Fall Highlights: Academic Access and Leadership Development

Published on Nov. 12, 2025

Updated on Nov. 18, 2025

AALD hosted three of its signature initiatives in October and November: STEM Cubs, AALD’s Discover and Discover STEM Research Cluster Modules, and MU McNair Day Celebration. Each program leverages the extensive engagement of campus faculty and staff to broaden participation, deepen learning, and enrich academic and professional aspirations.

STEM Cubs

The Fall 2025 STEM Cubs (Oct. 18) welcomed over 170 kindergarten through eighth grade learners to Townsend and Lafferre Halls for the morning and afternoon camps.

Academic Access and Leadership Development in collaboration with the College of Education and Human Development, and College of Engineering orchestrated the delivery of six grade-appropriate lessons proposed and designed by undergraduate and graduate students. In the K-5 classrooms, instructors taught sound waves through construction of harmonicas, chemistry through tie-dye, physics through color wheels, neuroscience through mock EEGs, and materials science through “magic” density bottles.

In the Middle Connections program, sixth through eighth grade learners constructed a water purification model based on a lesson that focused on chemistry, environmental science, and engineering design. They also toured the College of Engineering for a glimpse of broader research projects and impacts.

Over 50 Mizzou students volunteered with STEM Cubs, providing a safe and fun learning experience for every participant.

Classrooms and instructors:

AALD’s Discover and Discover STEM Research Modules

The Office of Academic Access and Leadership Development recently held the third installment of its Discover and Discover STEM cluster research series (Oct. 25 and Nov. 1). Through a micro-lesson model, students actively participate in a three-part sequence designed to enrich their exposure to and understanding of the research process.

Each of these experiences is crafted and led by MU faculty members who employ an integrative approach that fosters engagement and resonates with a diverse range of majors. Regardless of the specific topic being explored, students have the opportunity to develop essential techniques and technical skills relevant to the work at hand, while also uncovering broader themes that help them connect the material to their own academic pursuits, professional goals, or personal interests.

Last month, Dr. Carolyn Orbann, Teaching Professor and Faculty Fellow for Undergraduate Research in the College of Health Science, introduced the Missouri Mortality Project to nearly 80 AALD Discover and Discover STEM scholars. Learn more about this and past research modules by Dr. Pamela Brown, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, Associate Director of Undergraduate Research and Experiential Learning, and Dr. Yaw Adu-Gyamfi, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Annual MU McNair Day Celebration

Members of the campus community gathered for MU’s annual McNair Day Celebration (Nov. 5), honoring the legacy of Ronald E. McNair, astronaut and namesake of the esteemed McNair Scholars Program. This event, as part of Mizzou’s National First-Generation College Celebration Week, highlighted the support, resources, and opportunities at Mizzou that contribute to long-term student success. In a striking representation of the McNair program’s effectiveness, current and former scholars spoke about their experiences in the program and its impact on their academic and career trajectories.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Freddie Wills, Jr., Vice President for STEM Initiatives and Research Partnerships at Harris-Stowe State University, shared his passion for student development and academic excellence. The event’s theme, “Keeping inspired as we aspire,” resonated with all in attendance.

Panelists: