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Heather Humphrey and her son, Jim Humphrey.

March 29, 2026

Inspiring the Next Generation of Honors College Tigers

Story by Logan Jackson When Heather Humphrey recently received an invitation to share career advice with University of Missouri Honors College students, her first call was to her son, Jim, a sophomore business administration major at Mizzou who is also pursuing the Honors College Certificate. Jim was immediately on board.   “I was thrilled to learn that she had been invited,” he said. “I love hearing her talk about her career and what she’s accomplished because I look up to her so much. She’s an incredible role model for me, and I knew it would be…

Jane Meyer smiling while posing for a picture in front of the Mizzou Columns.

March 29, 2026

Staying Active in the Honors College

Story by Logan Jackson The Mizzou Honors College offers a handful of unique General Honors courses each semester, from interdisciplinary seminars to topic-specific tutorials. During her first year as a Tiger, Jane Meyer has taken full advantage of those opportunities. In just two semesters, Meyer, an English major, has participated in two Humanities Sequence courses, a tutorial, the Honors Book Club class and even completed an independent study tied to research. “The Honors College is a big reason as to why I chose Mizzou,” said Meyer, who also attended the Missouri Scholars Academy before her junior year…

Caleb Simpson

March 2, 2026

Caleb Simpson Named Finalist for Prestigious Truman Scholarship

Story and photo by Logan Jackson Toward the end of his freshman year at Mizzou, Caleb Simpson received an unexpected email from the Office of Global and National Fellowships; he had been anonymously recommended for an introductory meeting with the office. “I was definitely intrigued by the email,” said Simpson, an agribusiness management major from Bolivar, Missouri, who is also pursuing the Honors College Certificate. “I had never really considered that applying for high-profile scholarships or fellowships would be something that could be up my alley. Since I wasn’t heavily engaged in undergraduate research, I didn’t think…

Three students smiling while talking to each other and completing an assignment.

Feb. 26, 2026

Deaton Scholars Program Brings Together Students to Solve Complex Problems

Story and photos by Logan Jackson Since 2017, the Deaton Scholars Program has allowed Mizzou students to be part of innovative, interdisciplinary teams dedicated to addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges.   The program has been overseen by the Honors College for the past year, and while there have been a few changes, the mission remains the same – bring together motivated Mizzou students to collaborate on solutions to pressing local and global challenges rooted in poverty. “It has been extremely exciting to continue the program via the Honors College,” said Michelle Teti,…

A graphic announcing Sam Quinones as the Cherng Distinguished Scholar Keynote Lecture. The event takes place on at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, in 2501 Student Center, Leadership Auditorium.

Feb. 15, 2026

Honors College to Welcome Sam Quinones as Cherng Distinguished Scholar

Story by Logan Jackson The Mizzou Honors College will welcome journalist and award-winning author Sam Quinones to campus in April as its Cherng Distinguished Scholar. Quinones will connect with Mizzou students, faculty and staff through a public lecture, seminars and classroom visits. His public lecture will be at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, in 2501 Mizzou Student Center (Leadership Auditorium). The event is free and open to all. “Sam Quinones is an incredible storyteller,” said Catherine Rymph, dean of the Mizzou Honors College. “He has spent years conducting in-depth reporting on gangs, drug trafficking and…

Gary Smith talking to a group of students.

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…

Dennis Crouch, Jamie Hall and Ashlie Lester

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…

A student smiling while posing for a picture during a study abroad experience.

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…

Catie Tejeda

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.”…

Brent Steele smiling while talking with students.

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…