Ever Cole

MSA Communications Intern

Ever Cole is from Springfield, Missouri and attended MSA in 2019. (Go raspberry lemonade!) She now is attending Mizzou as a journalism major with a minor in art. Ever is also a music radio DJ at MU’s radio station, KCOU. Outside of Mizzou, Ever likes to explore the record stores and flea markets. Boomba!

Stacy Colley

Program/Project Support Coordinator II

Stacy Colley has grown up in Missouri and has lived in the Columbia area for many years. Stacy has worked at the University of Missouri since 1997. Stacy has worked in CAFNR, College of Education, School of Medicine, Youth & Family Extension and now for MSA in the Honors College. She is excited to see what this new adventure brings! She has a wonderful husband, four grown children, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and 3 grandkids, whom she loves spending lots of time with. Her passion outside of work is reading, camping, and cruising to see the world!

Rachel Harper

Associate Dean, Honors College, Co-Director MSA

Rachel Harper spent her kiddo years in Champaign, Illinois, where she exhibited strong preferences for books, libraries, the smell of old books, the smell of new books, the written word, etymologies, and well, you get the picture. She has a BA in both English and Spanish from Illinois Wesleyan University and a PhD in American Literature from the University of Missouri. She has been teaching at MU and in the Honors College for over twenty years. Teaching in the four-semester Honors Humanities Sequence rates as one of her favorite things to do, falling a close second to spending time with her husband and three rather rambunctious boys. She’s grateful for coffee. And books. Obvs.

Steve Keller

Co-Director MSA

Steven Keller grew up in the great Pacific Northwest and graduated from Pacific Lutheran University (BS) and the University of California-Berkeley (PhD).  Steve has been on the faculty of the Department of Chemistry at MU since 1995 where he currently serves as Associate Professor, Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies, and since 2015 has directed the Missouri Scholars Academy. Steve has taught extensively in the Honors College, developing courses in the history of science and a class on the intersection of science and politics. Steve’s time away from campus is focused on being husband to Amanda and dad to Lindsay Grace (11) and Liam (4), watching a bit of soccer here and there (he is the cousin of Kasey Keller, former goalkeeper for the U.S. National Soccer team). 

Brian Stuhlman

Programmer/Faculty

Brian Stuhlman is a 1993 scholar who returned as a teacher (2000-2002; 2007 to present) and programmer (2015-present).  During the non-Academy months, Brian is the Coordinator of Middle School Programs at Mizzou Academy, including a core middle school program and the Mizzou Global Scholars curriculum.  Currently an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice with Mizzou’s College of Education and Human Development, he instructs pre-service teachers in a class centered on community.  He has been a middle and high school teacher for 25 years in a variety of locations and situations.

He started teaching at Fayette High School in Fayette, MO, and then moved overseas for a four-year stint at Pechersk School International in Kiev, Ukraine. In the school there, he taught in the IB program and got to travel to many places in Europe and Africa, and he met his wife Maryna. They moved back to the states in 2006 to take jobs in Warrenton, MO, and then moved to Columbia, MO, where Brian took a job at Columbia Independent School teaching English and drama.

In his spare time, he likes to enter sweepstakes, watch cartoons with his kids, go for walks in his neighborhood, and travel when he can—and he loves to read.

Doug Valentine

Co-Director MSA

Doug Valentine began teaching at MSA in 2012. He has a B.S. in Psychology and Religious Studies from Bradley University in Peoria, IL. He moved to Columbia in 2010 to pursue his MA in Religious Studies and later completed a PhD in Sociology. After completing his degree, Doug spent time as an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Truman State University before returning to the Mizzou Honors College as an Assistant Teaching Professor and Coordinator of the Behavioral Science Honors Sequence. He is an avid Chicago Cubs fan. He loves running on the MKT trail and exploring Rock Bridge State Park with his wife and kids. In addition to co-directing MSA, Doug continues to teach a minor course and coordinate Cor.