Jan. 20, 2026

Bringing Education to Life

Story and photos by Logan Jackson For the past 30 years, Gary Smith has brought the cases of renowned lawyer Clarence Darrow to life through a Mizzou Honors College Seminar course, “Attorney for the Damned” (GN_HON 1050H). Along with diving deeper into Darrow’s high-profile work, Smith engages with students on current events and Mizzou history. “I have always been fascinated with history, and I think I maybe wanted to be a lawyer, but I never got around to it,” said Smith, director emeritus of admissions and registrar. While Smith has been a staple at Mizzou and…

Jan. 14, 2026

Honors College Welcomes New Cohort of Tarkow Teaching Fellows

Story by Logan Jackson For the past two years, Mizzou faculty from across campus have shared their expertise with students pursuing the Honors College Certificate through the Tarkow Teaching Fellows program. The program was developed to honor the incredible teaching legacy of Ted Tarkow, a professor emeritus of classical studies. Funded, in part, through an endowed gift in honor of Ted and Marjorie Tarkow, the Tarkow Teaching Fellows form a collaborative cohort that work with Honors College faculty and administrators to develop and teach the “Honors Book Club” course, which offers students the opportunity to dive deeper…

Jan. 12, 2026

Honors College Students Find Confidence, Connection Through Study Abroad

Story by Riley Palshaw Each year, Mizzou Honors College students pack their suitcases and scatter across the world, chasing new experiences in places far from campus through study abroad. They go for different reasons – curiosity, adventure, academic opportunity – but they often return describing the same feeling. Studying abroad, they say, opened their eyes to new ways of living and learning, and became one of the most rewarding decisions they made at Mizzou. The Honors College supports these experiences in more than one way. Some students travel through the college’s own faculty-led…

Dec. 17, 2025

An Empathetic Spirit: Catie Tejeda Earns Health Science Degree

Story by Logan JacksonPhoto courtesy of Catie Tejeda On her official tour of the University of Missouri, Catie Tejeda was a sponge, absorbing every detail of her trek across campus. While she was impressed with everything that was being shared, when she walked across the quad, she knew she was going to be a Tiger. “I know it sounds super cliché, but Mizzou really did feel like home when I saw the Columns,” Tejeda said. “Something about them just drew me in. I toured other schools but none of them matched up to Mizzou.”…

Dec. 16, 2025

An Energizing Experience

Story by Logan Jackson Brent Steele’s recent return to the Mizzou campus brought on a wave of nostalgia. Steele interacted with a variety of students, including several in the Honors College, took in a football game and visited many of his favorite spots across campus. It was Steele’s first Mizzou visit since he earned accountancy degrees in 2006. “I love Columbia; it’s such a great town,” Steele said. “It’s changed a lot – both the coffee and bagel options have radically improved – but in many ways, it felt the same. It was very comforting to…

Dec. 16, 2025

Building Community Through Fitness, Service and Sport: Anna Fairchild Earns Nutrition and Exercise Physiology Degree

Story by Riley PalshawPhoto courtesy of Anna Fairchild From leading fitness classes across Columbia, to tackling leadership roles for Mizzou women’s rugby, Honors College student and nutrition and exercise physiology major Anna Fairchild has left her mark on the University of Missouri’s campus. Now preparing to graduate in December, Fairchild looks back on how far she has come since arriving on campus. The Mexico, Missouri, native comes from a family of Tigers, but her path to finding her place at Mizzou wasn’t linear. She started in the Discovery Center and moved through agricultural business and communication…

Dec. 15, 2025

“A Career That Makes Me Feel Human”: Ryan Brunette Earns Nursing Degree

Story by Tanner O’Neal RileyPhoto courtesy of Ryan Brunette The Sinclair School of Nursing at the University of Missouri has churned out uniquely skilled nurses since its founding in 1920. Student nurse, Ryan Brunette, is one of them. From the beginning, Brunette sensed that nursing could be more than a profession. It could be a way to live a life of service. “At first I was drawn to nursing because of the variety of career paths it offers,” he said, recalling how the broad landscape of medical units first caught his attention. Emergency care,…

Dec. 14, 2025

From Legacy to Leadership: Mira Sabapathy Earns Accountancy Degree

Story by Kaiya Lynch Mira Sabapathy was no stranger to the University of Missouri growing up. The daughter of Mizzou alumni, she arrived on campus as a freshman already familiar with its history, culture and traditions. “Once I was accepted into the Cornell Leadership Program, I knew I would go to Mizzou,” Sabapathy said. “It certainly helped having parents who attended the university, so I already felt comfortable.” The Cornell Leadership Program offers leadership development for students who have achieved high levels of success. Sabapathy appreciated that the program allowed her to…

Nov. 19, 2025

Spicing Up Student Life: Meet Andrew Rubin

Story by Tanner O’Neal RileyPhotos by Logan Jackson At the University of Missouri’s Student Center, tucked inside the Griggs Innovators Nexus, the steady hum of student chatter mixes with the scent of ambition. Among the bustle sits freshman Andrew Rubin, founder of State Street Spices, a venture he built from scratch before even setting foot on campus.  Rubin, a St. Louis, Missouri, native, says his business, which he launched in 2023, blends his passions for food, culture, community and, of course, entrepreneurship. He says that is what brought…

Nov. 17, 2025

Developing Study Strategies for the MCAT

Story and photos by Logan Jackson The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is widely considered to be one of the most difficult standardized exams due to its format, expansive content and high-stakes nature. The preparation that students must do before the exam is vital, and the Honors College is offering a course to aid students on that journey. The High Impact Study Strategies for MCAT Prep (GN_HON 4070H) course brings together students from across the Mizzou campus to try new study techniques, take practice exams, complete self-evaluations and work through stress-reduction exercises. The course is taught by…