Shawn Wahl Archives - Reynolds College Blog

MSU awarded $60,000 grant for faith-health education

March 7, 2025 by Damilola R. Oyedeji

Missouri State University has received a $60,000 grant from Interfaith America to enhance religious literacy in health professions education. The grant recognizes MSU’s leadership in religious literacy and cultural competence in health care.

Out of 44 applicants, MSU was one of only 15 institutions awarded this competitive grant. The university’s longstanding efforts in integrating religion and health care education played a key role in securing the funding.

Plans for the grant include creating a new graduate certificate, adding health services courses and developing online resources to improve religious literacy in health care.

The grant runs from December 2024 to November 2026.

Grant builds on earlier initiative

Missouri State began teaching courses in religion and health about 10 years ago, according to Dr. Philippa Koch, associate professor in the Department of Languages, Cultures and Religions (LCR).

Koch is an Interfaith America Faith and Health Fellow. She will lead the grant initiative, along with Dr. Steve Berkwitz and Dr. John Schmalzbauer from LCR and Sarah Bowman, Dr. McCall Christian and Dr. Amber Abernathy from the McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS).

A $30,000 Wabash Center grant that Berkwitz and Schmalzbauer received in 2015 helped launch MSU’s first courses in religion and health, Koch said. “These efforts laid the groundwork for our current initiative.”

Since then, MSU has continued to build its interdisciplinary program. This includes creating the Medical Humanities Undergraduate Certificate in 2019 and the Mental Health and Spirituality Undergraduate Certificate in 2022.

Now, the new grant positions the university to be a leader in the growing field of religion and health, according to Schmalzbauer.

“We’re deepening our work at the intersection of faith and health to prepare future health care practitioners to serve diverse communities with cultural sensitivity,” Koch noted.

Defense and Strategic Studies launches new scholarly journal

December 11, 2024 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s School of Defense and Strategic Studies (DSS) has published the inaugural issue of its online journal, “Defense and Strategic Studies Online,” or DASSO.

“We are very pleased to announce the release of the first issue of the DSS program’s flagship publication,” said the Hon. Christopher A. Ford, professor of defense and strategic studies and DASSO’s editor.

“This is one example of the excellent work that helps elevate our academic profile,” said Dean Shawn Wahl of the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.

Other members of the editorial board are Dr. Gary L. Geipel, Dr. Kerry M. Kartchner and Col. Curtis D. McGiffin, USAF (ret.).

First issue explores U.S. policy in Asia

DASSO’s first issue features an introductory essay by the journal’s editorial board and articles on American responses to Asian policies.

“The first issue of the journal includes articles on data-driven analysis of Chinese grand strategy, historical lessons for a potential U.S.-China conflict over Taiwan from Thucydides and more recent great power conflicts, and how America’s adversaries strive to weaponize its moral integrity against it,” Ford said.

“This online journal showcases articles, essays, book reviews, and other commentary written by MSU faculty and students, as well as contributions from outside the MSU community,” he added.

The editorial board invites submissions for publication in future issues of DASSO, Ford said. Those interested can email DASSO for more information.

Read DASSO

Reynolds College and University Libraries to open Digital Humanities Lab Fall 2024

August 29, 2024 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University will have a new Digital Humanities Lab (DHL) beginning Fall 2024, thanks to a collaborative effort between the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH) and the Missouri State University Libraries.

Located in the lower lever of the Duane G. Meyer Library, the DHL will provide resources and guidance for faculty and students to create digital scholarship projects, according to RCASH Associate Dean Dr. Jason Jolley.

A ribbon-cutting opening ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. Sept. 17 in the lower level of Meyer Library.

The event is open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Using technology to study cultures and societies

According to Jolley, the term “digital humanities” reflects an interdisciplinary approach to studying the humanities using digital tools and technologies. Subjects as wide-ranging as literature, languages, history and philosophy can all benefit from digital humanities research.

The primary goal of digital humanities research, he added, is to learn more about human societies. “Digital humanities scholars use computational methods to analyze, visualize and interpret cultural artifacts and texts,” Jolley said. “By employing techniques such as text mining, data visualization and digital mapping, digital humanities projects provide new insights and perspectives on human culture and society.”

Digital humanities scholars also use complex tools in their research, Jolley explained. Examples include high-resolution digital cameras, virtual reality systems for immersive historical experiences, scanning technologies and 3D modeling.

“These tools enable researchers to capture, analyze and present humanities data in innovative ways, making research more accessible and engaging to broader audiences,” he said.

Finally, in another use for digital humanities, research can be shared through online archives, interactive exhibits and open-access publications.

Missouri State’s new DHL will offer all these resources to students and faculty throughout the university community.

Missouri State students excel at national singing auditions

August 7, 2024 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Three Missouri State University students from the Department of Music’s voice program took top honors during the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) auditions in Knoxville, Tennessee, June 27-28.

Matthew Juhlin, Theron LePage and Veronika Yerina all advanced to the final rounds and placed in their respective categories, according to Dr. Paula Patterson, head of the music department.

Juhlin placed first and LePage placed second in the Upper Classical TBB (Tenor, Baritone and Bass) Voice category. Juhlin and LePage study voice with Dr. Chris Thompson.

Yerina, who studies voice with Dr. Carol Chapman, placed third in Lower Classical Treble Voice category.

All three received certificates of recognition and monetary awards for their performances.

Emma Gulovsen, Zoe Juhlin, Ryan McIntosh, Tanner Munson, Emily Owings and Jan Veljak all advanced to the semifinal rounds.

University orchestra performs at Carnegie Hall

July 25, 2024 by Lynn M. Lansdown

The Missouri State University Symphony Orchestra performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City June 13, 2024, with Dr. Christopher Kelts conducting.

Woman and man hug after music performance — Missouri State alum Jiyeon Lee shares a hug with conductor Dr. Christopher Kelts after performing “Rhapsody in Blue.”

The program included Leonard Bernstein’s “Overture to ‘Candide,’” emeritus professor Dr. John Prescott’s “Adagio from Baroque Concerto, Op. 77a” and Florence Price’s “‘Adoration’ for String Orchestra.”

In addition, the orchestra performed George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” accompanied by solo pianist Jiyeon Lee.

Lee, a Missouri State alum, studied with Dr. Hye-Jung Hong, associate professor in the Department of Music.

“Carnegie Hall is one of the most prestigious venues in the world for music, and it was so exciting to hear our own MSU Symphony students perform there,” said Dr. Paula Patterson, head of the music department.

“The University Symphony performed superbly,” Kelts said.

According to Patterson, several individuals connected with Missouri State attended the performance. These included music faculty, parents, alumni, former MSU president Clif Smart and Dean Shawn Wahl of the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH).