Vol. 29 No. 9 - October 14, 2024

 
The annual North Star Music Festival is scheduled for Oct. 18-19.
 
Sponsored by the Music Department and Truman’s chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, this contemporary music festival is highlighted by a newly composed piece for a Truman ensemble.
 
“Every year we commission a new work from a nationally renowned composer,” said Victor Marquez-Barrios, Music Department chair and associate professor of music, theory and composition. “We bring that composer to campus to rehearse with our students and faculty, and to work on the performance of that new piece.”
 
This year, composer Grace Baugher has written a piece for Wind Symphony I. A horn player and music educator from Kansas City, Baugher’s music is known for its memorable melodies and highlights emotional aspects of the human experience. Her works have an international presence and have been performed at many colleges and conferences across the country.
 
The North Star Music Festival will begin at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall with an opening concert by the Bardin-Niskala Duo, who perform cello and piano works by under-represented and historically marginalized composers. This performance will feature works commissioned as part of the duo’s project of Celebrating Identity Through Music.
 
A recital of modern music by Truman students will take place at 2 p.m. Oct. 19 in Ophelia Parrish 2350.
 
At 3 p.m. Oct. 19 in Opehelia Parrish 2340, Bardin-Niskala will participate in “How Music Can Encourage Empathy and Understanding: the Bardin-Niskala Duo’s Commissioning Project,” a discussion reading the duo’s commissioning project.
 
Truman faculty members will participate in a recital at 4 p.m. Oct. 19 in Ophelia Parrish 2350. Those schedule to perform include: Julianna Moore, flute; Elaine AuBuchon, oboe; Ruoyang Xiang, piano; Jesse Krebs, clarinet; Terri Wehmeyer, euphonium; Jill Phillips, voice; Patricia Mickey, French horn; and Kihwa Kim, piano.
 
The North Star Music Festival will conclude with a concert at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall. Baugher’s piece, “Viridis” for Wind Symphony I, premiere concert will also include performances by Cantoria, Voci, the Truman Horn Choir, Percussion Ensemble, the SAI Chorale, and Uncommon Practice.
 
Admission for the North Star Music Festival is free, and the event is open to the public. A livestream will be available at youtube.com/@trumanmusicconcerts/streams. For more information, visit nsmf.truman.edu.

 
This time last year, the Greenwood Interprofessional Autism Center began accepting new client inquiries from individuals, family members and guardians of those who could benefit from the center’s services. Greenwood started seeing clients in February 2024 for assessments and began therapy sessions in April. As the Greenwood Interprofessional Autism Center serves clients, staff members have already seen the impact the facility can make in a client’s life.
 
“We have seen children who are non-verbal find ways to communicate with their families or gain independence by being able to master tasks that seemed unattainable to them not that long ago,” said Dr. Maryellen Koch Jensen, Greenwood director. “That type of progress can make a real difference in the quality of life for our clients and families.”
 
Today, the Greenwood Interprofessional Autism Center is fully staffed and employs three Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) and 12 Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT) and is looking to hire additional professionals. Depending on the needs of each client, services may address social, communication, restrictive and/or repetitive behaviors, as well as customized support plans.
 
“When addressing spectrum disorders, there is not a one-size-fits-all approach that we can just plug in and expect results,” Jensen said. “We have been very purposeful in determining what services are needed and how we can best meet the needs of those individuals.”
 
In order to meet a wide range of client needs, the Greenwood Interprofessional Autism Center is equipped with therapy rooms, sensory rooms, an art room and a social skills area, along with functional therapy rooms and a large recreation room.
 
Recently, the center added an outdoor playground facility. Due to the nature of the work conducted at Greenwood, the playground is reserved for clients receiving treatment from the center.
 
Greenwood continues to accept clients with an autism diagnosis and is working toward providing autism diagnosis services. Currently, clients range in age from children as young as three to college-age young adults.
 
“Spectrum disorders can present in a variety of ways,” Jensen said. “Anyone who suspects they or their loved one might be neurodivergent should consider filling out our intake form to see if services we provide might be right for them.”
 
New patient inquires can be submitted to GreenwoodIntake@truman.edu or by calling 660.785.7551. Additional information is also available at greenwood.truman.edu.

 
Truman’s Student Activity Board will host a Trunk-or-Treat event from 5:30-7 p.m. Oct. 16 in the parking lot located at the southwest corner of Franklin and Patterson streets. Several different campus organizations will be on hand to pass out candy.
 
Following the Trunk-or-Treat, SAB will also host a drive-in movie screening of the 1996 film “Scream” in the parking lot. Ground seating is available, and attendees are welcome to bring chairs and blankets. This film is rated R.
 
The University Farm will host the annual Haunted Corn Maze from 7-10 p.m. Oct. 17 and 8 p.m.-12 a.m. Oct. 18-19. Tickets are $7. There will be a free kids’ day featuring games throughout the maze from 1-3 p.m. Oct. 20. The University Farm is located on S. Boundary Street near LaHarpe Street. This event is sponsored by Sigma Alpha, along with Alpha Gamma Rho, Beta Beta Beta and the Pre-Vet Club.
 

Recipients must be enrolled full-time during the term of the scholarship to receive the full amount. Applications can be submitted and revised at any time prior to the Oct. 16 deadline. To apply, log in to TruView, go to the Student Tab, Scholarships, Financial Aid & Loans then Foundation Scholarship Application.

These scholarships are available thanks to the private gifts of alumni and friends of the University.

 
In honor of National Arbor Day, there will be a tree-planting ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at the southwest corner of McClain Hall.
 
Representatives from Truman and the Missouri Department of Conservation will plant a decorative Service Berry tree. Truman typically plants trees on Arbor Day in April. Due to potential damage to spring plantings from cicadas, this year’s ceremony was postponed until the fall semester.
 
Through its cost share program with Missouri Department of Conservation and local forester Yvette Amerman, Truman recently planted 15 other new trees on campus. All totaled, Truman has more than 1,700 trees across campus and has been recognized as a Tree Campus USA and Tree Campus Higher Education school by the Arbor Day Foundation since 2014.
 
This event is free and open to the public.

The 14th annual Communications Disorders conference will take place from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 8 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room.

Hosted by the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) and the Communication Disorders program, this event is a workshop for speech-language pathologists, general education teachers, special education teachers, reading specialists and anyone interested in learning about phonological processing. This year’s conference will feature Jennifer Brodell as the keynote speaker.

Brodell provides individual and group therapy services to a variety of pediatric clients from birth to young adulthood and serves on the board for the Autism Society of Iowa where she acts as the department’s interprofessional education liaison to the university. Her primary area of clinical focus is pediatric speech and language disorders with an emphasis on autism spectrum disorders. A secondary area of clinical focus is interprofessional practice. She participates in several interdisciplinary diagnostic clinics for autism evaluations and leads an interdisciplinary therapeutic group for parents of young children with autism.

Brodell’s first talk of the day from 8:45-10:15 a.m. will focus on “Models of Effective Outpatient Autism Evaluations.” Her second talk will take place from 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. on “Applying Interprofessional to Early Intervention Approaches in Autistic Populations.” The conference will end with her discussion on “Supporting Autistic Kids’, Teens’, and Young Adults’ Access and Participation Through Interprofessional Practice Models” from 1-3 p.m.

A registration fee of $75 for professionals, $20 for graduate students and $15 for undergraduate students will be collected at the door. RSVP here.

The 34th Annual Philosophy and Religion Conference will take place Nov. 16 in Baldwin Hall 114.

Students can now submit papers to be featured at the conference. The submission deadline is Oct. 16. Papers from any area of philosophy and/or religious studies are welcome. This may include fields such as classics, anthropology and others. Papers should be no longer than 25 minutes reading time (approximately eight-10 pages). A review panel of Truman undergraduates will select the program. If a paper is selected, the author will be asked to provide a 100-word abstract upon acceptance of the invitation to present.

Papers should be submitted to Chad Mohler, professor of philosophy and religion, with the subject line: Undergraduate Philosophy and Religion Conference. Students should separate all identifying information, including name and school, from the body of the paper in either format – include this information only in the body of the email. The title of the paper should be listed in both documents.

 
Five distinguished alumni will return to Truman for the next installment of the Chuck and Sherri Woods TRU-Biz Forum at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 16 in Violette Hall 1000.
 
The alumni presenters will draw on their personal experiences to discuss opportunities in finance, accounting, supply chain, banking, sales/marketing and executive-level management. Students who are interested in business, but who may not know what area to pursue, are particularly encouraged to attend.
 
As a successful sales/business professional Rod Cooper (’88) retired at the age of 49 to manage his real estate holdings and help others achieve their dreams. He is now the owner of RKCC Real Estate Holdings. Prior to retiring in 2015, Cooper was managing director for a national accounting and business consulting firm. He was responsible for new client development, growing the firm’s public awareness, and sales consulting with companies on top-line growth and management-related issues. Cooper’s business roles have included president/owner, entrepreneur, managing director, vice president of sales, vice president of operations, director of sales and branch manager. He was named to the Top 100 People to Know in St. Louis Small Business Monthly in 2011 and was the 2008 Truman State University Business Alumnus of the Year.
 
Ed Dehner (’00) earned a bachelor’s in finance at Truman, followed by an MBA from St. Louis University. He began his career at First Bank as a credit analyst and became a vice president in corporate banking. In 2009, he joined CIBC Bank USA as a managing director of the Midwest Regional Commercial Banking group. Dehner serves on the board of directors for STL Partnership, an economic development agency serving St. Louis City and County. Additionally, he is an advisory board member for Eagle Private Capital (Funds III, IV and V), which is a private debt and equity fund making investments in lower middle market companies.  
 
Doug James (’86) earned a degree in criminal justice at Truman and furthered his education with an MBA from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Following graduation, he was an associate purchasing manager for McDonnell Douglas Missile System Company. From there, he became a director of purchasing at Monsanto, where he had a series of leadership roles locally and globally through the transition to Bayer and for the remainder of his career. James retired as head of strategy and supply for large scale herbicides for Bayer.
 
Greg Meier (’89) graduated from Truman with degrees in accounting and finance. He began his career at Ernst & Young (now EY) as an audit senior/CPA and then embarked on a 15-year career at Correctional Medical Services (currently Corizon) as vice president of operations. After two years in senior leadership roles with Express Scripts, he joined Mercy (Roi), serving more than 10 years in vice president, CFO and general manager roles. Meier also has experience as a COO with HealthTrust Performance Group. Most recently, he established Peak Organization Performance, LLC, which helps organizations optimize their short- and long-term performance. He serves as CFO, COO, advisory board member and/or partner for multiple health care organizations in the St. Louis area.  
 
Barbara Witte (’83) earned a degree in accounting from Truman, followed by an MBA from Webster University and a CPA certificate from the state of Missouri. In a 40-year career she has occupied a number of roles ranging from accounting manager to CEO. Witte served as state CEO in the managed care industry for both WellCare (now Centene) and Coventry Health Care (now Aetna). Currently, she owns and operates a consulting business specializing in managed care operations and finance. Witte was honored as an Alumni Fellow in 2023.
 
After the speakers’ presentations, there will be time reserved for a question-and-answer sessions followed by 30-45 minutes allocated for networking with students. In addition to the forum, the speakers will meet with students in select classes, Oct. 17.
 
The TRU-Biz Forum is made possible by the Chuck and Sherri Woods Endowment for Business Excellence at Truman. The fund was established by alumni Charles H. “Chuck” and Sherri Woods as part of generous support of Truman.

 
Applications for FAC spring 2025 funding are due by 5 p.m. Nov. 5. No late applications will be accepted. Applications can be found here. Once an application is received, FAC will reach out with a hearing sign-up for organizations to fill out. Hearings will take place at 5 p.m. Nov. 6-7. Final funding notifications will be made the week of Nov. 10 and the public slate will be posted to the FAC website after groups have been notified.

The annual Sigma Alpha Haunted Corn Maze will take place at the University Farm on the following dates. A free kid’s day filled with fun games throughout the corn maze will take place from 1-3 p.m. Oct. 20. Tickets are $7 at the gate or $5 with a student ID.

Oct. 17
7-10 p.m.

Oct. 18
8 p.m.-12 a.m.

Oct. 19

 
As part of the Ofstad Visiting Scholar Program, prize-winning author Dr. Janet Sylvester will read selections of her work at 7 p.m. Oct. 17 in Ophelia Parrish 2210.
 
Sylvester will share from her earlier books of poetry, “That Mulberry Wine,” “And Not to Break” and “The Mark of Flesh.” She will also read selections from her book-in-progress, “Color-Wheel.”
 
Currently the associate director of the low-residency undergraduate program at Goddard College in Vermont, Sylvester has taught creative and expository writing at Harvard University, Old Dominion University, Ohio University and Endicott College, among others. From Oct. 14-18, she will teach a creative writing course at Truman. “At the Edge: Hybrid Writing,” will explore newer literary forms such as the lyric essay, prose poetry and flash fiction.
 
Sylvester’s poems have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, including Best American Poetry, Pushcart Prize XXVIII, Colorado Review, Triquarterly and Boulevard Harvard Review. In 2018, her work was nominated for the 2018 Rome Prize at the American Academy in Rome.
 
This event is free and open to the public.

A mainstay of campus life at Truman will take center stage during Homecoming Week activities, Oct. 21-26.

The theme for this year’s homecoming is “Squirrel Scouts” and all money raised will go to the Pantry for Adair County (PAC).

Homecoming apparel is now available for purchase online. Short sleeve shirts are $10 and long sleeve shirts are $15. Orders will be available for pick up from the Union & Involvement Services Office (SUB 2000) Oct. 21.

For information as it becomes available, follow @trumanstatehomecoming on Instagram.

The fall 2024 Celebration of Faculty Scholarship event will take place from 3-5 p.m. Oct. 18 in Kirk Memorial.

This event is designed for faculty members to share recent scholarship, research or creative activity with colleagues from across the campus in a casual, conversation-oriented atmosphere. Attendees will be able to browse posters, articles, artwork and other artifacts of scholarship, research and creative activity in a leisurely manner. This is also a great opportunity to hear from colleagues who have returned from sabbatical.

An information meeting for the May 2025, AFR 300: Conservation and Management of Large African Mammals class will take place from 4-5 p.m. Oct. 20 in Magruder Hall 2034.

This class is led by Stephanie Fore, professor of biology, and is open to all majors that are passionate about wildlife and want to experience conservation in action. The course includes 11 days in South Africa. Students will receive 10 days of hands-on work and instruction with Parawild Safari operating in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The course will also include a tour of Kruger National Park, one of the largest wildlife reserves in Africa.

An elevator pitch outlines the concept or idea for a product, service or project in a short period of time, typically from 30 seconds to three minutes. The length of the pitch mirrors the time spent waiting for and riding an elevator in a high-rise building. The purpose of the pitch is to spur the interest of a potential investor or financial backer.

Bulldog B.I.T.E., which stands for Business Innovation by Truman Entrepreneurs, is open to any Truman student, or team of students up to three members, enrolled during the fall semester. Additionally, students enrolled in the fall semester at Moberly Area Community College are eligible to participate. Six teams will be selected to attend a live pitch competition Nov. 14 to present their concept to a panel of judges. Submissions can be made here until 10 p.m. Oct. 25.

In conjunction with Bulldog B.I.T.E., an elevator pitch contest for area high school students will take place the same day. Bulldog Pitch Day is open to any high school student or team of students up to three members. The first round is scheduled for the morning of Nov. 14, with the finals taking place later in the day in the Student Union Building. Submissions can be made here until 10 p.m. Oct. 25.

The top three finalists for Bulldog B.I.T.E. will receive financial awards: first place will receive the Amanda Gioia Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award of $3,000, second place will receive $2,000 and third place will receive $1,000. The top three finalists for Bulldog Pitch Day will also receive financial awards: first place will receive $500, second place will receive $300 and third place will receive $200.

 
People who reserved a tailgate spot in advance will be granted early access to the lot and admitted ahead of the post-parade crowd. Those who wish to reserve a spot can register here. Non-reserved space at the tailgate will be first-come, first-served at the event. Those attending should review the Homecoming Tailgate Policies prior to the event.
 
The tailgate begins at 11 a.m. and runs until 1:45 p.m. The Bulldogs will take on McKendree University at 2 p.m. at Stokes Stadium.
 
Questions regarding this event can be directed to bulldogforever@truman.edu. More information about Homecoming activities can be found at homecoming.truman.edu or truman.edu/alumni-donors/events/homecoming.

Any coeducational postsecondary institution that participates in the Federal student financial assistance programs and has an intercollegiate athletic program is required by section 485(g) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C. 1092(g) (also known as the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act, or EADA) to prepare a report containing information regarding intercollegiate athletics. The EADA Report discloses athletic program participation rates and financial support data for a 12-month period and must be made available to students, prospective students and the public. Data is available to the public at consumerinformation.truman.edu/athletics and ope.ed.gov/athletics, or upon request a paper copy will be provided.

Residence Life is looking for students who will create welcoming environments, develop connections with on-campus residents and foster a learning-centered community to apply as resident advisors for the 2025-26 school year. Resident advisors will have their room and meal fees fully covered.

Anyone enrolled in classes, who has lived on campus for at least one semester and maintained a 2.75 GPA, is qualified to apply. The application is open now until Jan. 14. Visit reslife.truman.edu or email reslife@truman.edu for more information.

• 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.  

AGSC 490 practicum class is working to create a community supported agriculture project for students, faculty and staff at Truman. By subscribing to the CSA, students and Truman affiliates would receive a weekly box of vegetables and herbs which would help support the farm and Truman community. A survey for this project can be completed here.