home Gateway Carousel, Support the Libraries DMiL Expands: A New Era of Student Innovation at Ellis Library

DMiL Expands: A New Era of Student Innovation at Ellis Library

The Mary Jane and Stephen D. Smith, PhD, DMiL Training Center has been made possible through a generous gift from the Rev. Ann Evans Self. Ann named the space in honor of her parents, who along with her grandparents, James E. and Mary Potter Kunkler, inspired her Mizzou philanthropy. The family’s generosity across three generations has resulted in major gifts supporting MU Libraries, The School of Journalism, The School of Medicine, The College of Engineering and The College of Education & Human Development. Their commitment to Mizzou has also included service on numerous boards and committees and we are truly honored to recognize their love of Mizzou in this important new space in Ellis Library.
The Digital Media and Innovation Lab (DMiL) in Ellis Library continues to grow as a hub for student creativity and exploration, and this year marks an exciting new chapter. Thanks to new equipment provided by Mizzou’s Center for Academic Success & Excellence (CASE) and a generous donor pledge, we’re now positioned to enhance DMil’s resources and expand its vision for the future.

Recently, the DMiL integrated professional-grade audio and video podcast equipment from the CASE Podcast Studio, significantly enhancing its capacity to support student projects. The addition of high-quality microphones, a studio-level soundboard, installed cameras, and a camera-switching console means students now have access to advanced audio and video production for podcasts and interviews. Coupled with a professional rack setup, students now have access to cutting-edge tools alongside staff support and training to use them effectively.

At the same time, the Lab is preparing for a transformational step forward: the creation of a freestanding, glass-enclosed classroom adjacent to the DMiL. This flexible, high-tech learning space will house up to 20 high-performance workstations, giving students the chance to develop skills in video editing, 3D modeling, audio editing, VR/AR design and more. Beyond providing structured workshops and class sessions, the transparent design will invite passersby to see innovation in action.

Together, these developments reflect the DMiL’s mission to provide equitable access to emerging technologies and to prepare students for a digital-first world, job market and self-directed continuing education. With the integration of new production equipment and the forthcoming classroom space supported by donor generosity, Ellis Library is positioning itself as a central destination for digital fluency at Mizzou. The DMiL will also provide support for teaching faculty who develop assignments that give students the opportunity to develop new skills that will benefit their future studies and employment goals. The DMiL isn’t just about giving students tools—it’s about giving them the confidence, skills and opportunities to tell their stories, collaborate and thrive in the evolving media landscape.

rendering of a classroom
Rendering of the DMiL expansion
home Support the Libraries 2025 MU Remembers: Honor with Books

2025 MU Remembers: Honor with Books

This year’s MU Remembers ceremony, commemorating students, faculty and staff who have passed away in the last year, will be held Friday, April 5. A book in remembrance of each honoree will be added to the University of Missouri Libraries’ collection. Commemorative bookplates are placed inside the books, and honorees’ names are placed on the books’ library catalog records.

Honor with Books

The honorees’ names and the books selected in their memory are listed below.

Student
Candyce Richie: Gitlin, M. (2024). The spirit of freedom: Powerful women of the civil rights movement. Rowman & Littlefield.

Faculty and Staff

William D. Allen: Wójcik, D. (2024). Atlas of finance: Mapping the global story of money. Yale University Press.

Wanda Birchler: Taylor, M. (2022). How birds live together: Colonies and communities in the avian world. Princeton University Press.

Sadie Chandler: Burroughs, C. & Gainor, J. E. (Eds.). (2024). The Routledge anthology of women’s theatre theory and dramatic criticism. Routledge.

Joseph Chirillo: Fischer, C. S. (1994). America calling: A social history of the telephone to 1940. University of California Press.

Hope Christofferson: Magaloni, D., Domenici, D., & de Carteret, A. (Eds.). (2024). We live in painting: The nature of color in Mesoamerican art. DelMonico Books.

Jean Day: Tallamy, D. W. (2019). Nature’s best hope: A new approach to conservation that starts in your yard. Timber Press.

Doreen Frappier: Koutsopolous, T. (2024). A new approach to dogs and dog training: Human-canine synergy in theory and practice. Springer.

Jordan Garza: Consalvo, M. (2016). Atari to Zelda: Japan’s videogames in global contexts. MIT Press.

Michael Goldschmidt: Lucas, D. (2021). Ecological buildings: New strategies for sustainable architecture. Braun Publishing.

Sheryl Kilbourn: Sanjek, R. (2024). American popular music and its business in the digital age: 1985-2020. Oxford University Press.

Wang-Sik Kim: Lim, S. (Ed.). (2024). Politics, international relations and diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula. Routledge.

David Kropf II: Kunze, P. (2023). Staging a comeback: Broadway, Hollywood, and the Disney renaissance. Rutgers University Press.

Douglas Lammers: Eberl, J. T. & Decker, K. S. (Eds.). (2022). Star Wars and philosophy strikes back: This is the way. Wiley-Blackwell.

Charles Marra: Pierotti, M., Monreale, A., & De Santis, F. (2024). Artificial intelligence in accounting and auditing: Accessing the corporate implications. Palgrave Macmillan.

Glenda Payne: Symes, M. (2024). Prints and the landscape garden: Image, illusion, illumination. John Hudson Publishing.

Anna Romero: Alonso, P. (2024). Digital satire in Latin America: Online video humor as hybrid alternative media. University of Florida Press.

Matthew Smith: Wilkinson, C. (2024). Treaty justice: The northwest tribes, the Boldt decision, and the recognition of fishing rights. University of Washington Press.

Jim Sowers: Rao, G. H. R., & Das, U. N. (Eds.). (2025). Cardiometabolic diseases: Molecular basis, early detection of risks, and management. Elsevier Academic Press.

Haoyi Wang: Klein, B. (2024). The insect epiphany: How our six-legged allies shape human culture. Timber Press.

Jon White: Marshall, H. W. (2022). Keep it old-time: fiddle music in Missouri from the 1960s folk music revival to the present. University of Missouri Press.

Paul Whittier, Jr.: Cherrington, J. (Ed.). (2024). Mountain biking, culture and society. Routledge.

Andrew Youkilis: Marks, W. J., & Ostrem, J. L. (Eds.). (2022). Deep brain stimulation management (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.