Art unites people and creates community, which is Eric Haun’s goal with his public art project "Heart Joplin." The recognizable murals are seen on buildings of local shops and restaurants throughout the city, but now one can be found at Missouri Southern State University (MSSU). The heart is a symbol of the community at MSSU and one of the many things that make campus feel like home.
On Monday, August 4, 2025, the Joplin City Council presented a proclamation honoring the significant contributions of six area colleges and universities to the region’s economy and community. The proclamation acknowledged the collective impact of Missouri Southern State University (MSSU), Pittsburg State University, Kansas City University, Crowder College, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, and Ozark Christian College.
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) proudly announces that Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) has earned accreditation for its business programs, which is an achievement that places MSSU among the world’s leading business education institutions.
Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) Associate Professor of Physics Rabindra Bajracharya, PhD, has been selected as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar, a program of the U.S. Department of State, for the 2025-2026 academic year. He will represent the university and the United States in Nepal through this international academic exchange program.
Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) will play an even greater role in shaping the future of higher education in the state, following Governor Mike Kehoe’s approval of legislation expanding the university’s statewide mission.
Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) is proud to announce plans to offer women’s flag football in the nearby future. It will first launch as a club sport beginning in the 2025–26 academic year, with plans to elevate the program to National Collegiate Athletic Association varsity status by 2026–27.
Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) celebrated its Spring 2025 Commencement on May 10, awarding degrees to 582 graduates during two ceremonies held at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) is proud to announce the appointment of Derrick Bready as assistant professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities. Bready brings more than two decades of choral teaching and leadership experience to MSSU.
Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) proudly announces the opening of the Missouri 3D Printing Center for Precision Health, a groundbreaking initiative made possible through a Science to Jobs grant from the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development.
Five Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) Department of Computer Information Science (CIS) students earn a Top 10 finish at the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) HogHacks 2025, a high-stakes hackathon hosted by the University of Arkansas ACM Student Chapter. The event drew over 150 participants from universities across Arkansas and Missouri, all competing to tackle complex technical challenges.
Missouri Southern State University and Crowder College formalized a new academic partnership through a signing event on April 29 at 9 a.m. The event took place in Room 309 of the Billingsly Student Center on the MSSU campus in Joplin, Missouri.
The Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) television station, KGCS-TV, will soon begin transmitting from a new location. A broadcast tower on the university’s campus will be the official home to the transmitter, which will enhance accessibility for monitoring and maintenance. The tower was put in place in 1988 on the MSSU campus, but the transmitter has been located off-campus since that time.
Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) is proud to announce that Dr. Megan Bever, associate professor of history and chair of the Social Science Department, has been honored with the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education. The award is given annually to outstanding teachers who challenge and motivate Missouri students to reach their full potential.
The MSSU Cragin Art Gallery is pleased to host an exhibition titled, “2025 Missouri Southern State University Alumni Exhibition”. The show will run from March 31- April 17, 2025. There will be a reception within the gallery on April 17 from 6- 7:00 pm. The show was juried by an out-of-state juror and features a wide range of exemplary artwork by alumni of our Art & Design program.
Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) is excited to announce that country music star Josh Turner will perform May 2, 2025, at the university’s Fred G. Hughes Stadium.
Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) is pleased to announce the approval of several new academic offerings and an expansion of the Lion Pride Tuition program following the Board of Governors meeting held on March 14, 2025.
Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) marked a significant milestone in the development of the Roy Blunt Health Science Innovation Center with a special topping-out ceremony on March 14, 2025. The event, attended by Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, celebrated the completion of the building’s structural framework.
A new partnership between NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC), based in Bentonville, Arkansas, and Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) will allow students to more easily transfer credits from NWACC to MSSU in the future.
The MSSU Cragin Art Gallery is pleased to host Drawing is Magic a solo exhibition by artist John Hendrix. The exhibition will run from February 24 – March 25, 2025, with a reception/artist talk on March 25 at 5 PM. Additionally, the MSSU Spiva Library will host a book reading and signing from 2:30 pm- 3:45 pm on March 25.
Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) is pleased to announce that Dr. Kerry Johnson, chair of the Department of Mathematics, will serve as the interim dean of the College of Business, Communication and Technology. Johnson steps into this role following the upcoming retirement of Dr. Elke Howe, who has served as dean of the college since 2023.
The new year brings in new opportunities and hope for a better tomorrow, but it also marks the 10-year anniversary of Missouri Southern’s Dress to Impress event on Feb. 26 in Billingsly Student Center’s Connor Ballroom.
Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) Board of Governors received updates on the highly anticipated expansion of a proposed Baccalaureate in Nursing degree, which will address the critical shortage of registered nurses and nursing faculty in the Four State region.
The MSSU Cragin Art Gallery is pleased to host Sculptures and Works on Paper, Arny Nadler, a solo exhibition by artist Arny Nadler. The exhibition will run from January 20 - February 19, 2025, with a reception/artist talk via Zoom on January 23 at 6 PM.
Missouri Southern State University is proud to introduce its new Director of Communications Felicia Vaught and Director of Marketing Abby Morris.
Missouri Southern State University’s Registrar has released the names of students who earned spots on the Dean’s list for the fall 2024 semester. Students listed on the Dean’s List earned grade-point averages between 3.75 - 4.0 and completed a minimum of 12 credit hours.
