Four individuals who turned passion into purpose will be inducted into Missouri State University’s Wall of Fame today, following a vote by the Board of Governors.  

The 2026 inductees are Sharon Ellis, Dr. David Lutz, Dr. Erwin Mantei and Dr. Frederick Maxwell.  

Honoring long-time employees  

Former employees with lasting legacies are selected for the honor annually. This class of inductees represents 152 years of service to the university.  

The Wall of Fame already includes 149 individuals. With the 2026 class, the Wall of Fame now recognizes 153.   

About the 2026 class 

Sharon Ellis 

Ellis (Sept. 1, 1966-Dec. 31, 2007) brought live theatrical performances to thousands of young people across southern Missouri and northern Arkansas as founder and director of Missouri State’s children’s theater touring program. Leading upwards of 30 touring performances each year, she reached around 15,000 students in small towns throughout the region annually. In 1985, she formalized that work by founding the In-School Players program, which continued after her retirement. In her classes, Ellis challenged Missouri State theater students to write and perform original stories for young audiences, giving them hands-on training in improvisation, versatility and stagecraft. A recipient of the university’s Excellence in Teaching Award in 1995-96, she was known for her conviction that children’s theater demanded as much — and often more — skill than performing for adult audiences. 

Dr. David Lutz 

During his 32-year career in the department of psychology, Lutz (Aug. 17, 1987-Jan. 31, 2019) earned a reputation across campus for fairness, integrity and an unwavering commitment to student success. He taught both undergraduate and graduate courses while serving as a formal advisor and informal mentor to countless students, earning recognition as Missouri State Advisor of the Year in 2008. Beyond the classroom, Lutz chaired the clinical psychology subgroup within the department, contributed to the Academic Advising and Transfer Center and was an active leader in the Missouri Psychological Association, serving as its president. He also made significant contributions to the American Psychological Association’s Division 13 Consulting Psychology. Known for his servant-leadership style and genuine humility, Lutz consistently used his professional standing to open doors for students and elevate the university’s reputation in the field. 

Dr. Erwin Mantei 

One of the founding members of the geology department, Mantei (Sept. 1, 1965-July 31, 2010) spent 47 years shaping both the discipline and the students who studied it at Missouri State. He was known for bringing geology to life through humor, hands-on field trips to mining regions across the Ozarks and collaborative research that had real-world impact. His work contributed to the designation of Springfield’s Fulbright Landfill as a superfund site and helped accelerate its remediation. He also served as faculty advisor to the university’s Flying Club, which won the National Intercollegiate Flying Association Championship in 1974. In retirement, Mantei established a scholarship for geology graduate students studying mineral exploration and supporting the next generation of scientists. 

Dr. Frederick Maxwell 

Maxwell (Sept. 1, 1971-Dec. 31, 2007) joined the department of psychology as its eighth faculty member and went on to serve as department head for nearly 25 years. He oversaw a period of  growth from 23 faculty and 350 majors with no graduate programs to 40 faculty and nearly 1,000 majors, with a master’s program that has produced more than 500 graduates. Under his leadership, the department launched the Learning Diagnostic Clinic and the Weekend Intervention Program, the latter of which contributed to the state’s substance abuse traffic offender program. Beyond the numbers, Maxwell was widely credited with building a genuinely collegial department culture rooted in shared governance, faculty mentorship and mutual respect. 

Selection criteria    

In addition to nominations from current or past members of the campus community, the former faculty or staff member must have:    

• Significantly contributed to the success and positive collegiate experience of students 

• Worked full time at Missouri State for at least 10 years 

• Stopped working full time at Missouri State for the past five years 

The 2026 honorees will have their plaques added to the wall outside of the Plaster Student Union Grand Ballroom during a formal ceremony in the fall.