Vol. 27 No. 3 - September 6, 2022

Missouri Poet Laureate Maryfrances Wagner reads her poem “Missouri” on the steps of the Capitol in Jefferson City on Statehood Day, Aug. 10, 2021.

Missouri Poet Laureate Maryfrances Wagner will give a poetry reading at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13 in the Baldwin Hall Little Theatre.

The Missouri Poet Laureate enriches citizens’ lives throughout the state by fostering the reading and writing of poetry through public appearances, readings, workshops, and digital and social media.

A native of Independence, Wagner is a poet, teacher and community arts leader. She has published 10 collections of her poetry, most recently “Solving for X,” published this summer. Other books include “The Immigrants’ New Camera,” “Salvatore’s Daughter,” “Light Subtracts Itself,” “Dioramas,” “Pouf,” “The Silence of Red Glass” and “Red Silk,” which won the 2000 Thorpe Menn Literary Excellence Award. Her poems have also appeared in dozens of magazines and anthologies. Wagner has co-edited several poetry anthologies including “The Whirlybird Anthology of Greater Kansas City Writers,” “Missouri Poets: An Anthology” and the New Letters Review of Books. Since 2010 she has co-edited I-70 Review magazine.

In 2020, Wagner was named the Individual Artist honoree for the Missouri Arts Awards, the state’s highest honor in the arts.

For 30 years, Wagner taught English and creative writing at Raytown High School and the University of Missouri–Kansas City, winning local and state recognition for excellence in teaching.

Wagner’s reading is free and open to the public. As part of her appearance at Truman, she will also visit a creative writing class the morning of Sept. 14.

“Sona and Me (Breaux’s Studio)” is one of the 11 pieces by artist and professor Priya Kambli that will be on display at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City beginning next month.

“Found in Translation: Explorations by 8 Contemporary Artists” examines the artists’ individual experiences with immigration from places across Asia to the Kansas City region. It reflects their perspectives on the world and their places in it, shaped through a range of styles and media.

Kambli migrated to the U.S. from India at the age of 18. She utilizes a personal archive of photographs and artifacts to foreground a personal narrative.

“My work has always been about understanding the formation and erasure of identity that is an inevitable part of the migrant experience,” she said. “As an artist whose work is bound in the personal and irrefutably placed in the context of a migrant narrative, the question in play is ‘how does the personal – or private – intersect with the political – or public?’”
 
By the time “Found in Translation” opens next month, the process of including Kambli’s work will be close to two years in the making. The Nelson-Atkins photography curator recommended Kambli for inclusion in the exhibit, and she participated in a studio visit in January 2021. Last October she learned her work would be included. During the summer, a film crew from the museum visited Kambli in her studio in Kirksville to record an interview that will be part of the exhibition.

“I am really excited to be part of an exhibition at the Nelson-Atkins and to be included with such a wonderful roster of artists,” she said. “We often hear of the risks of losing meaning in translation, but visual artists are skilled at converting ideas and questions into art. ‘Found in Translation’ reveals the richness and nuance that can be discovered through this process of change and transformation.”

In total, 11 of Kambli’s pieces will be included in the show. “Found in Translation” opens Oct. 8 and will run through Aug. 20, 2023. It is the second exhibition in the Nelson-Atkins initiative “KC Art Now,” which celebrates the talent of local artists.

The Kohlenberg Lyceum Series will debut its first event of the season with the Keesehea Pratt Band at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16 in Baldwin Auditorium.

Singing since the age of six, Keeshea Pratt has shared the stage with several notable national figures including bluesmen Bobby Rush and Eddie Cotton, opera singer Grace Bumbry, soul singer Musiq Soulchild and the late gospel icon Reverend James Moore. Pratt has accomplished what few Mississippi-based singers before her ever achieved, which is the ability to attract fans from all walks of life without ever straying from the intricate roots that nurtured her award-winning voice in the first place.

Pratt performs all genres of music. She has appeared at several festivals such as the Chicago Blues Festival and Crescent City Blues Festival in New Orleans. In 2018, The Blues Foundation of Memphis, Tennessee, crowned Pratt as the Queen of the International Blues Challenge. Simultaneously, at downtown Memphis’ Orpheum Theatre, Pratt and her brass-heavy Texas ensemble took home first place in the best band category. They released their debut album “Believe” that May.     

Admission is free but tickets are required. Tickets will be available starting Sept. 7 and can be reserved at the Sue Ross Arts Center in downtown Kirksville, the Advancement Office in McClain Hall 205 and the SAB window in the Student Union Building. For additional information, visit lyceum.truman.edu, call 660.785.4133 or email lyceumseries@truman.edu.

For the first time in two years the Career and Graduate School Expo will take place in person, Sept. 27-29.

The expo is open to students of all majors and academic levels. This event gives students the opportunity to participate in a variety of professional development activities.

The week will begin Sept. 27 with a virtual personal statement workshop hosted by Dave Lusk at 5 p.m., followed by a chance for students to work on resumes and cover letters from 6-8 p.m.

From 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 28 the Graduate School Expo will take place. This is an opportunity for those thinking of pursing graduate studies to connect with their future school.


If an employer would like to arrange a more formal interview after the expo, the Career Center will schedule an interview time to meet in a reserved room on campus. These pre-selected interviews will take place from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 30.

To learn more, or to register for these events, go to hiretruman.truman.edu then to Student/Alumni Login followed by events, career fairs and select career fair of choice. Click on attend in the upper right corner of the page to formally sign up. With any questions regarding times or function of the event, go to career.truman.edu/career-grad-school-week/schedule-of-events or email the Career Center at careers@truman.edu. These events will be accessed from #HireTruman.

The improvements made in classrooms resulted in upgrades to the A/V systems in 13 classrooms, major renovations in four classrooms and upgrades to approximately 40 classroom computer systems. These improvements have resulted in the installation of a state-of-the-art digital anatomy lab and a revamped and more modern theatre lab. All Pershing classrooms are now back online. All of the wireless access points in the academic buildings were also upgraded and these changes enable access to the wireless system at more than twice the speed of the older system.

Major upgrades were completed to Banner, Blackboard, Perimeter Access, the TruView student user interface and a host of other system changes. Several new applications were implemented as well and these systems will provide an improved experience for individuals applying to work at Truman, as well as for alumni and those wishing to donate to Truman.

Instructional design staff were paired with faculty to assist in the launch of online courses supporting the accounting, counseling and applied behavior analysis online programs. In addition, the staff worked with faculty on the changes and upgrades to Zoom environment, and they are planning the launch of the next phase of using Ally to ensure courses are accessible for all students.

As previously announced, Google implemented a substantial change to its service offering, with unlimited storage for the academic community ending in July 2022. The new storage model provides Truman with less free storage than the campus consumes so in order to ensure the free storage allocated to Truman is being used appropriately, a usage quota will be placed on each user account.

ITS assisted with the installation, setup and configuration of the new security cameras on campus and video server.

Students take part in an activity during the ATSU-Truman Healthcare Academy. More than 500 students participated in summer academies through the University in 2022.

Truman hosted more than 500 pre-college students for on-campus academies this summer, with certain in-person activities returning for the first time since the pandemic began.

The Institute for Academic Outreach coordinates the ATSU-Truman Healthcare Academy and the Joseph Baldwin Academy for Eminent Young Scholars (JBA), as well as JBA Jr.

“The most important thing I hope all students of the academies take away from their experience is that Truman State University is a place they can find their passion, experience something they have not had an opportunity to experience before and know that they are welcome to learn and grow with us,” said Michelle Wilson, coordinator of summer academies and early college programs.

JBA has been the most prominent summer academy at Truman since its inception in 1985. This three-week residential program provides students in grades 7-9 a selection of liberal arts and sciences courses taught by Truman faculty that simulate the experience of a first-year college student. Thousands of program alumni have gone on to attend the University. If JBA were a high school, it would be Truman’s largest feeder school.

This year, JBA enrollment was up by more than 75 additional students across both of its summer sessions compared to 2021. For the first time since 2019, the academy conducted closing ceremonies and a family visit day. The curriculum was also expanded, with 22 courses offered between the two sessions.

JBA Jr., a spinoff of its namesake, began in 2019. Its goal is to help students from neighboring rural communities get excited about the possibility of college and to begin believing that college is a realistic goal for their future. Targeted to students in grades 4-6, JBA Jr. aims to inspire enthusiasm for learning in all ability groups.

Operated in conjunction with A.T. Still University, ATSU-Truman Healthcare Academy is designed for students in grades 9-11 interested in health-related professions. Students learn through hands-on activities and stimulating discussions. They also get to use actual health care and medical facilities, including: the ATSU cadaver lab, where students have direct contact with real human systems and handle actual human organs; human-patient simulators, where medical students learn how to respond to actual patient crises; and biological, clinical and exercise laboratories on both the Truman and ATSU campuses.

Nomination and registration for 2023 summer academies will open soon. Details can be found at institute.truman.edu or by contacting the Institute for Academic Outreach at 660.785.5384 or institute@truman.edu.

More information about all of Truman’s summer offerings, as well as college credit for high school students and professional development opportunities, can be found at institute.truman.edu.

United Speakers is a student-based volunteer organization that teaches English as a Second Language to the Hispanic and French-speaking communities of Kirksville. They will host an interest meeting at 5 p.m. Sept. 6 in Baldwin Hall 212. Snacks will be provided. Email unitedspeakerstruman@gmail.com for more information.

Truman’s Interfraternity Council fall recruitment will take place Sept. 9-16. During this time fraternities will host several events for potential members to attend. Sign up for recruitment is free and can be found here.

A recruitment assembly will take place at 7 p.m. Sept. 8 in Violette Hall 1010. There each fraternity will give a quick presentation about themselves and IFC will talk about rules and what to expect during recruitment. It is highly encouraged to attend the assembly if interested in recruitment.

For more information visit ifc.truman.edu.

Minor Detail, Truman’s all-female a cappella group, is hosting auditions from 7-9 p.m. Sept. 13 in Student Union Building 3203 and Sept. 15 in Ophelia Parrish 2115.

Blue Key in partnership with the Red Cross will host a blood drive from 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sept. 13-14 in the Student Union Building Georgian Rooms. All are welcome to donate. Donors will receive a free t-shirt.

Much of what is known about signed languages comes from a few well-documented and typologically similar languages, which overwhelmingly represent signed languages of Western Europe and the US. However, in order to understand language as a human faculty, it is essential to increase language documentation and the inclusion of non-European signed languages in linguistic research. In this talk, Coons will focus on two case studies in her discussion of the contributions of Mexican Sign Language (Lengua de SenÌfas Mexicana, LSM) and other understudied sign languages to linguistic research.

For those interested in attending via Zoom, the passcode is OFSTAD. For more information email sday@truman.edu.

The McNair Program supports and prepares first-generation, Pell-eligible and underrepresented students for graduate studies. Paid summer research internships, funds for graduate school visits and conferences, and academic counseling are just a few of the benefits the program has to offer. Applications are open now with a priority deadline of Sept. 19. Check eligibility here or come to the information sessions at 5 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Adair House. For more information visit mcnair.truman.edu or follow the program on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Alpha Sigma Gamma, a non-selective service sorority, will host their fall recruitment from 7-9 p.m. Sept. 20-21 in the Student Union Building Activities Room and Sept. 22 on the quad with a rain location of Violette Hall 1000.

ASG’s four pillars are service, sisterhood, scholarship and friendship. They do service in the Kirksville community along with service outside of Kirksville. They also put on sisterhood and social events with other organizations.

Email asgducks.pr@gmail.com for more information.

The Truman forensics team will host an informational meeting from 6-6:30 p.m. Sept. 27 in Barnett 1211. The team will briefly discuss events offered, competitions and student experiences. No prior public speaking experience is necessary to join the team. For any questions email Ben Davis, director of forensics, at bdavis@truman.edu.

People who reserve a tailgate spot in advance will be granted early access to the tailgate lot and admitted ahead of the post-parade crowd. Those who wish to reserve a spot can register here. All requests must be approved by Alumni Relations. Review the Homecoming Tailgate Policies prior to the event.

Spaces will be reserved for requests submitted by Sept. 23. Non-reserved space at the tailgate will be first-come, first-served at the event. For any questions email bulldogforever@truman.edu.

The New York Times membership is free and can be activated online. This membership includes access to archives dating back to 1851, daily 360 content, podcasts, newsletters and nytimes.com/edu which is an education resource website.

This year’s faculty exhibition will feature work by printmakers Laura Bigger and Nick Phan, painter Lindsey Dunnagan, ceramicist Amy Smith and sculptor Danielle Yakle. In addition to showcasing a variety of media, the work in the exhibition explores several themes including relationship to place and to the body, memory, materiality and documenting experience.

For more information or to view the full 2022-2023 schedule of exhibitions, visit gallery.arttruman.com. For any questions about visits or bringing a class to the gallery, contact Heidi Cook, director of the University Art Gallery, by emailing hcook@truman.edu.

Foundation loans can come in the form of short-term loans, long-term loans, access loans and cultural loans. Applications go through the Financial Aid Office and are repaid directly to the University. Banks and outside lenders are not involved in the process.

To be eligible for a Foundation loan students must be enrolled on a full-time basis and be in good academic standing. Students also need to demonstrate an ability to repay the loan in a timely manner. Deferments of up to five years are available for cultural and long-term loans, provided the student is enrolled on a full-time basis.

In addition to scholarship assistance, the loan program is an example of the immediate impact of donations to the Truman State University Foundation. Gifts from alumni and friends allow Truman to provide assistance directly to students as they pursue their education.

For more information on the Foundation loan program, contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@truman.edu, at 660.785.4130 or in person at McClain Hall 103.

Truman students from the Miller research lab in chemistry presented at the annual MERCURY meeting on computational chemistry at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, July 20-22. Peyton Williams, senior biology major, Georgia Hollingsworth, junior biochemistry and molecular biology major (BCMB), and Christine Chen, sophomore BCMB major, each presented a poster in the area of drug design and discovery using a variety of computational chemistry techniques.

Truman’s Rho Rho Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, was named an Honor Chapter for its outstanding activities in 2021-22.

This is the 29th consecutive year Truman has earned this prestigious distinction, which represents the longest continuous Honor Chapter-run in the 103-year-history of Sigma Delta Pi. Stacy Bryant, Rho Rho’s chapter adviser in 2021-22, was instrumental in earning this year’s national honors. Stacy Davis, assistant professor of Spanish, MAE Spanish, will take over as faculty adviser for the new academic year.