The 2024-25 Kohlenberg Lyceum Series will include four mainstage productions and two installments of the popular “Films and Finger Foods” events.
 
Grammy Award winners Third Coast Percussion will kick off the season Sept. 24. For nearly 20 years, this Chicago-based quartet has created exciting and unexpected performances that constantly redefine the classical music experience. Whether the artists are speaking from the stage about a new piece of music, inviting concertgoers to play along with a piece or providing an educational performance, the ensemble is known for making a direct connection with the audience. In addition to working with musicians from a wide range of backgrounds, the ensemble has joined with dancers, sound engineers and even architects on creative projects.
 
The world-famous Vienna Boys’ Choir will take the stage Nov. 14. Based in Austria, this choir of boy sopranos and altos between the ages of nine and 14 perform for nearly 500,000 people each year. The ensemble is a modern-day descendant of the boys’ choirs of the Viennese Court dating back to the late Middle Ages. This performance will include Austrian folk songs, classical masterpieces, Christmas hymns and holiday carols.
 
In March, the lyceum will welcome the jazz ensemble Matt Wilson’s Good Trouble. A New York-based drummer, Wilson combines buoyant zeal, idiosyncratic style, infectious humor, joyous swing and an indomitable spirit of surprise, making him one of the most in-demand players and educators in jazz today. He has appeared on more than 500 albums and has released 20 acclaimed recordings as a leader. He was named 2018 Musician of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association, and his album “Honey and Salt” won 2018 Album of the Year. Wilson’s March 1 concert is sponsored in conjunction with the annual Phi Mu Alpha JazzFest.
 
A fourth mainstage production is in the works for the spring semester, with details to be announced soon.
 
Each semester will include a “Films and Finger Foods” event in the Del and Norma Robison Planetarium. A screening of the 2024 version of “Mean Girls,” featuring Truman alumna Jenna Fischer, will take place Oct. 3. The spring installment remains to be determined, and could consist of another feature film or possibly a full-dome presentation that would showcase the planetarium’s new 4K projectors.
 
All Kohlenberg Lyceum Series events take place at 7 p.m. in Baldwin Hall Auditorium unless otherwise specified.  
 
Tickets for the 2024-25 Kohlenberg Lyceum Series 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. Tickets are available approximately two weeks before each performance and can be picked up on campus at any of three convenient locations: the Union and 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 off campus at the Kirksville Arts Association in downtown Kirksville. Any remaining tickets will be available the day of the event beginning 30 minutes before each performance.  
 
For more information about the Kohlenberg Lyceum Series, visit lyceum.truman.edu or contact the Advancement Office at 660.785.4133.

Truman’s profile on the list includes numerous quotes from various students that were surveyed by The Princeton Review. Students said they appreciate the just-right size of the University and that “student-professor relationships are great for mentoring purposes and for future networking opportunities.”

Additionally, Truman was included among the “2025 Best Colleges: Region by Region” web feature. This list honors universities across seven zones; Northeast, South, Southwest, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, West, and International, that The Princeton Review considers to be academically outstanding.

The Princeton Review’s full list for the best value colleges for 2025 can be found here.

After 14 seasons as head coach, Gregg Nesbitt (left) retired from Truman football earlier this year. Kellen Nesbitt, his son and a longtime member of the staff, will serve as the interim coach for the upcoming season. The Bulldogs begin play at home against the University of Findlay at 12 p.m. Sept. 7.

Legacies are earned, not awarded. Success comes from years of hard work and dedication few ever witness until the results are impossible to ignore. Gregg and Kellen Nesbitt exemplify this paradox in full. As one man hangs his hat on a coaching career that is the envy of many in the profession, the other is primed to step up and show how nearly two decades of preparation have him ready to lead one of the most successful programs in all of Division II football.  

Gregg Nesbitt came to campus in 1976 on a full-tuition academic scholarship. No one thought at the time he would become synonymous with the football program. He earned his spot on the team as a walk on, eventually becoming a two-time letterwinner and the squad’s leading rusher in his senior season. With degrees in physical education and sports administration, Nesbitt (’80, ’87) found coaching success first at the high school level in his hometown of Hannibal, Missouri. He led the Pirates for six years and was the school’s athletic director before returning to Truman in 1990 to serve on the staff of a team that made two NCAA playoff appearances. Nesbitt won a state championship in 2004 as head coach of Columbia’s Hickman High School where he coached for 13 years. He later returned to the college ranks at the University of Central Missouri, serving on staff with his son, Kellen, in 2007.

In 2010, Nesbitt got the call to be the next head coach of the Bulldogs. Not only was his first college head coaching job at his alma mater, it was one of the most successful programs in Division II, with a rich football history. Don Faurot – who would go on to lead the University of Missouri, where the football field now bears his name – first coached in Kirksville and developed the split-T offense that revolutionized the game. The Bulldogs had won the MIAA conference 26 times and sent well over a dozen program alumni to the NFL. Still, when Nesbitt arrived, the team was coming off a 10-year stretch with a .320 win percentage, and some began to wonder if the program’s best days were in the past.    

“The word on the street was we could no longer be successful because of the highly selective admissions process,” Nesbitt said. “We’d have to recruit a smaller pool of prospects and athletes. We had been in national playoffs in 1990 and ’92, after the mission change, so not only did I think we could do that, we already had.”

To return the program to prominence Nesbitt’s first hire was a bright, young assistant with a promising future – Kellen. During his playing days at UCM Kellen was a four-year letterwinner, racking up 120 career tackles and earning specials teams player of the year in 2004. He spent three years on the UCM staff as the defensive backs coach.

“He was wired for it,” Gregg said. “There wasn’t much of a question that this was going to be a chosen profession. He was going to be a lifer. It was just a matter of what path he set himself upon.”

Coaching is the Nesbitt family business as both of his sons have followed in Gregg’s footsteps. In addition to Kellen’s career in college, younger brother Ryan is a high school head coach in Jackson, Missouri. While the Nesbitts all share a love of the game, their philosophies are rooted in faith, family and one other key ingredient.

“One thing he’s done, other than being an excellent football coach, is he instilled the family value in both Ryan and I,” Kellen said. “While coaching is important, and while football is important, we are an incredibly competitive family. Come play spades with us one time, you’ll be uncomfortable.”

That competitive spirit helped the Nesbitts right the ship for the Truman program, and more importantly, they did not sacrifice academics or integrity to do it. The team was awarded the conference sportsmanship trophy seven times, and more than a third of the players earned Academic All-GLVC honors each year. Gregg leveraged the school’s academic reputation – the very thing doubters said would hinder the program – and turned it into a key recruiting component. He reminded his players there is “life after ball” and a Truman degree can set them up for long-term success. That pitch worked, as nearly 80% of prospective players who come for official visits end up signing with the Bulldogs.    

“There isn’t anyone, collegiately football-wise, that dreamed about playing in Kirksville, Missouri,” Gregg said. “They dreamed about playing at Notre Dame, or Missouri or USC, and the experience here is just as good, and often times when you throw in our competitiveness of a Truman degree – a 40-year decision, not a four-year – obviously, you’re not falling when you come here, and the kids have embraced that culture that’s here.”

After a few rebuilding years at the start of Gregg’s tenure, the team saw some of its most successful seasons ever, including four consecutive campaigns of nine wins or more, a first in program history. The 2016 team was a co-conference champion, the first league title for the Bulldogs in nearly 30 years. Gregg also led the team to three consecutive wins in the America’s Crossroads Bowl. He leaves as the second-longest tenured coach in University history and has a winning percentage above .600 to his credit.

Coaching is a grueling profession, and at the collegiate level there really is no off season. Between games, recruiting, conditioning, camps and managing the day-to-day affairs of a large team and staff, it takes a mental and physical toll. While Gregg still looks like he could lace ’em up and give the Bulldogs a few carries in a pinch, at 66 he’s ready to move on to his own “life after ball.” Having someone in place he knows made the decision a little easier.

“The current kids that we recruited, I don’t like them, I love them. When you’re going to turn it over to somebody, you better have great confidence in who that is because you want the continued culture, the consistency,” Gregg said. “There was a long period of time I don’t know if I could even visualize life after football. That’s not the case now.”

Regardless of the family connection, it would be a safe bet the next coach would come from the existing staff. In coaching circles, the success of a program can be measured in the breadth of a head coach’s “tree,” and Gregg’s tree has plenty of branches. This fall, in the GLVC alone, three programs will be led by one-time members of his staff. As Kellen gradually took on more responsibility over the last 17 years coaching with his father it became apparent he would be a head coach sooner or later.  

“He’s passed me up, football wise, about four or five years ago,” Gregg said. “He certainly had that itch and that was going to happen one way or the other, whether it was here or some other place. The decision to elevate Kellen to [interim] head coach, in my opinion, not because he’s my son, was the only way to go. Not because of us, we’re not even in the equation. I’m talking for the hundred kids that are currently participating in football and have represented Truman tremendously well, and will continue to.”

“For me, my whole coaching career had been with dad up to this point. You knew at some point there was going to be that kind of transition, so it didn’t feel maybe as weird as it looks or just as unique as it looks, because it’s not unique to me,” Kellen said. “For 17 years I’ve been working and been his assistant. It may sound unique, but it wasn’t for us, it was day to day. It’s what we do.”

The life of a coach is often nomadic, and it’s nearly unheard of for an assistant of Kellen’s caliber to stay on the same staff for so long. Under his leadership as the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach, the Bulldogs were one of the top units in the conference, finishing first or second in the GLVC in rushing yards and points allowed in nine of 11 seasons. He coached 82 players to all-conference defensive honors, including 34 first-team selections. As special teams coordinator the team excelled in all four aspects of the kicking game. The fact that Kellen chose to stay in Kirksville when offers that would have advanced his career came his way speaks volumes about the family connection and culture at Truman.

“It’s been really good to be able to be this established in one community,” he said. “Now I have not just the coaching community here at Truman, or the Truman community, but there are people all over Kirksville now that are friends of the family. It’s been really good from that standpoint, and I’ve enjoyed that.”

Just like when his father took over the program, there may be an adjustment period for Kellen. From additional responsibilities associated with being the coach, to dealing with roster turnover as extended pandemic eligibility runs out, to coaches being poached by other schools, Kellen will have his work cut out for him. Nevertheless, he is confident in his ability and ready to do a job he’s been preparing for his entire adult life.

“I am excited on the next step up on just the increased chance for impact and influence. I’m trying not to take it for granted and trying to do something with it as we’re moving forward,” he said. “If we don’t have success early, we’ll keep working and figure it out and find a way to be successful out there.”

Gregg will always be a resource for his son, but Bulldog fans shouldn’t expect to see him in the stands every Saturday. With more time at his disposal, he plans to see some of Ryan’s games. He also has to be ready for whatever wife Jackie has in store for him.   

“My wife, she’s really the head coach. She already has her schedule planned,” Gregg said. “I’ve been so blessed. I tell our players all the time, I hope you’re as fortunate as I’ve been. I’m getting a little emotional as I say it, but there’s a little sadness from not being able to travel and do some of the things, and hopefully God will let me live long enough that we can still do that.”

Some of the more extensive travel plans may still have to wait, at least for a few more years. The day after Gregg retired from Truman, the head coaching job came open at Kirksville High School. Although he wasn’t looking to jump back into the game, Kellen’s son Blake is a freshman this fall. The opportunity to deepen another family connection and make a difference in the lives of more young people was too good to let pass. Based on all the text messages, calls and emails he gets from former players around the holidays or Father’s Day, Gregg knows what a difference a coach can make in someone’s life. There is something in it for him too.

“This has been an impactful profession,” he said. “I am doing exactly, in my opinion, what I was created to do. This will be my 45th year and I feel like I’ve never worked a day in my life. The kids keep me young.”

Jacobs is a sophomore double major studying political science and international relations, as well as criminal justice, with a focus on law and society. He is also pursuing a legal studies minor. He served on Student Government’s external affairs and parking appeals committees and is the health and wellness chair of Sigma Phi Epsilon. He is also a member of the Jewish Student Union and the Mock Trial program.

Jacobs was appointed to the Board in August 2024.

Sponsored by the Academic Professional Development Center, these awards recognize a teaching practice or curricular program that is especially effective and/or innovative.

Ben and Megan Batzer collaborated on Generative AI in Pre-Professional Coursework. They encouraged students to think about the role GenAI will play in their futures and designed projects in which students worked collaboratively to explore the technology.

In her essay Learning by Using AI Generated Infographics, Fatima highlighted the process students used in the writing enhanced capstone nursing research course.

 
Health Sciences has planned a series wellness events targeted to faculty and staff.
 
Based on feedback forms, a five-session series will begin Sept. 12. Each session is focused on a different area of wellness – physical, relational, intellectual, financial, and spiritual. These sessions will be limited to 25 individuals (faculty and staff), and each session will be about an hour of educational content mixed with fun activities.
 
For staff members with permission from their supervisors, wellness classes could be part of the workday. For more details regarding dates and times, click here.
 
For those who would enjoy more wellness activities there will be other events scattered throughout the fall semester. These will provide a fun way to connect with others in the Truman community while still fostering healthy, wellness patterns. In addition, activity calendars focused on various aspects of wellness will be available throughout the semester.
 

Student Government is looking for students from all majors that are passionate about change on campus to participate in fall elections.

Students interested in serving should visit senate.truman.edu/Elections to view the election handbook. In the handbook, potential candidates will find the required forms needed, the timeline of the election and much more. Candidates should also take a look at the official documents available.
 
The filing deadline for students to run is 5 p.m. Sept. 6. Candidates also need to attend one general body meeting, virtually or in person, to be eligible for the ballot.

Voting will take place from 8 a.m. Sept. 9 to 4 p.m. Sept. 13. Students should stop by the Student Government Office during the week of elections for a chance to receive a free $5 voucher for a drink at Einstein Bros. Bagels or Starbucks. The office is located in the Student Union Building down under.

Contact stugovelectionsadmin@truman.edu with any questions.

United Speakers is a student-based volunteer organization that works with the French and Spanish speaking communities of Kirksville. They will host an interest meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 5 in Baldwin Hall 219. United Speakers is a great way for students to get teaching experience with opportunities to speak with native speakers.

Lesson planning takes place at 7 p.m. Thursdays in Baldwin Hall 219 and 5:30 p.m. Sundays in Baldwin Hall 212. Email unitedspeakerstruman@gmail.com for more information.

A start-up founder and investor based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sumter (’10) graduated from Truman with a degree in computer science. He received his master’s degree in technology policy from MIT where he researched using cellphones as a sensor platform to study social dynamics and human behavior. Sumter co-founded Behavio, a mobile sensing company acquired by Google in 2013. He has since led product teams at Google, Facebook and Uber.

While at Truman, Sumter was involved in the astronomy research program, working on and leading several projects at the Truman Observatory and Lowell Observatory, studying both near-Earth asteroids and Delta Scuti stars in eclipsing binary systems. In addition, he served for three years as the student representative on Truman’s Board of Governors and was a member of the University Foundation Board.

The History Society is hosting an informational event on museum and archive internships at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 11 in Baldwin Hall 219. Jason McDonald, assistant professor of history, will outline the museum and archive internship opportunities available to Truman students. He will also explain how to submit applications and earn academic credit for internship placements.

 
Truman students have the opportunity to earn one credit hour by teaching English to elementary and middle school students in Taiwan through Zoom.
 
The course, “CML 200: Taiwan Connect” (CRN: 6112), is a service-learning experience that begins in the second block of the semester. Classes will take place every Monday evening in Baldwin Hall 309, starting Oct. 14. Before Nov. 3, the class will meet from 6:30-8 p.m., and after Nov. 3, the time will change to 5:30-7 p.m. The only requirement for participation is that students must be native English speakers.
 
Students enrolled in 12-16 credit hours can take CML 200 at no additional cost. For more information or an override to enroll in this course, contact Zhijun “David” Wen, assistant professor of Chinese, at zwen@truman.edu or in McClain Hall 313.

• a US Citizen
• a resident of the state, or attending a college or university in Missouri (students may not register to vote in both your home state and Missouri)
• 17 ½ years of age to register and 18 years of age by election day registered to vote on or before Oct. 9 to vote in the Nov. 5 election

• Students may register to vote in Adair County (the county where Truman located) and vote in person at their local polling precinct on election day.
• Students may request an absentee ballot in their registered county. Registration for an absentee ballot is usually open six weeks before election day. Ballots are due back to the county clerk’s office before the election. Absentee ballots in Missouri require notary service. There are notaries on campus to assist students in the Business Office in McClain Hall and in the Department of Public Safety in the General Services Building. A picture ID is required for notary service.     
• Students may vote absentee in person in their registered county at the county clerk’s office up to 5 p.m. the night before the election.  This is for voters who will not be able to vote in person at their regular precinct the day of the election.

Voters should contact the county clerk’s office in the county in which they are registered if they would like additional information regarding this year’s election. Be sure to allow plenty of time before the election to meet the voting deadlines.