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Residents of the US and its territories only. See full disclosure for details. *Bonus Cash Rewards Offer. You will qualify for $200 bonus cash rewards if you use your new credit card account to make any combination of purchase transactions totaling at least $1,000 (exclusive of any fees, returns and adjustments) that post to your account within 90 days of the account open date. Limit 1 bonus cash rewards offer per new account. This one-time promotion is limited to customers opening a new account in response to this offer and will not apply to requests to convert existing accounts. Your account must be open with active charging privileges in order to receive this offer. Other advertised promotional bonus cash rewards offers can vary from this promotion and may not be substituted. Allow 8–12 weeks from qualifying for the bonus cash rewards to post to your rewards balance. The value of this reward may constitute taxable income to you. You may be issued an Internal Revenue Service Form 1099 (or other appropriate form) that reflects the value of such reward. Please consult your tax advisor, as neither we, nor our affiliates, provide tax advice. 1 Mobile Banking. Mobile Banking requires that you download the Mobile Banking app and is only available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply.

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

NextGen Is Just the Beginning

Over the past few months, we’ve made history — twice — at the University of Missouri. On Oct. 19, we celebrated the grand opening of the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building. This monumental event was attended by national dignitaries, including Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health. (Read more about NextGen on Page 28.)

Two weeks later, we launched MizzouForward, the most ambitious research investment in our 182-year history. During the next 10 years, we will invest $1.5 billion in the people and tools that help us create tomorrow’s lifesaving advances and ensure what we build now lasts well into the future. You’ll learn more about MizzouForward in upcoming issues of this magazine.

MU’s research initiatives throw out the old idea that breakthroughs happen in isolation. The future is built by teams of collaborators working across disciplines to unite their passions and expertise. Going forward, we’re facilitating even more of these connections — whether it’s through designing NextGen’s adaptable and open lab spaces or investing in Mizzou’s research enterprise to solve three of society’s grand challenges: • Improving and saving lives through the Next-

Gen Precision Health initiative • Harnessing the frontiers of science and engineering for a sustainable world • Promoting a civil and equitable society through ideas, policies and culture

In the years ahead, we will aggressively invest in our research mission — because as a flagship, land-grant institution, it is our duty to help build a healthier, happier and more prosperous Missouri. These ambitious goals help us attract some of the best research talent from around the country. World-renowned investigators are eager to come to Mizzou for our unique combination of expertise and topof-the-line equipment.

These people and tools are crucial ingredients that will accelerate our research, make more groundbreaking discoveries, and bring Mizzou’s education and engagement missions to communities statewide. They’ll also help us prepare students to join the ever-evolving world of research and make important contributions of their own.

All of this innovation and cutting-edge research relies on the support of our fellow Tigers. It is alumni like you who help spread Mizzou’s vision and mission. We’re building on your legacy, and we will need your continued support and enthusiasm as we recommit ourselves to the excellence that has always defined our university.

Mizzou’s mission is an invitation — as well as a challenge — to give more of ourselves to make Missouri a better place. Discovery is not just one of our core values; it is central to how faculty, students, alumni and our global Tiger community work together to make a difference.

Editorial and Advertising Mizzou Alumni Association 123 Reynolds Alumni Center 704 Conley Avenue Columbia, MO 65211 phone: 573-882-6611 mizzou@missouri.edu executive editor Ashley Burden managing editor Dale Smith art director Blake Dinsdale class notes editor Jennifer Manning editor emerita Karen Worley advertising Scott Dahl: 573-882-2374

Mizzou Alumni Association 123 Reynolds Alumni Center Columbia, MO 65211 phone: 573-882-6611, fax: 573-882-5145 executive director, publisher Todd A. McCubbin, M Ed ’95

Opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the official position of the University of Missouri or the Mizzou Alumni Association. ©2022

Statements of Purpose The Mizzou Alumni Association proudly supports the best interests and traditions of Missouri’s flagship university and its alumni worldwide. Lifelong relationships are the foundation of our support. These relationships are enhanced through advocacy, communication and volunteerism.

MIZZOU magazine reports credible and engaging news about the University of Missouri community to a global audience.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Sabrina McDonnell, MBA ’15 • President-elect Jeff Vogel, BS Acc ’90 • Immediate Past President Robin Wenneker, BS BA ’91 • Treasurer John Gamble, BS ’00 • Secretary Todd McCubbin, M Ed ’95 • Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chair Joe Valenciano, BA ’95 • Directors Cristin Blunt, BS Ed ’02; Renita Duncan, BS Acc ’08, M Acc ’08; Pete Ferretti, BA ’93; Matt Jenne, BS CiE ’97, MBA ’15; Chuck Kaiser, BA, BJ ’93; Derek Kessen, BS BA ’05; Emily Kueker, BS ’02; Christine Mathews, BS BA ’10, MBA ’17; Mindy Mazur, BA ’99; Craig Moeller, BS ’93; Ellie Preslar, BS BE ’04; Martin Rucker, BS ’07; Mark Russell, BJ ’84; Jim Simmons, BS ’93, MD ’98; Dawn Smith-Popielski, BA ’96; David Townsend, JD ’00; Janet Wheatley, BS HE ’77 • Student Representative Cade Koehly

MIZZOU magazine Winter 2022, Volume 110, Number 2 Published triannually by the Mizzou Alumni Association

MORE MIZZOU ONLINE

Three videos for your viewing pleasure: Hike along with geology students at a field camp in the wilds of Wyoming. See video at tinyurl.com/MizzouGeologyCamp and cover story on Page 32. • Tour Mizzou’s 7 million-specimen Enns Entomology Museum with Director Robert Sites. See video at tinyurl.com/MizzouBugs and story on Page 7. • Meet campus piano tuner Lucy Urlacher at tinyurl.com/MizzouPiano.

CONTRIBUTORS

Michael Shaw, MA ’92, is a writer and New Yorker cartoonist. His essay and ’toons for MIZZOU magazine tell the tale of a crazy night he spent in the former home of cartoonist James Thurber. Page 16 Marina Shifrin, BJ ’10, the author of 30 Before 30: How I Made a Mess of My 20s, and You Can Too, is a comedy writer living in Los Angeles. Find out why she’ll never be president. Page 64

Sara Bondioli, BA, BJ ’05, is an editor for HuffPost and previously served as assistant managing editor at Roll Call. She profiles small-business owners taking on big corporations. Page 44 Justin Heckert, BJ ’02, a native of Missouri’s bootheel, has written for ESPN, The New York Times Magazine, GQ and Esquire. He spent several days at Mizzou’s geology field camp. Page 32

About the cover

For the past 110 years, Mizzou geology students have taken part in a rite of passage: six grueling weeks in the field at Camp Branson in the Wind River Range near Lander, Wyoming. Here’s what the 2021 class — along with writer Justin Heckert, BJ ’02, and photographer Michael Cali, BJ ’17 — found at the camp. Page 32 facebook.com/mizzou

twitter.com/mizzou

instagram.com/mizzou

Departments

1First Look

J-School Professor Emeritus Don Ranly, PhD ’76, has been perplexed by a campus puzzle for years. Can you help him solve it?

Alumni dish on their latest anniversaries, jobs, weddings and babies.

6Around the Columns

Memorial Union gets a makeover, researchers provide insight for the future of our vegetables and a pair of Mizzou wrestlers top the Junior World Championships podium. Bug lover? See Page 7.

50 Mizzou Alumni News

Meet the 2021 Hall of Fame inductees and the law alumna Missouri Gov. Mike Parson selected for the state’s high court, Judge Robin Ransom, JD ’91.

51 Class Notes

64

Semper Mizzou

Comedian Marina Shifrin, BJ ’10, riffs on the American dream and what it means to be an immigrant in America.

Council for Advancement & Support of Education (CASE) Awards 2021: Gold, Feature Writing (“Who Was I in College?,” Winter 2020); 2020: Bronze, Feature Writing (“Forever Young,” Spring 2019); 2019: Bronze, General Interest Magazine

Society for Publication Designers (SPD) Awards 2021 merit awards “Eli’s Calling,” Fall 2020 “A Third Act,” Spring 2020

Features

If you only knew the cast of characters making trouble in the mind of cartoonist Michael Shaw, MA ’92. Page 16

14 16

Pulitzer

Marcia Chatelain’s early path toward the coveted prize cut through multiple disciplines across campus and activism beyond the classroom. story by tony rehagen, ba, bj ’01

Fall of the House of Thurber

To Michael Shaw and numerous other New Yorker magazine cartoonists, the late James Thurber is both founder and high priest of their famous and nutty club. What happened to Shaw one dark and stormy night at Thurber’s home-cum-museum is fast becoming the stuff of legend. story and cartoons by michael shaw, ma ’92

22

Mizzou’s Roaring ’20s

The 1920s wasn’t just the decade of jazz and flappers. A century ago at Mizzou, now-beloved buildings went up, faculty research accelerated and enrollment took flight faster than Amelia Earhart. story by kelsey allen, ba, bj ’10

28

To Find the Right Cure

The new NextGen building is part of a larger precision health initiative that promises healthier individuals and communities as well as educational opportunities, economic development and breakthrough health technologies. story by david LaGesse, bj ’79

32

School of Hard Rocks

Tag along to Mizzou’s Camp Branson outside Lander, Wyoming, where geology majors have spent their summers for the past 110 years. story by justin heckert, bj ’02 * photos by michael cali, bj ’17

42

Best Foot Forward

Desiree Reed-Francois becomes the first female athletic director in university history. story by tony rehagen, ba, bj ’01

44

Taking on Titans

In industries dominated by large companies, these small-business owners are having it their own way. by sara bondioli, ba, bj ’05