April 8, 2026

In Memory of Bill Bondeson

The Honors College mourns the loss of Bill Bondeson, who passed away on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Bondeson joined the University of Missouri as a professor of philosophy in 1964. He retired from Mizzou in 2011 after decades of service, including directing the Honors College from 1969-72 and teaching in the Honors College Humanities Sequence nearly every semester of his tenure. Below, Rachel Harper, associate dean of the Honors College and longtime friend of Bondeson, shares her memories of Bondeson and the impact he made in the lives of others. In fall 1998, my discussion section…

April 2, 2026

Mizzou to Collaborate with SEC Honors Colleges on Athletics Course

Next fall, Mizzou Honors College students will have the opportunity to explore the history and mission of NCAA athletics through a collaborative Honors course. The class includes Zoom sessions with SEC partners and in-person, Mizzou-specific seminars. Story and photo by Logan Jackson The University of Missouri Honors College will collaborate with Honors Colleges from nine Southeastern Conference (SEC) universities this fall on a course that will explore the changing landscape across collegiate athletics. Through a combination of Zoom sessions with SEC partners and in-person, Mizzou-specific seminars, the course will explore the history and mission of NCAA athletics and recent legal…

March 30, 2026

Inspiring the Next Generation of Honors College Tigers

Heather Humphrey, senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Evergy, the largest electric company in Kansas, recently shared career advice and answered questions from Honors College students during a campus visit. One of those students was her son, Jim. Photo by Logan Jackson. 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…

March 30, 2026

Staying Active in the Honors College

Brazeal Scholar Jane Meyer has been incredibly active in the Honors College during her first year at Mizzou. Photo courtesy of Jane Meyer. 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…

March 3, 2026

Caleb Simpson Named Finalist for Prestigious Truman Scholarship

Caleb Simpson, a junior agribusiness management major from Bolivar, Missouri, who is also pursuing the Honors College Certificate, was recently named a finalist for the 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…

Feb. 27, 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, associate dean of the…

Feb. 16, 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 immigration, which have not…

Jan. 21, 2026

Bringing Education to Life

Gary Smith, director emeritus of admissions and registrar, has brought the cases of lawyer Clarence Darrow to life through a Mizzou Honors College seminar course over the past 30 years. 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…

Jan. 15, 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 into the selected…

Jan. 13, 2026

Honors College Students Find Confidence, Connection Through Study Abroad

Biomedical engineering major Jenna Skidmore participated in a three-week summer study abroad program with DIS Study Abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark. Photo courtesy of Jenna Skidmore. 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…