Vol. 28 No. 1 - August 21, 2023

This year’s Kohlenberg Lyceum Series will bring a full slate of free in-person events to campus.

One of the University’s oldest traditions, the Kohlenberg Lyceum Series provides a unique opportunity to broaden the cultural experience for students and the community by bringing speakers, dance troupes, musicians and other performers from all parts of the world to the Truman campus.

Soul-inspired roots rock band The Mighty Pines will kick off the series, Sept. 9. The St. Louis-based group is known for creating vast musical landscapes with layered harmonies and thoughtfully crafted instrumentation. The performance will be a homecoming for alumni bandmembers Neil Salsich (’11), John Hussung (’11) and Gerard Erker (’09). Salsich was recently featured on season 23 of NBC’s “The Voice.”

Beatlemania will return to Baldwin Auditorium Oct. 6 with a performance by Liverpool Legends. Members of this internationally acclaimed Beatles tribute band were handpicked by Louise Harrison, sister of the late George Harrison. Liverpool Legends have performed around the world, playing sold out shows in Mexico, India, Israel, Ecuador and England, and at historic venues including the Rose Bowl and Carnegie Hall. They have their own theater in Branson, Missouri, where they perform throughout the year. Spanning hits from the entire Beatles catalog, this performance will also include the return of alumnus David Tanner (’95) who portrays Paul McCartney.

This season’s schedule includes two installments of the popular “Films and Finger Foods” events incorporated into the series last year. The classic Vincent Price horror film “House on Haunted Hill” will be screened Oct. 28 in the Del and Norma Robison Planetarium. Price performed at Truman more than any other university in the country, and he established the Vincent Price Theatrical Performance Scholarship, a legacy that continues to support Truman students today. A second “Films and Finger Foods” event is scheduled May 4 for a movie to be announced.

Dancers from the St. Louis Ballet will take to the stage Dec. 2 to perform selections from the holiday classic “The Nutcracker.” With choreography by Gen Horiuchi and music by Tchaikovsky, “The Nutcracker” features company dancers, professional character actors and students from the school of the St. Louis Ballet.

In partnership with the Black History 101 Mobile Museum, the series will host a lecture by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recording artist Professor Griff in February at a date to be determined. As a co-founding member of the revolutionary hip hop group Public Enemy, Griff draws on his exemplary life of service and an impressive 20-plus-year musical career to captivate audiences with his universal call for social responsibility within both the hip hop community and larger culture.

The Grammy Award-winning Kansas City Chorale will perform March 5. For more than 40 years, the Chorale has provided audiences with a high caliber of choral artistry, performing a diverse repertoire of new and traditional music. Under the leadership of conductor Charles Bruffy, the choir has earned international recognition for artistic merit and been praised for its refined sound, phrasing and flawless intonation. Alumni Frank Fleschner (’05) and Daniel Hansen (’13, ’15) are current members of the Chorale and slated to return for the performance.

All performances will take place at 7 p.m. in Baldwin Hall Auditorium unless otherwise specified. Tickets are available two weeks prior to each event and can be picked up on campus in the Union & Involvement Office in the Student Union Building, the Advancement Office in McClain Hall 205 or the Admissions Office in the Ruth W. Towne Museum and Visitors Center. Tickets are also available downtown at the Kirksville Arts Association.

This season all Kohlenberg Lyceum Series events are provided free of charge thanks to the generous support of local sponsors, the Friends of the Lyceum program and the Truman State University Foundation. Friends of the Lyceum receive exclusive benefits including reserved seating, special parking and a commemorative gift of the season based on the level of their donation.

For more information, visit lyceum.truman.edu or call 660.785.4133.

A unique campus resource will make its debut with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. Aug. 30 in Pickler Memorial Library.

The Doug and Diane Villhard Innovation Lab is a dedicated space created to help all members of campus reach their academic goals, explore creative pursuits and work on passion projects.

Located in the northeast corner on the first floor of the library, this newly renovated space features: flexible furniture that can be reconfigured for groups of various sizes; collaborative writing surfaces; and networked computers with creative software. A design lab in the space will provide hands-on experiences in problem solving and critical thinking, which current and prospective students will find essential for class projects and in future work environments. The design lab will include a Lego wall and offer materials that can be easily disassembled, altered, expanded or even recycled with minimal expense and effort.

Another section of the lab will house a multimedia studio. This space will provide assistance and resources for students who want to take innovative projects to the next level. It will also be used for training to equip students to use a variety of advanced technologies and digital resources. The ability to produce podcasts will be a feature of the lab, and video conferencing equipment will allow students an opportunity to connect and collaborate with remote partners.  

The naming of this lab was funded through a generous six-figure gift from alumni Doug (’94) and Diane (’95) Villhard. The Villhards have a long history of supporting entrepreneurship and innovation at Truman. For the past eight years they have supported a variety of efforts, including the annual Bulldog B.I.T.E. Pitch competition.

As a campus-wide resource the space will allow the University to successfully facilitate collaboration and cross-disciplinary learning. It also will create a pathway for instructors, from all disciplines, to direct class efforts to these spaces and conduct information/exploration sessions.

All members of the Truman community are invited to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which will be followed by a reception and opportunity for attendees to visit interactive stations in the lab.

Money included Truman on its “Best Colleges in America 2023” list. Truman earned 4.5 of a possible 5 stars in Money’s rating system, which was calculated by factoring quality of education (30%), affordability (40%) and outcomes (30%).

After initially evaluating more than 2,400 institutions, Money narrowed the list to 736. To make the cut colleges had to: have at least 500 undergraduate students; have sufficient, reliable data to be analyzed; not be in financial distress; and have a graduation rate that was at or above the median for its institutional category (public, private or historically black college or university), or have a high “value-added” graduation rate (a score in the top 25% of graduation rates after accounting for the student body). Schools that met the requirements were ranked on 26 factors in the three categories of quality, affordability and outcomes.

Truman was one of five Missouri public four-year colleges included on the list. Compared to its Show-Me-State peers, Truman had the lowest estimated full price for the 2023-24 school year, as well as the highest graduation rate.   

Truman also earned nods on two popular rankings available on money.com/best-colleges. The University comes up on the list of “Best Public Colleges,” described as nationally competitive public colleges that provide an excellent value for in-state students. Truman also comes up on the list of “Best in the Midwest.”

Another familiar outlet to highlight Truman is the Princeton Review with its recent publication of “The Best 389 Colleges: 2024 Edition.”

Unlike college rankings that focus exclusively on academics, and that are derived solely from institutional data and college administrator “peer” reviews, The Princeton Review rankings, tallied in multiple categories, are derived from student reports of their experiences. Schools in this book comprise 15% of America’s four-year colleges and universities. The profiles have information on admission and aid application requirements, enrollment, acceptance rates and student body demographics.

Smith also presented about the chapter’s best practices in front of numerous college students and professors from various parts of the world. During this presentation, Smith focused on Rho Rho’s cultural presentations, chapter events, community participation, fundraising and social media usage. She served as the president of the Rho Rho chapter during the 2022-2023 academic year and was originally selected to present at this conference in October 2022. She was one of only five students from around the country who was selected to present on behalf of SDP.

Truman’s Chinese program is excited to welcome this year’s Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) grantee, Hui-Chiao Wang, as a new instructor for the 2023-2024 academic year.

As an experienced language educator from Taiwan, Wang is passionate about teaching the Chinese language and dedicated to promoting Chinese culture. She possesses a unique perspective and deep cultural understanding, which she aims to utilize in fostering cross-cultural connections. Her rich experience in language education will enhance students’ learning journeys, allowing them to develop a profound appreciation for the Chinese language and culture.
 
Apart from teaching, Wang has plans to organize various Chinese cultural activities that will be open to all interested students on campus. Among these activities, students can look forward to exploring the flavors of Taiwan’s renowned bubble tea, immersing themselves in the joyous celebrations of Chinese traditional festivals and discovering the art of Chinese music and calligraphy. These culturally enriching experiences will not only broaden students’ horizons but also foster a sense of unity and mutual understanding among learners from diverse backgrounds.

Wang’s dedication to promoting cultural exchange will undoubtedly create an inclusive and dynamic space within the program.

Michael Barnes, associate professor of accounting and graduate program director, and Ben Batzer, assistant professor of English education, each earned the spring 2023 Academic Innovation Award.

Barnes was recognized for using structured group assignments as an alternative approach to traditional group work. In addition to providing clearer individual performance expectations, structured group assignments delegate group performance roles to facilitate better coordination and communication.

Batzer was recognized for “The Truman State Stories,” which invites students to write a journalistic profile. They study model essays from national newspapers and magazines, interview someone from the Truman community, write their own feature article, and then work in teams to edit, compile, digitize and publish a class anthology of their work.

Ophelia Parrish Building
As the semester begins, Kirk Building and the Ophelia Parrish Building will commemorate their 100th anniversaries.

The Ophelia Parrish Building was originally constructed in 1923 with major expansions in 1939 and 2002. The building’s namesake was the first faculty appointment made by University president John R. Kirk when he named Parrish supervisor of the demonstration school. This was an elementary school operated on campus by the faculty as a practice school for its student teachers. In 1903, when the decision was made to consolidate all the departmental libraries into one central college library, the Board of Regents selected Parrish as the first full-time librarian and gave her the assignment of organizing the new facility. Parrish passed away in 1915, and when a new model school was built in 1923 it was named in her honor.

Today, the Ophelia Parrish Building is Truman’s cultural hub, serving as the home of the art, music and theatre programs. One of the oldest edifices on campus, it has served a few distinct roles for the University since its construction, and it continues to honor Parrish more than a century after her passing.

Kirk Building, one of the school’s most historic buildings, is named in tribute to John R. Kirk, the second-longest tenured president in University history. An alumnus of the University, Kirk became the school’s fifth president in 1899. Throughout the next 26 years, Kirk expanded programs and led the movement to change the school’s status from a normal school to a full-fledged teacher’s college.

Originally built in 1923, Kirk Building was renamed in his honor in 1959. For generations of alumni, it is remembered as the social center of campus since it was the site of games, assemblies and events.

With financial assistance from the state of Missouri, Kirk is being renovated to house a new Student Success Center. The center will employ a collaborative service model in which individual student service departments do not simply co-locate and deliver their services nearby to one another; but rather, work in coordination to meet students’ needs from entry to exit. The Student Success Center will be comprised of: the Career Center; Tutoring Services; the Student Health Center; Counseling Services; Student Access and Disability Services; the Center for Academic Excellence; the Communication Lab; and the Writing Center.

Welcome Back Donuts
7:45-8:45 a.m.
Barnett Hall, McClain Hall and Pershing Building

Aug. 23
Popsicles by the Fountain
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Aug. 24
Welcome Back Snacks in Academic Buildings
10-11 a.m.

Aug. 25
National Banana Split Day
12:45-4:15 p.m.
HUB in the Student Union Building
Free banana splits.

Truman will host a bicycle sale at 9 a.m. Aug. 31 at the Military Storage Building on Florence Street, across from the tennis courts.

The bikes will be sold to faculty, staff and students. A Truman ID must be presented to register for a buyer number. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. Buyers will be limited to purchase one bike per person. There are approximately 31 bikes for sale and one razor scooter.

Bikes will be sold for $20 (includes tax). Payment must be made by cash or check at the sale site. Bikes will be sold “as is” with no guarantees, refunds or liability from Truman.

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.

Sign-up for Truman’s Fraternity and Sorority Life Recruitment is open now through the first week of September.


The Fraternity and Sorority Life community makes up approximately 20% of the student body. In the 2022-2023 school year, FSL organizations raised more than $93,000 for philanthropic groups both in the Kirksville community as well as nationwide. The past few years, the Fraternity and Sorority Life community has had a higher overall-cumulative GPA than the general Truman community. Additionally, FSL organizations performed a combined 8,000 hours of service through events such as highway cleanups, The Big Event and more.

The esports program is looking to build off a successful first year of competition in the 2022-2023 academic year, where they secured three national divisional championships.

The Truman Food Pantry, in conjunction with the Pantry for Adair County, will host pop-up pantry events from 1-4 p.m. Sept. 14, Oct. 5, Nov. 9 and Dec. 7 in the Student Union Building Down Under. Students are encouraged to check out the food available, as well as select personal hygiene items, at no cost.

There are no income eligibility requirements for use. The food pantry is organized based on consumer choice and allows students to make their own pack or have one prepared for pick up. The Truman Food Pantry is available to all Truman students.

The Truman Publications Office can also assist in the creation of posters or fliers to help promote campus events. Publications request for a work order can be found here.

For all other questions, email pr@truman.edu.

Truman’s Upward Bound program is currently accepting applications for fall employment.

Upward Bound is a grant-funded college preparation program for income-eligible area students that hires Truman students to assist high school juniors and seniors with tutoring, workshops and the overall college application processes.  

Students are compensated for all hours spent training, preparing, traveling and working with students. This position is good experience for those interested in education, social work or related fields.

Positions require regular weekly availability, one to three days per week between 2:30-6:45 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Applicants must be juniors, seniors or graduate students. Applications are available online and review of applications begins immediately.

Huping Ling, professor emerita of history, recently had her new book, “Asian American History,” released by Rutgers University Press.

“Asian American History” places Asian immigration to America in international and domestic contexts, and explores the significant elements that define Asian America. It also presents the myriad and poignant stories of a diverse body of Asian Americans, from illiterate immigrants to influential individuals, within a broad and comparative framework, offering microscopic narratives as well as macroscopic analysis and overviews.