Lifetime Achievement Award: Tess Harper '72

Описание: Tess Harper grew up in the small town of Mammoth Springs, Arkansas, often with a book in her hands.

Born Tessie Jean Washam, her early days in her family’s hardware store gave her a deep love for the people and places of the Ozarks. A love that would later inspire her work as an actor.

At Missouri State University, she found her home on stage. She earned her degree in education with an emphasis in theater, performed in three seasons of Tent Theatre, and formed lifelong bonds with fellow performers like John Goodman, Kathleen Turner, and Jack Laufer.

Tess credits her mentor, Dr. Robert Bradley, for encouraging her to follow the path she was quietly dreaming of: acting.

After college, she taught English before chasing her passion full-time. Eventually landing her breakout role in Tender Mercies alongside Robert Duvall. That performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination.

Just three years later, she was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Crimes of the Heart.

Over the years, she has brought authenticity, heart, and grace to roles on both the big screen and TV, including The Man in the Moon, where she played a young Reese Witherspoon’s mother.

Even as her star rose, Tess never lost her connection to Missouri State.

From standing in solidarity with the theater department during the bold 1989 production of The Normal Heart, to returning for local performances, speaking with students, and cheering on Tent Theatre shows in 2024. Tess continues to give back to the community that first nurtured her craft.

She also lends her voice to stories that matter. Like PBS’s Laura Ingall Wilder: Prairie To Page and supports NPR and PBS as a passionate advocate for public storytelling.

Now living in Springfield with her beloved rescue dogs, Jack and Jill, Tess remains grounded in her roots and ever inspired by the power of story.

We are proud to congratulate Tess Harper, recipient of the 2025 Missouri State University Alumni Association Lifetime Achievement Award.