Vol. 23 No. 25 - March 18, 2019

Havana Cuba All-Stars will end this year’s Kohlenberg Lyceum Series at 7:30 p.m. March 21 in Baldwin Hall Auditorium.

This tour brings together some of Cuba’s greatest musicians, as well as three of the country’s finest dancing couples. With rhythms and melodies from the cha cha to the rumba, from “Son Cubano” style to the salsa, the All-Stars will showcase a wide variety of Cuban beats. The group is inspired and dedicated to promoting the entire tapestry of Cuban music through a fresh, contemporary lens. With the greatest dancers and musicians of Cuba working in tandem, the American encore of the Havana Cuban All-Stars’ tour will be a spirited spectacle of song and dance, exemplifying Cuba’s greatest musical traditions.

Tickets for Havana Cuba All-Stars are $10 each, including tax, and they can be purchased at the Truman cashier window in McClain Hall, at Edna Campbells in downtown Kirksville or online at lyceum.truman.edu. If tickets are still available on the day of the performance, they can be purchased at Baldwin Hall Auditorium 30 minutes before the start of the show.

For more information email pr@truman.edu or call 660.785.4016.

Due to the overwhelming popularity of Jenna Fischer’s appearance for the Holman Family Speaker Series at 7:30 p.m. April 5, the venue has been changed to Pershing Arena.

The speech was originally scheduled for Baldwin Auditorium, which has a capacity of about 1,400. Free tickets for that event were claimed within 24 hours. With the venue now switched to Pershing Arena, an additional 800 tickets will be made available.

Anyone who secured a ticket for the event in Baldwin Auditorium will be guaranteed tickets to the event. Newly available tickets can be claimed here. With the increased demand, they are now limited to two tickets per person. Tickets can be picked up in advance in McClain Hall 202 starting March 25, or at the door the night of the speech. In the event of a sellout, there will be a stand-by line at the east entrance of Pershing Arena. Any unclaimed seats will be made available starting at 7:20 p.m.  

Since graduating from the University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre in 1995, Fischer’s career includes more than 50 credits as an actor and producer. An Emmy-nominated actress, she is best known for her role as Pam on the hit NBC comedy “The Office,” and she currently stars on the ABC series “Splitting Up Together.” Among the feature films in her body of work are roles in “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,” “Blades of Glory” and director Clint Eastwood’s 2018 picture “The 15:17 to Paris.” After completing “The Office,” she starred in the off-Broadway production of Neil LaBute’s play “Reasons to be Happy.”

Fischer’s career in Hollywood goes beyond her acting duties. She starred in, and produced, the movie “The Giant Mechanical Man,” and she is currently producing and developing the comedy television series “National Parker” for Freeform. In 2017, she wrote “The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide,” which documents her path to becoming a professional actor.

Fischer will sign copies of her book for a limited time following the presentation. There is no guarantee everyone in line will be able to get a book signed. Copies of “The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide” can be purchased in advance through the University Bookstore. Attendees must have a copy of the book for access to the signing. No other materials or memorabilia will be signed and there will be no photography or video allowed during the talk or book signing.   

The Holman Family Distinguished Speaker Series was created in honor of Squire Paul and Meeda (Daniel) Holman by their children to honor their parents’ long association with Truman. It is funded through an endowment with the Truman State University Foundation. For more information, email pr@truman.edu or call 660.785.4016.

Prior to her presentation for the Holman Family Distinguished Series, Jenna Fischer will participate in a fundraising event to benefit the Theatre Department.

Fischer will be the featured guest at a limited-ticket event from 6-8 p.m. April 4 in Kirk Memorial. Tickets are $100 per person. All attendees will receive a commemorative photo from the event and an autographed copy of her book “The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide.” Proceeds from this event will support theatre students at Truman.

Tickets are open to anyone and can be secured by contacting the Advancement Office at 660.785.4133 or 800.452.6678. The event will include heavy appetizers along with hosted wine and beer. Recommended attire is business dress.

Since graduating from the University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre in 1995, Fischer’s career includes more than 50 credits as an actor and producer. She is best known for her role as Pam on the hit NBC comedy “The Office,” and she currently stars on the ABC series “Splitting Up Together.” Among the feature films in her body of work are roles in “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,” “Blades of Glory” and director Clint Eastwood’s 2018 picture, “The 15:17 to Paris.” After completing “The Office,” she starred in the off-Broadway production of Neil LaBute’s play “Reasons to be Happy.”

The following evening, Fischer will speak to a capacity crowd at 7:30 p.m. April 5 in Pershing Arena. Fischer’s presentation is free thanks to the generous support of the Holman Family Distinguished Speaker Series, created in honor of Squire Paul and Meeda (Daniel) Holman by their children to honor their parents’ long association with Truman. It is funded through an endowment with the Truman State University Foundation.

Pickler Memorial Library has several new exhibits on display.

Guest authors and illustrators of the University’s upcoming Children’s Literature Festival, taking place April 5, are featured in the library’s gallery surrounded by a display of vintage toys and games.
 
The horn book was once one of the most important educational tools in existence. Before its swift plunge into obscurity, it was used for nearly 400 years in one-room schoolhouses, classrooms and homes. Visitors can investigate this history as told by Maura Shimmens, who uses a small collection of facsimile horn books and photographs to demonstrate how invaluable this teaching instrument was.

The Chinese Export Porcelain exhibit allows visitors to explore the patterns and designs often produced in this 18th century industry. Collecting porcelain designed in foreign markets was a popular pastime for Western society during this era. As part of the Special Collections Department, a teaching collection of Chinese export porcelain is showcased in a new exhibit curated by Kathleen Dusseault.

The School of Business will host English alumna Amanda Gioia as a Bentele/Mallinckrodt Executive in Residence, March 28-29.

As the vice president of information technology service management for Mastercard, Gioia is responsible for working across the company to make changes and updates to its network and products in support of business needs, and communicating these changes to key stakeholders. Prior to this role, Gioia was vice president and senior business leader for the worldwide communications team at Mastercard in St. Louis.

Gioia is board member of the St. Louis Area Foodbank and Autism Speaks, as well as a member of the advisory board for the School of Communications for Webster University and the President’s Advisory Council for Truman. She was recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal as one of the Most Influential Women in Business in August 2012 and honored as Outstanding Alumna of the Year in 2013 by Webster University’s School of Communications.

In addition to her Bachelor of Arts in English from Truman, Gioia earned a Master of Arts in media communications from Webster University.

Gioia’s presentation, “Finding Your Passion… From Liberal Arts to Lifelong Learning,” is scheduled for 3 p.m. March 28 in Violette Hall 1000. It is free and open to the public. While on campus, Gioia will also speak to students in classes, small groups and individually.

Following a renovation during spring break, the University Bookstore will host a grand reopening March 21-22.

Changes at the bookstore include new carpeting, a restructuring of the textbook section and an updated information center.

Representatives of Truman’s MoLSAMP program attend the ERN conference in Washington, D.C.

Twelve students attended the Emerging Researchers National Conference in Washington, D.C., Feb. 20-24, and six students attended the 2nd Annual MoLSAMP Research Symposium in Jefferson City, Mo., March 8-10.
 
Alyssa Tipler, sophomore biochemistry and molecular biology major, presented her poster on soybean research conducted during her paid summer 2019 REU opportunity at the University of Missouri – Columbia at both conferences. She also presented an oral talk at the Jefferson City Conference on her academic year research under Cassidy Dobson, assistant professor of chemistry at Truman.
 
Students who attended these conferences are current scholars in the Missouri Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Program at Truman. During each of the conferences, scholars participated in professional development sessions, networking activities and a graduate school fair.

Underrepresented students in the following majors are encouraged to join the MoLSAMP Program at Truman: agricultural sciences, biochemistry and molecular biology, biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics and statistics. Participants receive STEM-specific advising and academic tutoring as well as opportunities to conduct paid summer research and the opportunity to enroll in classes designed to help prepare for undergraduate research and learn the important interconnectedness of the STEM fields.

Participation in the program is free. To learn more or to join, stop by STEP Office in Magruder Hall 3101 or email Ryan Miller, academic advisor.

“That’s Not Love: Domestic Abuse Workshop” will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. March 25 in Violette Hall 1324. Domestic abuse is an issue which impacts many lives in many different ways across the globe. This workshop will teach individuals how to recognize unhealthy and abusive relationships and where to go for help in the Kirksville area. Refreshments will be provided.

The WRC has invited a speaker to raise awareness on endometriosis March 27. The guest speaker will discuss endometriosis; a disorder in which tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside the uterus; how to prevent it; and how to take care of the body. The time and date for this event are to be determined.

“Diversity in Media: Your Favorite Celebrity is Problematic” will take place form 7-9 p.m. March 20 in the Student Union Building 3203. This discussion will cover how some modern celebrities have problematic beliefs, attitudes and opinions. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information about the Women’s Resource Center visit wrc.truman.edu.

The month of March celebrates the contributions women have made throughout history in science, politics, law, sports, the arts, entertainment and many other fields.

Students presenting results from their research or creative scholarship in upcoming conferences from July-December are able to request scholarship aid to cover up to $500. The scholarship will aid in covering the costs for conference registration, lodging and travel expenses. Students must have completed or are currently involved in a faculty-mentor research experience.

Grants of up to $750 can be requested from students who are conducting research and creative scholarship in the summer. Grants can cover student stipends, supplies and travel to conduct research. A GIASR proposal writing workshop will be available from 3:30-5 p.m. March 20 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room.

Complete guidelines for the Conference Travel Scholarship and the GIASR applications can be found at the Office of Student Research website. Applications for funding opportunities are due by 11:59 p.m. April 15.

Questions can be directed to osr@truman.edu.

Classes can be taken both online and on campus. Online classes allow students to study from the comfort of their home while taking courses to boost their GPA for scholarship reinstatement. On-campus classes provide plenty of opportunities for students to get face-to-face interactions with professors and experience Kirksville recreation during the summer. Both allow students to add coursework to a major or minor without delaying graduation, while saving time and money.

Phi Epsilon Kappa is sponsoring Moving Toward Health Week, March 18-23

Strategies for Success
7 p.m.
March 18
Magruder Hall 1000  
Come hear about the events for Spring 2019 Moving Toward Health initiative, learn scientific facts about how all these activities help you become better and smarter, plus some useful tips and tools for your Journey Toward Health and life as well.
 
Dance Party
5:30 p.m.
March 19
Student Recreation Center
Join Vaibhav and some members of PEK for 50 minutes of fun during the Dance Party class at the Rec. Dance to Latin, pop and Bollywood rhythms, and dance away your stress and enjoy while burning those calories. No experience needed. Just come and have fun. Instruction on some new moves and fun.

Pilates
5:30 p.m.
March 20
Student Recreation Center
Exercise to gain either gentle strength training for rehabilitation or a strenuous workout vigorous enough to challenge skilled athletes. These exercises are designed to increase muscle strength and endurance, as well as flexibility and to improve posture and balance.
 
Nutrition Seminar
7 p.m.
March 21
Violette Hall 1010
Come listen to Brian Snyder, associate professor of exercise science, provide a FREE workshop to provide tools and resources to help you improve your eating habits on a budget as well as while eating with Sodexo food services.
 
Power Yoga
3 p.m.
March 22
Student Recreation Center
Dealing with depression, anxiety or stress? Come to yoga as it may be a very appealing way to better manage these symptoms. The scientific study of yoga demonstrates that mental and physical health are not just closely allied, but are essentially equivalent. The evidence is growing that yoga practice is a relatively low-risk, high-yield approach to improving overall health.

Meditation and Pranayama
10 a.m.
March 23
Student Recreation Center

Grocery Shopping on a Budget
7-8 p.m.
March 27
Ryle Hall Main Lounge

Healthy Eating in the Dorms
7-8 p.m.
April 3
Ryle Hall Main Lounge

Meal Planning with Free Mason Jar Meals
7-8 p.m.
April 10
Ryle Hall Main Lounge.

Members of the Jewish Student Union will be performing a Purim spiel at 8 p.m. March 20 in the Interfaith Center. A Purim spiel is a traditional theatrical telling of the story of Esther. Light refreshments will be provided. This event is free and open to the public.

The 2019 Student Research Conference will occur on Apr. 25. This conference is a University-wide celebration of student research, scholarship and creative achievements. Both undergraduate and graduate students are invited to submit abstracts.

All abstracts need to be sponsored by a Truman faculty or staff member. A copy of the information submitted will be sent electronically to the student’s mentor for approval. Students should work with the faculty mentor before submitting the abstract.

Faculty-requested special sessions are included in the discipline options. If a student is planning to present in this session, there is a specific discipline designation when submitting an abstract. If a faculty member is interested in requesting a discipline designation, contact the Office of Student Research by emailing osr@truman.edu.

Complete guidelines for the Student Research Conference abstracts and presentations can be found at the SRC website. For any questions about the Student Research Conference email osr@truman.edu.

Listen and be engaged as Symone Sanders speaks on empowering women and the ways they navigate spaces.

The application period for the Institute for Academic Outreach positions is now open.

The summer positions are available for:

Videographer: Joseph Baldwin Academy
Preceptor: ATSU-Truman Healthcare Academy
Night Monitor: ATSU-Truman Healthcare Academy
Preceptor: Taiwan at Truman
Night Monitor: Taiwan at Truman

Preferred applicants for ATSU-Truman Healthcare Academy are currently students majoring in a health-related field.

Taiwan at Truman is in search of only female preceptors, specifically those with an interest or experience in foreign language, linguistics or ESL, as the academy will only have female Taiwanese students in Summer 2019.

Preceptors are expected to be supportive of the University goals, responsible, enjoy working with high-ability teenage students and be high-energy individuals.

 In order to apply for a preceptor position, students must:
1) currently be a full-time student at Truman
2) have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the time of application
 
Applicants should prepare a letter of interest which should include the skills they possess that will assist them when working with high-ability teenage students, related work experiences, and why they are interested in the summer academy for which they apply. Applicants will also need to complete the online application, provide a current resume and list a reference.

Job applications can be submitted through the job application form.

Alpha Phi Omega is hosting their annual St. Baldrick’s fundraiser from 6-10 p.m. March 23 in the Baptist Student Union. St. Baldrick’s Foundation raises money to find cures for childhood cancer through donations given at head shaving events. This year, Alpha Phi Omega has set a goal of raising $5,000. To sign up to shave or donate, click here.

Students interested in health care can consider a career in athletic training, which encompasses injury evaluation, rehabilitation and treatment, as well as program administration. Athletic trainers work closely with medical professionals to provide overall care and treatment to a variety of physically active individuals.

To learn more about athletic training and the Truman Master of Athletic Training program, attend the spring informational meeting from 4:30-5:30 p.m. March 25 in Pershing Building 231. Find out about the program and application process.

Classes begin in July. For more information, or for interested students who cannot make the meeting, contact Brandy Schneider or visit truman.edu/mat. 

Training sessions for the Safe Zone Program will take place from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. March 25 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room A, and from 3-5 p.m. March 27 in the Student Union Building Conference Room. Registration can be completed here.
 
The Safe Zone Program was created to have a network of knowledgeable faculty and staff in order to create safe and welcoming environments for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) people. Completing the training and displaying a Safe Zone sign indicates participants are committed to increasing their knowledge of LGBTQ issues and challenging homophobic and heterosexist comments or behaviors in an educational and informative manner. Safe Zone members are able to provide assistance as needed, including referrals to University Counseling Services. Summer Pennell, assistant professor of English education and longtime LGBTQ education activist, along with student interns, will lead this interactive training. Participants will learn current terminology and simple ways to create a welcoming campus environment.

A new episode of TruTalk, Truman’s own podcast hosted by Janes Dreamweaver, director of fitness-wellness, is now available. TruTalk helps listeners get to know students, faculty, staff, alumni and local community members.
 
This episode features Elijah Farrales, a senior track athlete who will be graduating in May with a degree in exercise science. He is from Nixa, Mo., and was featured recently on a TEDx talk regarding his unique passion for stacking cups into fun and creative designs.

The MAE Film Series will continue at 7 p.m. March 28 with a screening of “I Learn America” in Violette Hall 1010.

“I Learn America” tells the story of five teenagers from immigrant families and their journey of adapting to changing language and family dynamics while creating a future of their own in a new land. Following the screening of the film, there will be a discussion with a panel consisting of Kirksville High School students who come from immigrant families.

The Career Center is partnering with the Study Abroad Office to host a workshop on marketing study abroad experiences from 6-7 p.m. April 1 in Violette Hall 1430. The workshop will teach students to effectively market their study abroad experience to graduate schools and future employers. For more information, contact the Center for International Education Abroad at ciea@truman.edu or 660.785.7466 or contact the Career Center at careers@truman.edu or 660.785.4353.

Student Government is seeking a student speaker for the 2019 commencement ceremony. Students who are graduating in May and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher are eligible to apply. Applications can be found at senate.truman.edu/applications. All application material must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. April 5. Questions can be addressed to Katie Alexander at kga5644@truman.edu.

The Council for Special Olympics is looking for volunteers to help with Special Olympics track event from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. April 27 at Stokes Stadium. For more information or to sign up to be a volunteer, click here. Questions can be directed to tsu.ssec@gmail.com.

Women’s basketball had four honorees voted to all-conference List. Junior Sloane Totta was selected for first-team all-conference honors, making her the 10th Truman player to earn this distinction. Rachel Edmundson and Brooke Bailey were both named to the second-team all-GLVC. Redshirt freshman Maddie Re was named to the all-freshman team.

Marc Becker, professor of history, chaired a session on “Imperialism and Resistance in Latin America” at the Missouri Conference on History in Kansas City, Mo., March 6-8. On the same panel, history major Shannon Fetzner delivered a paper entitled “Assimilation, Resistance, or Both? Indigenous Responses to Christianity in Colonial Peru.” On the session “Otherness and Othering in Diverse Settings and Contexts,” Truman was represented by current student Anne Morgan, whose paper “Modernizing Migrants: Truman’s Commission on Migratory Labor and an ‘American Standard of Living’” was based on research conducted during a summer internship at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, Mo. Participating on the same panel were recent Truman graduate Houston Roberts, with a presentation based on the capstone paper he prepared under the supervision of Torbjorn Wandel, professor of history, and entitled “Birth of a Klavern: The Rise of the Ku Klux Klan in St. Joseph, Missouri, 1921–1925,” and Jason McDonald, assistant professor of history, with “Nature or Nurture? The Making of the Eugenicist Harry Laughlin.”
Alicia Ortman, Leah Cargin, Shannon Fetzner and Marc Becker


Jason McDonald, Houston Roberts, Anne Morgan and Dustin Gann

The Missouri Scholarship and Loan Foundation will offer the Purdy Emerging Leaders Scholarship, named in honor of Allan Walker Purdy.

Purdy was born in 1914 on a farm near Macon and was the first in his family to attend a four-year college. He worked in the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture before becoming the campus’s first director of scholarships and student financial aid.

The scholarship is designed to provide merit-based scholarships to emerging leaders who are outstanding students and who have a need for additional resources for higher education. The scholarship amount can vary based on an applicant’s circumstances. The general range will be $1,000-$5,000 based on expected family contribution (EFC), unmet need and other factors.

Applicants must be a Missouri resident, typically a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA, a U.S. Citizen, attending a Missouri public four-year university or the State Technical College of Missouri, and be a sophomore, junior or senior in college. Deadline to apply is June 15, 2019. Applications should be submitted online through Scholarship Central at moslf.org. To access more information about this scholarship, click here, or contact the Financial Aid Office at 660.785.4130.