Hogans said the event garnered over 300 attendance touch points this year.

Students listening to a presentation — A student asks a question during the “Logged in, Stressed Out: Managing Stress and Screen Time” session, conducted by LPCs Chiara Citterio and Katie Harrison of Missouri State’s Counseling Center.

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

October 15, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

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

RCASH faculty named inaugural Education Abroad Faculty Fellows

March 11, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University has announced its inaugural cohort of the Education Abroad Faculty Fellows program.

This year’s cohort consists of eight faculty members from a diverse range of disciplines. Among the eight are three members of the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH) faculty.

Those individuals are Jeff Loughary from the Department of Languages, Cultures and Religions, Nikki Ferry from the Department of Theatre and Dance and Dr. William Harwood from the Department of Political Science and Philosophy.

Other selected Fellows are Dr. Benjamin Beranek from the College of Business, Clara Dickinson from the Darr College of Agriculture, Dr. Asif Ishtiaque from the College of Natural and Applied Sciences, and Kelly Dudley and Stephanie Urich from the McQueary College of Health and Human Services.

In addition, four RCASH faculty members served as content experts during the Fellows session in January. They were Joshua Albers from the Department of Art and Design, Dr. William Sandel from the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, and Dr. Leslie Seawright and Dr. Alan Tinkler from the Department of English.

“I was excited to work with the inaugural Education Abroad faculty cohort, sharing ways to weave general education goals and course learning objectives into their education abroad itineraries,” Seawright said. “It was a great conversation.”

“Study abroad is an incredible opportunity for both our faculty and students,” Sandel said. “I was happy to share some of my experiences regarding flexibility when planning and conducting a study abroad program.”

Department of Theatre and Dance presents “The Moors” Oct. 24-28

October 21, 2024 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance continues its 2024-2025 season with its production of “The Moors.”

Assistant professor Nikki Ferry directs the Gothic dark comedy written by Jen Silverman.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24-26 and 28 and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 27.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students/seniors. Special advance rates are available for students with an MSU ID.

All performances take place in the Craig Hall Balcony Theatre.

Get Tickets to “The Moors”

Seeking “Connection”

As Ferry explains, “The Moors” reflects this year’s theme of “Connection” through the universal concept of desire.

“Overall, the play captures the complexity of interpersonal interactions by highlighting the fine line that must be drawn between loneliness and the need for connection in a harsh and unwelcoming environment,” she said.

“Every character in ‘The Moors’ has deep desires, whether they are related to power, fantasy, love or validation,” Ferry said. Two of those characters are animals — The Mastiff and The Moor-hen.

“It’s been a lot of joy to learn about these two very different animals who are experiencing very real human feelings and interactions,” Ferry said.