Educational leaders from across Missouri gathered at the University of Missouri on February 28, 2026 for the annual Hook Center Assembly, a day focused on strengthening public education through collaboration and leadership.
Meet University of Missouri staff members who are pursuing degrees in their spare time. At the University of Missouri, education is a lifelong pursuit that extends beyond students. Mizzou encourages staff members to take advantage of its first-rate academic programs by offering support and resources that allow them to continue their education. Meet some of Mizzou’s employees who are using off-work time to complete degrees at every level.
High-fives and hard work defined Missouri’s first Pre-ETS Statewide Job Olympics, where 156 students showcased the workplace skills they have built all year. The event celebrated confidence, growth and the path to future careers as students demonstrated their abilities and cheered each other on.
A total of 485 students from the University of Missouri College of Education & Human Development were recognized during May commencement ceremonies, celebrating graduates prepared to serve, lead and make an impact in communities across Missouri and beyond.
As a graduate student in the University of Missouri’s Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis program, Nathaniel Brinkley has focused on how strong school culture, intentional leadership and supportive systems can help both students and educators succeed. His experience at Mizzou has strengthened not only his leadership skills, but also his confidence in the kind of leader he hopes to become.
After a childhood marked by heart disease and transplant surgery, Ella Morrissey discovered confidence, community and her calling in child life.
From tutoring first graders to leading his own classroom, Thomas Skiendziel’s Mizzou experience shaped him into a confident future educator. Now a graduating senior, he’s ready to bring his passion for learning to a third‑grade classroom.
Rushing, a senior in the University of Missouri College of Education & Human Development, is completing her elementary student‑teaching internship in a fourth‑grade classroom at Madison Crossing Elementary School in Mississippi.
A $1.25 million federal grant is creating an opportunity for future special educators and behavior analysts to earn a fully funded master’s degree while preparing to meet one of the most urgent needs in schools today.
Show Me Research Week showcases student research from across Mizzou. This year, 28 students from the College of Education and Human Development shared their work. Read what two presenters had to say.