The School of Integrative Studies is a leading example of Stephens College’s mission to Learn. Grow. Lead.
Dean's Welcome
Welcome to the Stephens College School of Integrative Studies. Our mission is not just teaching students but instilling in them a lifelong love of learning and an appreciation for the pursuit of knowledge and creativity. At Stephens, we are proud of our legacy and take great pride in the cultural, educational and artistic gifts, and the opportunities we offer our students.
The School of Integrative Studies offers programs in many academic disciplines in the creative arts and humanities. The arts and humanities truly thrive in Columbia, Missouri, as dozens of on- and off-campus performances occur year-round at Stephens, making the College one of Columbia’s premier centers for the performing arts.
Our programs are led by an accomplished and dedicated faculty who are well-respected and nationally known artists, educators, researchers and writers in their disciplines. Read about our faculty, explore our programs, and learn how the School of Integrative Studies can help you to build your unique future.
Michael Barger, Ph.D.
Dean, Women's College
About the Dean
Dr. Michael Barger
Before becoming Dean of the Women's College, which comprises the School of Integrative Studies and the School of Health Sciences at Stephens College, Dr. Michael Barger was Dean of the School of Health Sciences. He earned his B.S. in Biology and M.S. in Parasitology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dr. Barger completed his Ph.D. at Wake Forest University on the spatial ecology of fish and parasite communities in Appalachian streams. He spent 18 years at Peru State College in Nebraska and one year at Westminster College before coming to Stephens. He enjoys backpacking, fishing, gardening, cooking, reading, writing, and just about anything that keeps him outside and busy.
Faculty & Staff
Undergraduate Programs
Business Administration | Communication Design | Filmmaking | Education | English & Creative Writing | Fashion | Humanities
Graduate Programs
Master of Fine Arts in TV and Screenwriting
Business Administration
Dr. Scott Taylor
Dean of Workforce Development and Continuing Studies, Business Administration Program Chair
D.B.A., California Southern University; M.A., University of Missouri; B.S., Missouri State University
Dr. Scott Taylor earned a Doctorate of Business Administration from California Southern University. His doctoral project focused on the economic impact of entrepreneurial policy. Taylor has also completed post-graduate work in public affairs at the University of Missouri, where he obtained a master’s degree in Public Administration. He received a Bachelor of Science in Management from Missouri State University.
Before accepting his current position at Stephens College, he served as an adjunct instructor for Stephens College since the Fall of 2018. He taught full-time at Moberly Area Community College, serving as the lead business faculty since the Fall of 2007. He was also an advisor to MACC’s award-winning Collegiate DECA chapter for over fourteen years and has received the National Collegiate DECA Advisor of the Year award multiple times.
Outside the classroom, Taylor serves on several boards and advisory committees and works as a subject matter expert for multiple publishing companies. He resides in Moberly, MO, on a horse ranch with his wife, Kendra. Over the years, Scott and Kendra have donated multiple horses to the Stephens College equestrian program. Scott has three adult children and two adult stepsons.
Dr. Kaneshya Lucas
Assistant Professor
M.B.A., M.Ed., William Woods University; Ph. Ed., Maryville University
Dr. Kaneshya Lucas is a dynamic educator whose journey at Stephens College began as an adjunct instructor in the Business Administration department, where she served for five years. In the Fall of 2023, she transitioned into the role of Assistant Professor within the same program. Dr. Lucas has an array of academic accomplishments, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of Missouri - Columbia, two Master degrees in Business Administration and Education from Williams Woods University, and a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership from Maryville University in St. Louis.
Her diverse educational and professional background underscores her commitment to create student-centered learning experiences that equips students with the knowledge and curiosity to become critical thinkers and lifelong learners.
Communication Design
Dr. Bethanie Irons
Assistant Professor, Communication Design Program Chair
Ph.D., University of Missouri; M.F.A., University of Missouri; B.F.A., University of South Dakota
Dr. Bethanie Irons earned a B.F.A. in Art from the University of South Dakota and M.F.A. in Art from the University of Missouri. Irons also earned a Ph.D. in Art Education from the University of Missouri with an emphasis on higher education and teaching with technology. She is an artist and educator who is passionate about creative expression and its power in cultivating social change and personal growth. She seeks to empower and guide students in creating authentic, innovative work that expands their worldview and prepares them to become future design leaders.
Wilson Minshall
Adjunct Instructor
M.F.A., University of Missouri
Wilson Minshall is an intermedia artist from Little Rock, Arkansas and received their MFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Missouri in Columbia in 2021. Their work begins with drawing and uses elements of collage to span varying media such as painting, design, printmaking, weaving, video and sound installation. Accumulating information from past historical archives as well as their own recorded memories, they materially alter research samples and pull forth localized networks of traces from their chosen source material. In doing so, they take the stance that excavating or refiguring overlooked pieces of lived experience across time, space and media allows for non-binary navigations of history and identity without privileging surface-level stereotypes. They recently co-organized, designed and curated the experimental exhibition Cage in Como: A Weekend with the John Cage Trust and Friends in 2021 at Hitt Records and the Sinquefield Music Center (Columbia, MO). They also co-curated the NIXED_INDEX juried art exhibition at the University of Missouri’s George Caleb Bingham Gallery in 2019 (Columbia, MO), and have performed sound pieces at the Marshall Arts Gallery (Memphis, TN) in 2018 and Cafe Berlin (Columbia, MO) in 2019. They have exhibited their work at the Marshall Arts Gallery in Memphis, TN (2017), the Hanger Gallery in Kansas City, MO (2019), the Serial Box Gallery in Columbia, MO (2018) and St. Charles Community College in St. Charles, MO (2020).
Miranda Richardson
Assistant Professor, The Kopenhaver Center Director
M.F.A., University of Missouri; B.A. University of Missouri
Miranda Richardson is an educator and multidisciplinary artist. She works in photography, text, sculpture, installation, and performance. She earned an M.F.A. in Sculpture from the University of Missouri and has been teaching for nearly 17 years. As the director of The Kopenhaver Center, Richardson is passionate about the advancement of women in communication. She is, also, the proud advisor for Creative Ink, and an Assistant Professor in Communication Design.
Filmmaking
Chase Thompson '17
Associate Professor, Filmmaking Program Chair
MFA, Stephens College
Chase Thompson is an accomplished filmmaker, musician, photographer, writer, and artist with a profound passion for the creative process. His films have been showcased at renowned festivals, including Slamdance, True/False, Radar Hamburg, Philadelphia Independent, Fargo Film Festival, and the Nevada Film Festival. Chase earned a B.S. in Art from Columbia College and an M.F.A. in Television and Screenwriting from Stephens College. He is dedicated to inspiring students to embrace a life rich in artistic expression, believing that creativity is an essential part to living a fulfilling life.
Kamau Balil
Adjunct Instructor
Kamau Bilal is an African American filmmaker based in Central Missouri. He was named one of 25 New Faces of Independent Film in 2018 by Filmmaker Magazine. His short film "Baby Brother" held its World Premiere at Sundance in 2018, it’s International Premiere at Sheffield Doc/Fest and was supported by the Points North Institute. The film was selected as one of seven shorts to participate in the Sundance Short Film Theatrical Tour, where it was shown in four countries and over seventy cities. His work has been featured in The NYTimes, Filmmaker Magazine, Hammer To Nail and No Film School, among others. His previous short film, "Crown Candy", co-directed with David Wilson, premiered at DOC NYC and won the grand jury prize at the St. Louis International Film Festival, an Academy Award qualifying event. In 2016, he photographed the HBO commissioned and Emmy nominated documentary "Stories Women Tell", directed by Tracy Droz Tragos (Rich Hill), which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and aired on HBO. As an editor, he cut the NYTimes Critics pick "A Stray" directed by Musa Syeed (Valley of Saints) and premiered at SXSW 2016. In 2020, he was the director of photography for the ESPN 30 for 30 film “Long Gone Summer” directed by AJ Schnack. Balil is currently writing a fiction feature and teaching film production classes in higher ed.
Chad Freidrichs
Adjunct Instructor
With credits as a Director, Producer, Editor, Cameraman, Sound Designer, Colorist, Visual Effects Artist, and even experience in Archival Transfers, Chad Freidrichs has performed nearly every technical task – except music production – on every film he has produced, including The Experimental City. Largely self-taught, Chad has been making documentaries since 2002, and TV commercials even longer. From 2007 to 2012, he was Assistant Professor of Digital Filmmaking at Stephens College and has recently returned. He is currently on sabbatical from making his own films but is assisting other filmmakers in completing theirs.
Nikki Martin '11
Adjunct Instructor
B.F.A., M.S.L., Stephens College
After being honored as a StreamTV Emerging Leader Finalist in 2022 for the development of one of the first in-app CTV e-commerce and t-commerce solutions to launch in the US (ahead of Netflix’s Emily in Paris), Nikki Martin began independently consulting on streaming media strategy with a focus on translating data to drive informed decisions that make a difference. Recently, work on optimizing small efforts with one client propelled their YouTube channel to grow 5X in views to new content, 3X in subscribers, and double in revenue. Nikki brings nearly two decades of experience in digital growth, streaming media, OTT, research, analytics, workflows, marketing, and post-production from her time spent at Pop TV, CBS, Showtime, Smithsonian Channel, TNT, TBS, WB, Electric Entertainment, and PBS.
Nikki is a returning Adjust Instructor for Stephens, has a Masters degree in Strategic Leadership and Bachelors degree in Documentary Filmmaking (both from Stephens), is certified as a Digital Archives Specialist, is a member of Women in Streaming Media, and currently resides in Madison, WI.
Education
Dr. Elizabeth Watson
Director of the Children’s School at Stephens College and Education Program Chair
Ph.D., M.Ed., University of Missouri-Columbia, B.S., Stephens College
Elizabeth Watson is the director of The Children’s School at Stephens College and continues to work with preservice teachers as the Education Program Chair. Her passion for education has been shaped over the past 20 years as a classroom teacher in both preschool and elementary and as an instructor in the college classroom. She started her career at Stephens College as an undergraduate student and received her early childhood degree and teaching certification. After her first year of teaching, she continued her education at the University of Missouri and received her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Reading. Later she earned her PhD at the University of Missouri in Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum with an emphasis in Reading.
Dr. Elizabeth Thomas '12
Assistant Professor, Early Childhood and Elementary Education
M.Ed., Columbia College; Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia
Dr. Elizabeth Thomas is an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood and Elementary Education at Stephens College. An alum of Stephens, class of 2012, Dr. Thomas taught in the public schools, obtained a master’s degree and certification in Reading Intervention from Columbia College and her Ph.D. in Special Education with an emphasis in Mathematics from the University of Missouri. She is passionate about making mathematics accessible to all students and getting pre-service teachers excited about that mission as well.
Leslie Aguilar
Assistant Professor and Secondary Education Program Chair
B.S., Ed.S. University of Central Missouri; M.A., Bennington College
Leslie Aguilar earned her B.S. in Spanish Education (2002) and her Ed.S. in Educational Technology (2021) from the University of Central Missouri. She earned her M.A. in Teaching a Second Language (2006) with an emphasis on the Spanish language from Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont. She spent 21 years teaching Spanish and AVID at the secondary level, with the last ten at Muriel Williams Battle High School in Columbia, Missouri, as the AVID Site Coordinator. As the AVID Coordinator she supported and prepared students for post-secondary study and spent a considerable amount of time leading various professional development sessions and supporting best teaching practices. Leslie is an assistant professor in the education program and is excited to be the Program Chair for the new Secondary Education program. She will also be working with teachers who are currently employed or temporarily certified in area school districts who are seeking state teaching certification to address the teacher shortage.
Dr. Sean Travis Clouse
Adjunct Instructor
Ph.D., M.A., B.S., University of Missouri-Columbia
Dr. Sean Travis Clouse earned his B.S. in psychology, M.A. in human development and family studies, M.A. in counseling psychology and Ph.D. in counseling psychology all from the University of Missouri-Columbia. A member of the Stephens faculty since 2006, he teaches courses in the Education, Psychology and Counseling programs. His courses focus on lifespan development, multicultural aspects of learning, social justice issues and counseling. He also serves as the certification officer for the early childhood and elementary education and school counseling programs. Clouse is a licensed psychologist in the state of Missouri and focuses his clinical work on adolescents and young adults.
English & Creative Writing
Kristine Somerville
Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing
M.A., University of Missouri; B.A., College of the Ozarks
Kristine Somerville teaches contemporary literature, advanced composition, language ethics, nonfiction workshop, fiction workshop and the Harbinger publishing internship at Stephens College. Her short stories and prose poems have been published in various magazines, including The North American Review, Passages North, River City, Zone 3, The South Carolina Review and Quarterly West. Her essay "Katie Suber" received notable mention in Best American Essays, and her fiction has been nominated twice for a Pushcart Prize. Her visual and “Found Text” features and omnibus reviews appear regularly in The Missouri Review. Somerville is the co-editor of TMR Books and faculty advisor of Harbinger and Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society.
Phillip Overeem
Adjunct Instructor
Phillip Overeem is a tutor in the Student Success Center as well as an adjunct freshman composition instructor. Hailing from southwest Missouri, he has been teaching since 1975, if swimming lessons count. He is an avid, omnivorous reader, and blogs about popular (and other kinds of) music at livingtolisten.blog. In addition, he frequently reflects on his career in education on The Overeem Farewell Tour blog, where he is currently keeping a COVID-19 journal called "Cloister Commentary." Phil has taught and tutored at Stephens since 2013, and previously taught language arts, coached basketball and track, and sponsored student council, The Canterbury Society, and The Academy of Rock at Parkview High School in Springfield, Missouri, and David H. Hickman High School and Smithton Middle School in Columbia. He estimates that he has graded over 40,000 essays in his lifetime.
Phil and his wife Nicole have weaknesses for cats, travel, inventive foods, and the Klackamas, Oregon band Dead Moon.
Caylin Capra-Thomas
Assistant Professor
Caylin Capra-Thomas is an Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing at Stephens College. Her first poetry collection, Iguana Iguana (Deep Vellum), was named a Best New Poetry Book for Adults by the New York Public Library. Her poems and creative nonfiction essays have appeared widely, including in Georgia Review, Copper Nickel, New England Review, Pleiades, Mississippi Review, and her scholarship has appeared in the T. S. Eliot Studies Annual. She has received support for her writing from the Sewanee Writers' Conference, the Vermont Studio Center, and the Studios of Key West. The 2018-2020 Poet-in-Residence at Idyllwild Arts Academy, she is presently finishing a PhD in English and creative writing at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Fashion
Dr. Monica McMurry
Professor
Ph.D., M.Sc., University of Missouri-Columbia, B.F.A., Stephens College
Dr. Monica McMurry has 30 years of teaching and administrative experience in the fashion field. She previously served as Dean of the Stephens College School of Design and chaired the fashion programs at both Stephens and Columbia College. McMurry graduated summa cum laude from Stephens College with a B.F.A. in Fashion Design. She received her Master of Science and Ph.D. from the University of Missouri’s Textile and Apparel Management program and attended a design thinking workshop at Stanford. In her dissertation, "Jacqueline Kennedy’s Effect on Women: A Content Analysis of Her Style, Role and Thought as First Lady, 1958-1963," McMurry reviewed the most popular women’s magazines of the early 1960s and looked at how Jacqueline Kennedy was portrayed to the average woman via media mentions.
During her teaching career, McMurry has taught both studio and lecture courses for fashion design and product development and fashion marketing. Her areas of expertise include fashion history, curating and executing fashion exhibitions, menswear design, tailored design and couture and bespoke techniques. Other interests include sustainability, fair trade and textile upcycling. She is a member of the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA), the Costume Society of America (CSA) and Fashion Group International. McMurry has presented both national and international juried fashion designs and scholarly research. Her work with the Costume Museum and Research Library at Stephens College has given her the opportunity to speak across the nation about historic dress.
Kristi Kite
Associate Professor and Fashion Program Chair
Ph.D
Dr. Kite has a Ph.D. and a Master of Science in Fashion Marketing and Clothing & Textiles. She has dedicated 16 years to teaching fashion at the college level, including serving as a Department Chair. She has developed fashion programs in charter campuses, revised curricula, and initiated study abroad programs to fashion centers like New York, Chicago, and Europe. Beyond academia, Dr. Kite has held management positions in international retail organizations and led the development of a clothing brand. She is an active board member in various fashion chapters, contributing significantly to both education and the fashion industry.

School of Integrative Studies
Administrative Assistant