The College of Arts and Science leadership team spent the first half of the semester in their role as the A&S prize patrol — presenting awards to some of the college's top faculty and staff through surprise visits.
The celebration of faculty excellence and staff success led up to an annual ceremony that honored the A&S student council, notable supporters of the college and distinguished alumni.
Many alumni award recipients returned to Mizzou and toured campus ahead of the ceremony — witnessing the impact and outcomes of their legacies and ongoing support.
2024 faculty award recipients
Faculty Awards
Assistant Professor of the Year
- Likun Zhang, Statistics
- Song-yi Youn, Textile and Apparel Management
Associate Professor of the Year
- Pamela Brown, Biological Sciences
- Haley Horstman, Communication
Professor of the Year
- Stefan Freund, Music
- Paula McSteen, Biological Sciences
2024 staff award recipients
Staff Awards
Advisor of the Year
- Dustin Belt, Mathematics
- Jordan Parshall, Biological Sciences
Staff Member of the Year
- 10 or more years of service
- Ferrie Craighead, School of Visual Studies
- Delvin Mellerup, Psychological Sciences
- Less than 10 years of service
- Jacob Owen, Truman School of Government and Public Affairs
- Matt Smith, Museum of Art and Archaeology
Student council Chalk Award recipients
Student Council Chalk Awards
Purple Chalk: Teaching
Dennis Miller, Psychological Sciences
Green Chalk: Teaching Assistant
Mar Quereda Pastor , Biological Sciences
Blue Chalk: Advising
Kibby Smith, Interdisciplinary Studies
Red Chalk: Research Faculty Mentor
Nelson Cowan, Psychological Sciences
Yellow Chalk: Research Graduate Mentor
Hope Rose, Psychological Sciences
Cydney Perkins
Grace Napp
Haley Hultz
Jayna Wallinger
Student Council Royalty
Presented to College of Arts and Science students who exemplify Mizzou’s core values of Respect, Responsibility, Discovery and Excellence
Respect
Cydney Perkins, Political Science and Interdisciplinary Studies
Cydney has proved throughout her time at the university that leadership is exposed in the most unconventional ways, as long as there is the willingness to serve the community.
Bryson Ferguson (nominator)
Responsibility
Grace Napp, Political Science and Constitutional Democracy
I came to Mizzou eager and excited to get involved. I had always been set on attending law school and found that the College of Arts and Science would best fit my needs for my undergraduate education.
Grace Napp
Discovery
Haley Hultz, Psychological Sciences with minors in Chemistry and Sociology
There are all types of research, and it’s all important and interesting. I hope through my work I can help open people’s eyes to how much variety there truly is.
Haley Hultz
Excellence
Jayna Wallinger, Chemistry
I am proud to be so supported in all my endeavors by my peers and mentors here at Mizzou, and very glad to have been given all of these amazing opportunities to thrive on campus and beyond.
Jayna Wallinger
Morgan Corder
Shang Xu
Distinguished Recent Alumni Awards
Presented to alumni who graduated within the past decade and attained significant professional achievement and recognition, showing promise in their fields
Morgan Corder, B.A. Political Science, 2018
Corder helped the Missouri attorney general’s office secure more than $500 million for opioid abuse victims. He’s currently the Director of Field Operations for United States Senator Eric Schmitt and has stayed connected to his alma mater with service to the Mizzou Alumni Association Board of Directors and as the Delta Chi Missouri Chapter Alumni Board of Trustees President.
Shang Xu, B.S. Mathematics, 2020
On his first try, Xu passed all 10 of the arduous actuarial exams needed to attain the Society of Actuaries fellowship designation. This is a feat that takes an average of 10 years for most actuaries to accomplish. Xu’s was done by age 22. Busy as he was in his major, he also played the clarinet in the University Orchestra Wind Ensemble and was an undergraduate research assistant on National Science Foundation Grants.
But Shang isn’t all work and no play: he also has credentials as a certified BBQ judge.
Robin Means Coleman
Judith Jellison
Distinguished Alumni Awards
Presented to alumni whose careers exemplify their commitment to the goals and values of the college
Robin Means Coleman, MA Communication, 1993
Dr. Coleman is an accomplished administrator, including her time as Vice President & Associate Provost for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at Northwestern University. Dr. Coleman’s research explores horror films through the unique lens of Black characters, actors, writers, directors, and audiences.
She was notably the co-executive producer of the award-winning documentary film Horror Noire, based on her book of the same name, featuring a ‘who’s who’ cast, including Jordan Peele of Get Out. Today, she serves as a professor of Media Studies and of African American and African Studies at the University of Virginia. She also is the Director of the Black Fantastic Media Research Lab.
Judith Jellison, MA Music History, 1967
Dr. Jellison is an Internationally recognized expert in the areas of music and disabilities, and inclusive educational practices. Her life’s work has been creating opportunities for all children to have a joyful, lifelong connection to music. Her book Including Everyone: Creating Music Classrooms Where All Children Learn is a leading text in the field. Her time at MU strengthened her performance skills, giving her the confidence to complete a doctorate at Florida State University. She then went on to found the undergraduate Music Therapy program at the University of Minnesota.
Today she is the Mary D. Bold Regents Professor Emerita in Music and Human Learning and a University Distinguished Teaching Professor Emerita in the Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin.
Dave Reid
Distinguished Service Award
Presented to individuals whose service has enhanced excellence in the College of Arts and Science
Dave Reid, Founder and CEO, Design Resources Incorporated (DRI)
Reid is the founder and CEO of Design Resources Incorporated, a Kansas City-based apparel company built on a business model of creativity and service, with family as its core. DRI produces private label products and branded custom sportswear. They are the Nike licensee for Mizzou, and through that partnership have worked with TAM to create unique retail spaces. Reid has established an enduring relationship of service, sponsorship, and advocacy with the Textile and Apparel Management department.
He is always the first to sign up for TAM career fairs, hosts student visits, and hires TAM graduates regularly. Reid also serves the department’s faculty by bringing them to KC to learn about upcoming issues and trends in the industry, providing research data, and partnering in professional development.
Jack Bastable
Spirit of Philanthropy Award
Presented to individuals who are most giving of time, talent and treasure
Jack Bastable, President and Co-founder, Vital Leadership
Throughout his life and career, Bastable has prioritized well-being by building physical spaces and corporate cultures that showcase his vision. Bastable was a standout athlete at Mizzou in both football and baseball, before being drafted by the Oakland A’s. He attributes much of his success to the lessons learned during his time as a student-athlete.
Bastable was instrumental in the expansion of leadership culture in Arts and Science. Thanks to Bastable, there is now programming for first-generation students, teaching life and leadership skills. He has given funds and expertise to create a coaching program for faculty leaders. Participants learn to be more effective as they face the challenges of higher education.
As the college steps boldly into new ventures, Bastable is there as a true partner.
Jean Becker
Dean's Enduring Excellence Award
The highest alumni honor given by the college, presented to those whose legacies of success and embodiment of the college’s core values exemplify liberal arts education at the University of Missouri
Jean Becker, BA Political Science and BJ Journalism, 1978
Becker was Chief of Staff for President George H.W. Bush from 1994 until his passing in 2018. She oversaw the opening of the George Bush Presidential Library Center and the commissioning of the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier. Before her time with President Bush, Becker served as deputy press secretary for First Lady Barbara Bush, a role she began after spending 10 years as a reporter for USA Today. She collaborated with President and Mrs. Bush on the editing and research of their books, Barbara Bush, A Memoir and its follow-up Reflections, and All the Best, George Bush; My Life in Letters and Other Writings.
Becker is also the author of the New York Times bestseller The Man I Knew: The Amazing Story of George H.W. Bush’s Post Presidency. Her next book, Character Matters: And Other Life Lessons from George H.W. Bush, is set for release in April 2024.
Becker was inducted in the Mizzou Hall of Fame in 2021 and currently serves on the Board of the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy.