The annual Big Event service project will take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 1.

The Big Event allows students to display their gratitude to the Kirksville community for their continued support and contributions to the University by performing tasks such as raking leaves, trimming bushes or washing windows. Larger scale community projects with area organizations are also part of the annual event.

Students who would like to volunteer can sign up here. Members of the community who would like to request the services of student volunteers can do so here.

For more information, contact the SERVE Center at trumanserve@gmail.com or 660.785.7222.

University President Sue Thomas welcomed Vanessa Alexander, director of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, for a recent episode of “Tea Time with Sue.”

Earlier this year, Alexander returned to Truman after working with the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education and Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia. She is a Truman graduate and previous employee of the Office of Admission. During their discussion, Alexander credited encouragement from others for helping start her career in higher education, motivating her to move across the country and for inspiring her to return to Kirksville for her new position. Other topics during this episode include upcoming plans for the CDI, the benefits of aerial workouts and dabbling in poetry.

The entire podcast conversation can be found on the Truman Spotify channel. Follow Truman on social media for video excerpts from “Tea Time with Sue.” The complete video is also posted on the Truman YouTube channel.

Throughout the school year, President Thomas will welcome guests for one-on-one chats that shine a light on the people and things that make Truman the special place it is. New episodes will be announced in the Truman Today as they become available. Guests for “Tea Time with Sue” can be nominated at truman.edu/teatime.

Truman was honored with 2022 Tree Campus Higher Education recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for its dedication to sustainable urban forest management.

The Tree Campus Higher Education program honors colleges and universities for promoting healthy trees and engaging staff and students in conservation goals. Truman achieved the title by meeting Tree Campus USA’s five standards, which include: maintaining a tree advisory committee; a campus tree-care plan; dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program; an Arbor Day observance; and student service-learning project.

Currently there are 411 campuses across the United States with this recognition. Truman has been recognized as a Tree Campus USA school since 2014.

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation is the world’s largest membership nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees. With a focus in communities and forests of greatest need, the Foundation has helped to plant nearly 500 million trees in more than 50 countries. Guided by its mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees, the Arbor Day Foundation is committed to unlocking the power of trees to help solve critical issues facing people and the planet. Learn more about the impact of the Arbor Day Foundation at arborday.org.

More information about the program is available at treecampushighered.org.

The Ofstad Reading Series will host scholar Carrie Gillon from 12:30-1:30 p.m. March 29 in Student Union Building Georgian Room A.

Gillon is a language commission coordinator for the Squamish Nation. In her talk she will examine the Language Policy passed by Squamish Nation Council in 2021. The Squamish Nation’s Language Policy is intended to develop and maintain highly proficient and fluent speakers of Skwxwú7mesh sníchim (Squamish language), research language revitalization, support Skwxwú7mesh sníchim revitalization, maintenance and documentation. The policy also oversees use of the language by employees of the Squamish Nation, volunteers, committee members, academic institutions and external partners, as well as delivers language initiatives, programs and services for the Squamish people.

The language policy also mandated the creation of the Language Commission (Paháyikwup), which is charged with creating new speakers and revitalizing the language. Gillon will discuss her role as the language commission coordinator and the steps taken to revitalize Skwxwú7mesh sníchim so far.

Students, faculty and staff will have the chance to attend training sessions to learn more about mental health and how to help someone in need.

The Northeast Missouri Area Health Education Center is presenting a free Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) program open to all students, faculty and staff. MHFA will teach participants how to recognize common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges, recognize common signs and symptoms of substance use challenge, understand how to interact with a person in crisis, know how to connect a person with help and use self-care tools and techniques.

Training for students will be conducted from 5-9 p.m. March 23 and March 30 in Baldwin Hall 114. Participants must attend both days of the program to receive their MHFA certification. Registration is required and can be found here.

Faculty and staff training will be conducted throughout two days from 12:30-4:30 p.m. April 6 and April 13 via Zoom. Participants must attend both days of the program to receive their MHFA certification. Registration is required and can be found here. The faculty and staff program requires two hours of self-paced pre-work prior to the instructor-led session. This pre-work is due by April 5.

QPR is being offered to students from 3:30-5 p.m. March 28 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room. QPR stands for question, persuade and refer — the three simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade and refer someone to help. Refreshments will be provided. Sign-up can be found here.

Tabling in Magruder
11 a.m.-3 p.m.
March 20
Come get a free seed packet and compostable pot.

6 p.m.
March 21
Zoom

Ag Picnic
6 p.m.
March 22
University Farm

“Kiss the Ground” Documentary Film Screening and Speaker Panel
6 p.m.
March 23
Magruder Hall Planetarium

Complete abstract guidelines are posted on the Office of Student Research website. Inquiries about the Student Research Conference can be directed to the Office of Student Research at osr@truman.edu.

Union and Involvement Services (U&I) is seeking an individual to support Fraternity and Sorority Life programs, specifically responsibilities related to Greek Week. This individual will work under the direction of the professional staff of the U&I as a part of the Fraternity and Sorority Life team. In this role they will collaborate with all areas of the department. Applications close March 22 with interviews following shortly after. Those interested can apply here.

Ashleigh Harding, Vanessa Alexander and Allison Gus
Vanessa Alexander, is the new director of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion. She has spent her career in higher education in admissions-related positions focused on programming, student experience and financial aid, most recently with the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education and Drexel University College of Medicine. She previously worked for Truman as an admissions counselor before taking a similar position with A.T. Still University where she also served as the school’s Diversity and Inclusion Liaison. During her time at Truman, Alexander was a Multicultural Affairs student intern and participated in the Minority Ambassadors Program for four years. She has served the University as a Diversity Fellow and as a member of the Strategic Plan Committee in 2021.

Allison Gus is the new director of admission. She comes to Truman from the University of Colorado Denver where she served in the capacity of graduate program coordinator, admissions and recruitment coordinator, graduate admissions specialist and most recently as the director of admissions management and outreach. She has experience working with community college and high schools to establish and maintain programmatic relationships, articulation agreements and memoranda of understanding that develop student pipelines. She is also familiar with the Slate CRM platform and its use for implementing a standardized communication plan for prospective students. Gus is a graduate of Iowa State University with Bachelor of Arts degrees in advertising and art and design.

As the director of student success, Ashleigh Harding oversees the Center for Academic Excellence. An alumna of the University, she most recently, she worked in the CAE as an academic advisor and coordinator of University tutoring. Harding has also served Truman as a graduate teaching and research assistant for the Department of English and Linguistics, was a student assistant for the Special Collections and Museums Department, an academic professional development tutor for the McNair Scholars Program and a traveling admission counselor. She is a member of the National College Learning Center Association and the Missouri College Learning Center Association, and served on Truman’s Living-Learning Community Steering Committee and the Department of English and Linguistics’ Antiracist Committee.

Refreshments will be provided. No RSVP is necessary.

The forensics team will host the second annual “Big Dogs Gotta Eat” speech showcase at 7 p.m. March 24 in the Baldwin Little Theater.

The showcase will highlight some of the team’s nationally qualified individual pieces, with performances in public address, limited preparation and interpretation events. Admission to this event is free although a small donation of $5 is recommended. Light refreshments will be available during the performances. Some performances will feature mature themes and audience discretion is advised. An option for online viewing will also be available.

For any questions regarding the showcase contact Ben Davis, director of forensics.

Beta Alpha Psi will host a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) session from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. March 25 in Violette Hall 1424.

Clients who come to VITA should bring: social security cards for spouses and dependents; bank routing numbers and bank account numbers for direct deposit; wage and earnings statements such as W-2, 1098T and 1099; and a copy of last year’s federal and state tax returns if available. VITA services will be completed by IRS-certified volunteers and will also offer free electronic filing to receive a faster return.

Appointments are required. Call 660.785.6064 to schedule. For more information, visit bap.truman.edu/vita.

Lambda Pi Eta, the national communication honors fraternity, will host COMM Week March 27-31. Communication majors and minors can attend multiple events to feel more connected, informed and ready to lead within the Communications Department.

Professor Research Panel Time
7-8:30 p.m.
March 27
Baldwin Little Theatre
Topics that may be discussed include disclosing infidelity in intimate relationships, presidential debate negotiation, using humor as argument, social media and interpersonal relationships in the speech and debate community.

What I Wish I Knew
6-8 p.m.
March 28
Barnett Hall 1221
This biannual event is designed for lowerclassmen to gain insight and helpful tips from upperclassmen in the communication major. This is open to anyone interested in taking a communication course, regardless of declared major or minor. The topics for the night include what order to take classes, which classes pair well together in a semester, professors teaching styles, grading scale and more.

Internship Forum and Networking
5 p.m.
March 29
Barnett Hall 1221
Michelle Kleine, associate professor of communication, is organizing her annual internship forum where students can hear from upperclassmen communication students about their experiences completing an internship for credit. Refreshments will be provided.

KC IABC Career Roadshow
6:30 p.m.
March 29
Barnett Hall 1221
Hear from the Kansas City chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators about how they are utilizing their communication degree. It is a networking event for anyone interested in a job/internship related to public relations, social media, organizational communication, journalism and more.

Open House at Barnett
6-8 p.m.
March 30
Barnett Hall Atrium
Learn more about Lambda Pi Eta, Advertising and Public Relations club, forensics, UpChuckles, KTRM, KTRM Studios Show and The Index.

Social Event for COMM Students and Faculty
6-8 p.m.
March 31
DuKum Inn
An opportunity for students to hang out with communication faculty members outside of the typical classroom environment. Students do not have to be 21 years old to attend the event.

The Office of Student Research is accepting applications for Conference Travel Scholarships and Grants-in-Aid of Scholarship and Research.

Students presenting results from their research or creative scholarship in upcoming conferences from July-December may be eligible to receive up to $500 to cover conference expenses such as registration and lodging. To be eligible, students must have completed or be currently involved in a faculty-mentor research experience and plan on presenting at the conference.

The Grants-in-Aid of Scholarship and Research (GIASR) program offers the chance to conduct faculty-mentored research and creative scholarship. Through this program, students can receive up to $750 in funding to cover student stipend, supplies and travel expenses to conduct research.
 
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 March 27. Questions can be directed to osr@truman.edu.

Greek Week will take place April 3-7. This year’s theme is “Onto the Next Chapter,” centered around books. All money raised will go to the Adair County Public Library and Truman’s Investing in Students Fund. For more information as events get closer, follow @trumanfsl on Instagram.

This year’s nationally competitive fellowship session is scheduled for 4:30-6 p.m. April 4 in Violette Hall 1010.

Each year Truman nominates students who have shown outstanding academic performance and exceptional service accomplishments for national fellowship opportunities. The application process is very rigorous and highly competitive, but the University provides support as students prepare for and then apply to these prestigious scholarships. Many deadlines occur early in the fall semester, so it is important interested students attend the meeting. To register for the information session, click here.

Listed below are several of the major national fellowships and their websites. More information about these fellowships is available at truman.edu/majors-programs/more-learning-opportunities/fellowships.


Fellowships For Study in the United States
(campus nomination required)

Carnegie Endowment
for undergraduates and graduates
Awarded to graduating seniors or individuals who have graduated within the past academic year. Applicants must be nominated by the Truman State University nominating official. This fellowship is designed to provide a substantive work experience for students who have a serious career interest in the area of international affairs. Eleven to 13 students will be hired to work at the Carnegie Endowment in Washington, D.C., on a full-time basis for a period of one year. Application deadline is Nov. 17, 2023.

Goldwater Scholarship
for undergraduates only
Awarded to sophomore or junior math or science majors who have one or two full years of undergraduate study remaining. Each scholarship covers tuition, fees, books, and room and board. To be eligible, a student must have at least a 3.0 GPA, be a United States citizen and demonstrate a potential for and commitment to a career in research in mathematics or natural sciences. Deadline to declare intent to apply is Oct. 20, 2023.

Harry S. Truman Scholarship
for undergraduates only
Awarded to outstanding junior students who intend to pursue careers in public service. Each Harry S. Truman Scholarship covers tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $30,000 over a period of up to four years (i.e., one year of college and three years of graduate school). To be eligible, a student must have selected an undergraduate field of study that will permit admission to a graduate program leading to a career in public service. Campus deadline is Nov. 17, 2023.

Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation
for undergraduates only
The Morris K. Udall Scholarship Program was created to encourage outstanding students to pursue careers related to environmental public policy and to encourage outstanding Native American and Alaska native students to pursue careers related to health care and tribal public policy. Requirements include sophomore or junior standing with at least a 3.0 GPA and ranking in the top quarter of a student’s class. Each scholarship covers eligible expenses for tuition, fees, books, and room and board, up to a maximum of $7,000, and expenses for a Udall Scholars Orientation. Deadline for applications is Jan. 19, 2024.


Fellowships for Experiences Abroad
(campus nomination required)

British Marshall Scholarship
for undergraduates and graduates
Awarded to exceptional seniors or recent graduates who wish to study for two years in a British university. It is meant to further the education of young people of distinguished intellect and character who can be expected to make a significant contribution to society. To be eligible, applicants must have a 3.7 GPA, be a United States citizen and earn a bachelor’s degree before the scholarship takes effect. Applications must be completed by Aug. 18, 2023.

Fulbright Grant
for undergraduates and graduates
Awarded to seniors and graduate students. Grants range from a full grant – which covers one year of tuition, books and maintenance in one foreign country – to a variety of partial grants which cover transportation costs only and/or supplement the applicant’s own personal funds.  Teaching assistantships in English in selected countries are also available under the Fulbright program. To be eligible for any of the Fulbright grants, an applicant must be a United States citizen at the time of application and hold a bachelor’s degree by the beginning date of the grant.  Creative and performing artists are not required to have a bachelor’s degree, but must have four years of relevant training or study. All applicants are required to have sufficient proficiency in the language of the host country to carry out their proposed study or research. Applications must be completed by Sept. 1, 2023.

Fulbright Grant: U.K. Summer Institute Award
for undergraduates
Awarded to freshman or sophomore students from all areas of study with a high level of academic achievement. Each program offers students full immersion in the study of British academia and culture. Students will partake in cultural events, research, collaboration and presentation at one of nine summer institutes. The award will cover the majority of all costs incurred, including flights to and from the U.K., university fees, and room and board at the hosting U.K. university. Applicants must be U.S. citizens who reside anywhere except the U.K., be at least 18 years old and have completed no more than two years of university study. Applications must be completed by Sept. 1, 2023.

Mitchell Scholarship
for undergraduates and graduates
Awarded to seniors or recent graduates who wish to pursue graduate study or research in either the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. Mitchell scholarships provide tuition and housing, as well as living and travel stipends. Applicants must complete a bachelor’s degree before taking up the award. Applications must be completed by Aug. 18, 2023.

Boren Scholarship and Fellowship
for undergraduates and graduates
NOTE: The graduate fellowship does not require campus nomination.
Designed to provide U.S. undergraduates and graduates with the resources and encouragement they need to acquire skills and experience in countries and areas of the world critical to the future security of our nation. Boren Scholarships/Fellowships are designed to support students who will make a commitment to federal service. All recipients incur a requirement to enter into an agreement, in order of priority, to work for an agency of the federal government with national security responsibilities or to work in the field of higher education in the area of study for which the scholarship was awarded. Maximum awards are $10,000 for a semester and $20,000 for a full year of study abroad. Campus deadline for scholarships (undergraduate) is Jan. 1, 2024. Campus deadline for fellowships (graduate) is Dec. 29, 2023.

Rhodes Scholarship
for undergraduates only
Awarded to exceptional seniors who wish to pursue two or three years of study at Oxford University. The Rhodes Scholarship covers all tuition costs and provides a maintenance allowance. To be eligible a senior must be under 24 years of age, be a citizen of the United States and complete a bachelor’s degree before Oct. 1. There are only 32 scholarships assigned to the United States and applicants must have proven intellectual and academic achievement of a high standard, integrity of character, interest in and respect for their fellow human beings, the ability to lead and the energy to use their talents to the fullest. The last of these qualities is usually, though not exclusively, demonstrated by participation and success in sports. Rhodes Scholarship applications must be completed by Sept. 1, 2023. Read about Truman’s first Rhode’s Scholarship recipient, Andrew McCall, who provides helpful advice for Rhodes Scholar applicants.


Other Fellowships
(no campus nomination required)

The Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship
for college graduates and graduate students
A highly-competitive national program that provides college and graduate school graduates the opportunity to work in Washington, D.C., with one of more than two dozen participating public-interest organizations focusing on international security issues. The program is offered twice yearly, in the spring and fall. It lasts from six to nine months and provides a salary, health insurance and travel costs to Washington.

The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship
for undergraduates and graduates
The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship is designed to attract outstanding individuals from all ethnic, racial and social backgrounds who have an interest in pursuing a foreign service career with the U.S. Department of State. The programs provide academic and professional preparation for outstanding candidates to enter the U.S. Department of State Foreign Service, representing America’s interests abroad.

Amgen Scholars Program
for undergraduates only
The Amgen Scholars Program provides hundreds of undergraduate students with the opportunity to engage in a hands-on summer research experience at some of the world’s leading institutions.

Ford Diversity Fellowships Program
for seniors and graduates only
Through its fellowship programs, the Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation’s college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
for graduates only
The GRFP is a prestigious, nationally competitive fellowship offered by the National Science Foundation that provides three years of financial support for beginning graduate study leading to a research-based degree in the STEM disciplines.

Gates Cambridge Scholarship
for undergraduates and graduates
Awarded to students of exceptional academic achievement and scholarly promise for whom advanced study at Cambridge would be particularly appropriate. Successful applicants will have the ability to make a significant contribution to their discipline while in Cambridge, with a strong aptitude for research, analysis and a creative approach to defining and solving problems. Awarded only to students who gain admission to Cambridge through the regular procedures. Covers the full cost of study at Cambridge for a single person. Applications should be completed by Sept. 8, 2023.

Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows
for undergraduates
The Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows offers rising college juniors opportunities in leadership development programs inspired by the life and legacy of George Washington and today’s foremost leaders. This residential summer fellowship is designed to create the next generation of the nation’s top leaders.

John Lewis Fellowship
for undergraduates
The John Lewis Fellowship honors U.S. Representative John Lewis, an icon of the Civil Rights Movement. The program explores the history of the Civil Rights Movement, diversity and minority rights in the United States, with a particular focus on Atlanta. Key areas of inquiry include race and racism, immigration, national identity, Native American issues and the relationship between civil rights and human rights. The fellowship will also discuss contemporary racial and diversity issues.

Humanity in Action Fellowship
for undergraduates
The Humanity in Action Fellowship brings together international groups of college students and recent graduates to explore national histories of injustice and resistance as they affect different minority groups today.

Woodrow Wilson National Fellowships
for undergraduates and graduates
The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation is a private non-profit operating foundation based in Princeton, New Jersey. The foundation administers a range of programs that support leadership development and build organizational capacity in education.

Fund for Education Abroad
for undergraduates
The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) addresses the need for an independent study abroad scholarship provider. FEA is expanding access to study abroad by raising awareness of its benefits to the individual and value to the collective, and by granting scholarships of up to $10,000.

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
for undergraduates
The Gilman International Scholarship Program is a Congressionally-funded program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and is administered by the Institute of International Education. The Gilman Scholarship Program offers grants of up to $5,000 to U.S. undergraduate students of high financial need participating in a credit-bearing study abroad program or international internship eligible. Students studying a critical need language could be eligible to receive a grant of up to $8,000. The Gilman Program aims to diversify the kinds of students who study and intern abroad and the countries and regions where they go by supporting U.S. undergraduates who might otherwise not consider these unique and valuable opportunities due to financial constraints.

U.S. Teaching Assistantship Program in Austria
The U.S. Teaching Assistantship Program in Austria provides U.S. college and university graduates with opportunities to work at secondary schools throughout Austria as teaching assistants.

Freeman Awards for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA)
The Freeman Foundation’s generous support for the relaunch of Freeman-ASIA builds on prior grants to IIE that funded more than 4,500 American undergraduates in Asia from 2001 to 2014. The newly available awards will advance the Institute of International Education’s Generation Study Abroad, a five-year initiative aiming to double the number of U.S. students abroad by the end of the decade, by mobilizing resources and commitments across the higher education, philanthropy and corporate sectors.

Schwarzman Scholars
Designed to prepare the next generation of global leaders, Schwarzman Scholars is the first scholarship created to respond to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st Century. Whether in politics, business or science, the success of future leaders around the world will depend upon an understanding of China’s role in global trends. Students will live and study together on the campus of Schwarzman College, where all classes are taught in English. Students will pursue master’s degrees in one of three disciplines: public policy, economics and business, or international studies. Applications must be completed by Aug. 18, 2023.

Applications for FAC fall 2023 funding are now open. Applications will close at 12 a.m. April 14. No late applications will be accepted. Applications can be found here. FAC will also host a funding information night at 6p.m. March 22 in the Student Union Building Conference Room.

The 2023 recipient of the Distinguished Corporation/Foundation Award is The Hearst Foundations, national philanthropic resources for organizations working in the fields of culture, education, health and social services. The Hearst Foundations provided significant financial support to Truman, establishing the Hearst Scholarship – Mass Communications in 1986, the Hearst Scholarship – Fine Arts in 1989 and the Hearst Scholarship Fund in 1998. In 2022, the Foundation provided $100,000 to assist with the development of an innovation lab in Pickler Memorial Library.

Those who wish to attend the Foundation Celebration may RSVP here.

Truman graduates Taylor Libbert (’18) and Mia Pohlman (’14, ’18) recently participated in a seminar for alumni of exchange programs facilitated by the U.S. State Department.

Libbert and Pohlman both participated in the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program after their time at Truman, serving as native-speaker experts in English-language classrooms in their host countries of Andorra and Greece, respectively.
 
The Alumni Thematic International Exchange Seminar (TIES) on Rural Engagement in Global Affairs, took place in Birmingham, Alabama, Feb. 27-March 3. Previous Alumni TIES topics have included Public Health and Climate Crisis in the Indo-Pacific, Shaping the Global Narrative on Media Literacy and Preparing for a 21st-Century Economy, among others.

The State Department welcomed a cohort of nearly 40 exchange alumni living in the United States who represent a variety of career fields and backgrounds and are working on issues related to rural engagement in global affairs. During the seminar, the participants: worked to clarify the purpose and urgency of prioritizing rural voices in international affairs; learned about methods to increase the visibility of U.S. rural businesses in global markets; shared challenges and barriers experienced with rural engagement; discovered connections between U.S. and international rural communities; discussed pathways to international exchange opportunities for rural Americans and first-generation college students; and strategized creative ways to reengage community stakeholders, elected officials, technology companies and educators in expanding cross-sectoral efforts to improve rural engagement in global affairs.

“Thanks to the U.S. State Department Office of Alumni Affairs, I gained new knowledge of the many other U.S. exchange programs, along with insights into domestic public radio and globally-minded nonprofits,” Libbert said. “People shared stories on how rural life shaped their cultural identities, and I met passionate people from all walks of life, from current undergraduates to second-career government officials to university professors making impacts before retirement.”

Libbert and Pohlman were co-panelists for a discussion entitled “The Role of Media, Literature, and Art in Rural Communities.” The panel focused on how rural communities are presented in media, as well as how they are portrayed in literature and visual art. Libbert discussed fly-over literature and cognitive linguistic bias in the conceptualization of the rural-urban divide. Pohlman presented on Here. literary magazine, a project she founded three years ago in southeast Missouri that gives high school students in the region the skills, experience and publication credits necessary to pursue the arts after high school.

“The Alumni TIES seminar gave me hope that this conversation is only just beginning, and that rural communities and rural people are being considered and heard from in our nation’s conversations about the future of our country,” Pohlman said. “I am from a farm that has been in my family for more than 120 years. Rural communities and traveling abroad are two of my passions. It is so exciting to me that others are thinking about these two topics in the same sentence and about how to connect these ideas as well.”

TIES participants now have one month to apply for grants up to $10,000 for community-based projects that focus on innovative local or national initiatives to support rural Americans’ engagement and collaboration in global affairs. Selected grantees will then have approximately 12 months to complete their grant. Libbert and Pohlman are part of a group exploring an artistic way to engage rural American communities with both domestic and global rural communities, but the details have yet to be determined.

Libbert is currently in Truman’s online Master of Arts in English program and writing a thesis on Missouri literature in secondary curriculum. She will earn her degree in May 2023. Since graduating from Truman with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Romance language in May 2018, she has worked in hospitality, tourism and education. She also participated in the Teaching Assistant Program in France for 2019-20.

Pohlman earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with a concentration in writing and minors in photography and African/African American Studies, from Truman in 2014. She also received a master’s degree in English and a Master of Arts in Education degree in secondary education in 2018. She currently lives in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, as the writer and editor of special publications with the media company rustmedia.

Chad Montgomery, professor of biology, is Truman’s nominee for the 2023 COPLAC Dunn Award.   

Each year the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC) asks its member institutions to submit one nominee to be considered for the Dunn Award. This award recognizes a faculty member whose commitment to student success goes beyond the traditional roles of teacher, academic advisor and mentor. The goal is to recognize a faculty colleague who consistently enacts the values of the public liberal arts – to foster engagement with learning, communities and public service.