Director’s Corner: Have a Safe and Relaxing Spring Break!

Hello CASE scholars and supporters! I hope you all are enjoying a well-deserved, safe and relaxing Spring Break 2021! There have been many news reports and videos surfacing on social media showing several spring breakers not following CDC guidelines when visiting the top “spots” for spring break. The CASE team hopes you continue to practice…

Amand Hardiman: More Than a Mentor

When I came to MU for the Center for Academic Success & Excellence’s (CASE) Summer Transition program (now known as Summer Bridge) in 2018, I was skeptical. I was unsure what my four years here would entail and anxious to know who I would meet that would impact my journey. A few weeks into my…

Alex Becks: Making Her Mark

On the first day of her junior year in high school, MU junior and Brooks Scholar, Alex Becks faced an important decision. Her choice, ultimately, would lead her over a thousand miles away from her home in Chicago but provide a unique experience and opportunity for growth. “I decided instead [of attending public school] to…

Director’s Corner: A Year in the Pandemic

Dear CASE Scholars and Supporters: As we round the corner on a calendar year since the universe introduced us to the terms COVID-19 and Coronavirus (or ”Rona” in the vernacular), this introduction has changed the trajectory of the world like few other natural or unnatural disasters. The current reality and perhaps our collective futures will…

KC Scholar Abigail Ruhman: The Vow That Literally Paid Off

One evening after it happened, Abigail Ruhman walked into her kitchen at home. She quickly stopped in her steps when she noticed her mother, Lisa Ruhman, sitting at the kitchen table with tears silently rolling down her face. Abigail wondered what could possibly make her strong, iconic, tenacious mom cry alone at the kitchen table.…

Student Column: How to Honor Black History Beyond February

As Black History month comes to a close, Black History is not ending with it. As a Black woman, I take pride in celebrating and learning more about my history. Each year I discover unsung heroes and difference makers I was never taught about in school. While I swell with pride, I am also overcome…

Director’s Corner: A Season of Renewal

Hello CASE Scholars and Supporters! As we transition into the month of March, I am mindful that change is on the horizon. We may have recently endured many personal and collective trials and tribulations. Whether you or a loved-one experienced the loss of electricity, heat and water during some of the coldest temperatures in recent…

Note From CASE Director Dr. Andre Thorn

Hello CASE Scholars, At this point in the semester, you should be encountering the first round of exams, papers or quizzes in many of your classes. Therefore, I wanted to take the time to let you know that the CASE office is encouraging our scholars to engage in a process we call the Mid-Semester Progress…

Black Men in White Coats Documentary Film and Discussion

You’re Invited to an Exclusive Viewing of Black Men in White Coats February 12-17 and two post-film discussions February 17. Spots are limited, register now! How to Sign Up Presented by the MU School of Medicine Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Black Men in White Coats will be available to view February 12-17. Because spots are…

Determination and the Dean’s List: How CASE Scholar Jarame Crawford Defied the Odds

MU Senior Jarame Crawford likes being a problem solver. He likes knowing how to fix things for others. That trait is what led him from his home in St. Louis to…