Vol. 29 No. 13 - November 11, 2024

Taggart is the chief financial officer for Toyota Material Handling North America, president of Raymond Leasing, chairman of Toyota Industries Commercial Finance U.S., chairman of Toyota Industries Commercial Finance Canada and chairman of Toyota Industries Lease Mexico. In his various executive leadership roles at Toyota, he partners with the executive leadership team to shape the strategy of TMHNA’s major group companies — Toyota Material Handling and The Raymond Corporation — from his offices in Coppell, Texas, Columbus, Indiana, and Greene, New York.  

In 1995, Taggart graduated with a business administration degree from Truman. While in school, he was a member of Blue Key, Alpha Phi Sigma, Big Brother/Big Sisters and served as a Residence Life advisor. His wife Melissa (Wines) Taggart also graduated from Truman in 1995 with a health science degree and is now a technical consultant for MSS Consultants. They have two daughters and a son, Sarah, Grace and Benjamin. Grace graduated from Truman in 2023 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree and works as a women’s oncology nurse in Phoenix, Arizona, for Mayo Clinic Hospital.
Taggart will visit Truman from Nov. 20-21. During his time on campus, he will present a fireside chat titled “American Industrial Renaissance” at 4 p.m. Nov. 20 in Violette Hall 1000.

The north side of Ophelia Parrish is the location of the newest – albeit, temporary – student-created art project.
 
This semester, students in Printmaking I, II and III have participated in a wheat-pasting project. In this style, paper artwork is installed on a surface with a liquid adhesive made from wheat flour and water. Because it is versatile and temporary, the practice used to be a popular way to display posters and other public signage. Laura Naioti, associate professor of art, had her students experiment with wheat-pasting after using it herself on a smaller scale in some spots around Kirksville.
 
The wheat-paste art on Ophelia Parrish was installed in mid-October. The project required large linoleum blocks, as well as large rolls of mulberry paper, and was made possible through funding from the Art Department. Along with adding a splash of beauty to campus, the project’s accessibility categorizes it as street art.
 
“Street art is considered to be community-oriented because a viewer does not need to enter an art space to be greeted with the art,” Naioti said.
 
As for the aesthetic of the work, the class brainstormed a concept together and decided to depict fauna that is native to Missouri, and to include other elements that relate to the food chain on either side of the depicted creatures.
 
“We also tried to incorporate a decorative design element that would make the images look good if tiled in a repeat pattern of the same image or tiled together,” Naioti said. “I encouraged students to consider negative space, texture and contrast reversal in their imagery. Ultimately, we wanted to celebrate native fauna and ecosystems in an accessible way.”
 
Anyone interested in viewing the art should do so sooner, rather than later. Because the wheat-paste mixture is water soluble, this installation is intended to be temporary and is subject to the elements. There may be more wheat-paste projects popping up beyond campus in the future. Naioti is in conversation with some local building owners to do similar projects in the community.  
 
“I particularly want to paste the imagery downtown in Kirksville to bring some vibrancy and add art to the townscape,” she said.

This week hundreds of donated items will be marked with distinctive purple tags in honor of Tag Day.

Each year, generous donors give back to Truman. Their donations help make the Truman experience possible. Established in 2013, Tag Day shows appreciation to these donors and raises awareness of how they impact day-to-day life at Truman.

In celebration of Tag Day, the Office of Advancement will give away free hot chocolate and cookies from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 12 in the Doug and Diane Villhard Innovation Lab in Pickler Memorial Library. Additionally special boards will be located in Starbucks in the Pickler Memorial Library and the entrance to the Baldwin Auditorium throughout the week. Prizes are available for individuals who scan the QR code and share information about themselves and their Truman experience.

The 34th Annual Philosophy and Religion Conference will take place from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 16 in Baldwin Hall 114.

At 1:30 p.m., Josh Mund, assistant professor of philosophy and religion, will deliver the keynote address titled, “Speciesism Reconsidered: Do We Have Stronger Moral Obligations to Other Human Beings Because They Are Members of Our Species?” Mund is a new Truman faculty member and an ethicist whose research focuses on human interactions with animals. In recent years, he has written about defenses of humane animal agriculture, especially the view that farm animals would not exist without the practice of animal agriculture. His current projects investigate whether death – if it is free from pain – can be bad for animals, and whether pet owners should be morally troubled by the origin of their pets’ food.

During the conference students from Truman and other universities will present original papers from a variety of topics in philosophy and religion. This event is free and open to the public. Visit phre.truman.edu and select “Philosophy and Religion Conference” for the conference schedule and more information.

 
Students, faculty and staff that have signed up to receive Truman emergency alert text notifications will get a TruAlert text and email message letting them know it is a test. Those that have not signed up for emergency text messaging can do so through TruView.
 
Sign in to TruView and click on the “Everyday Tools” tab. Click the “Update Emergency Text Messaging Information” under “Update and View My Personal Information” (lower right screen). A maximum of three phones can be registered to receive texts. Confirm information in the same manner.
 
In addition to text and email messages, an emergency alert will be displayed on all Truman computer systems (Windows and Mac) where the Alertus software has been installed. This should include nearly all workstations on campus. There will also be alerts sent to digital signs in Violette Hall, Magruder Hall, Ophelia Parrish and Health Sciences, to the Truman channel on the cable TVs in residence halls, and to classrooms with the Truman touch-pad control system installed.

Based in Austria, the Vienna Boys’ Choir is composed of sopranos and altos between the ages of nine and 14. They 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.
 
Tickets are available now and can be picked up downtown at the Kirksville Arts Association. Tickets are also available on campus at 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.
 
Any remaining tickets will be available the day of the event beginning 30 minutes before the performance.  
 
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.
 
For more information about the Kohlenberg Lyceum Series, visit lyceum.truman.edu or contact the Advancement Office at 660.785.4133.

The program will feature works by Samuel Barber, Brian Blume, Viet Cuong and Victor Marquez-Barrios, associate professor of music. The latter will be a work written for the Truman Percussion Ensemble, commissioned by the Missouri Music Teachers Association, and premiered Nov. 9 at the University of Missouri’s Sinquefield Music Center in Columbia.

The ensemble is directed by Michael Bump, professor of music and director of percussion studies. Admission is free. For more information, contact Bump at mbump@truman.edu.

An informational session about gifted education will take place from 4-4:30 p.m. Nov. 12 via Zoom. This session will be led by Jeanne Harding, director of graduate studies and advisor for gifted education. She will discuss Truman’s gifted education program as well as teaching certification requirements. The webinar is free and anyone interested can register here.

An informational session about data science and analytic storytelling will take place at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in Baldwin Hall Little Theatre and via Zoom. During this info session, Kaytee Wood, a current graduate student, will share insights about her experience in the data science program and career opportunities. Hyun-Joo Kim, director of data science, will discuss the program and help students decide if it is the right fit for them. Stephanie Wilson, graduate admissions counselor, will provide information regarding the application for admission process. Five-dollar drink coupons for Starbucks or Einstein Bros. Bagels will be distributed to those able to attend the event in person.

Hill is a biotech entrepreneur and currently founder and CEO of NanAby, which is developing new technology to catalyze captured CO2 into permanent and useful products. Previously, she founded and sold an award-winning company, Spot On Sciences, that developed medical devices to allow a blood sample to be taken at home with a finger stick.  

All totaled, Hill has more than 20 years of experience in research and management positions in small and large companies, working on preclinical drug testing and pharmaceutical research. She received a Ph.D. in bio-organic chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis and has published research in protein engineering, liver disease and diabetes. Hill is originally from Palmyra, Missouri, and graduated from Truman with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry in 1984.

As part of the Ofstad Visiting Scholar Program, alumna Christine Knapp will present a lecture at 12 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Student Union Building Conference Room 3000.

Knapp is a seasoned linguist and Truman alumna who has applied her expertise in a variety of fields, from public education to tech and human resources. During her time at an HR tech startup, she crafted and implemented natural language processing rules to reduce recruitment bias and increase candidate pool quality in published job descriptions. She also constructed proprietary taxonomies to help data scientists better understand labor market and hiring trends. Before pivoting to the tech industry, Knapp used her linguistics knowledge as a public-school teacher to better serve her K-12 ESOL students.

In her lecture Knapp will explore how linguistic expertise is shaping roles in taxonomy, data science, natural language processing, product management and user experience. She will demystify the linguistic job title in tech and share practical tips for navigating the job market. She will also discuss how to decode job descriptions and apply linguistic skills in today’s evolving tech landscape.

 
The Truman Theatre season will continue with the quirky, edgy musical, “Ride the Cyclone,” Nov. 15-17.
 
Six teen chamber choir members meet their fate on a doomed roller coaster ride. In limbo, a mechanical fortune teller offers them a chance to return to life. As they face their fate, each character reveals their dreams, regrets and unique stories through catchy tunes and dark humor. This cult hit blends comedy, tragedy and enchantment, leaving audiences laughing, reflecting and feeling great about life.
 
Music, lyrics and book for “Ride the Cyclone” are by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell. A fairly new work, the final version of the script was completed in 2023, and the show has developed a cult following on TikTok. Truman’s production is under the direction of student director Regan Bohanan.
 
Performances of “Ride the Cyclone” will take place in the Severns Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15-16, along with a matinee at 2 p.m. Nov. 17. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at boxoffice.truman.edu or at the theatre prior to each performance. For more information, contact boxoffice@truman.edu.

Women’s Resource Center is hosting a Transgender Day of Remembrance: Candlelight Vigil at 6 p.m. Nov. 20 on the Kirk Memorial stairs. Tabling for the event will take place from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 13, 18 and 19 at the Student Union Building.

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an annual observance on Nov. 20 that honors the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. TDOR was started in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. The vigil commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence since Hester’s death, and began an important tradition that has become the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.

The candlelight vigil allows Truman students to participate to honor all those transgender people whose lives were lost to anti-transgender violence that year, and learn about the violence affecting the transgender community. Transgender Awareness Week takes place the week before Transgender Day of Remembrance and brings attention to the transgender community. Transgender people and their allies educate about who transgender people are, share their stories, and advocate about issues of prejudice, discrimination and violence that affect the transgender community.

The program is looking to recruit undergraduate student applicants for a competitive, paid, 10-week fellowship in the summer of 2025. Fellows will be placed in an arts administration role at an area nonprofit, from fields such as education/programming, development/fundraising, marketing and communications, management, curatorial and more. The program is seeking student applicants from many fields of study.

Students interested in living on campus during the 2025-2026 school year can now make arrangements to do so.

Living on campus provides students with a built-in community of peers, in addition to offering a variety of amenities. All campus residence halls feature furnished rooms, access to laundry facilities and a meal plan. On-campus residents also have all of their utility costs included in the price of their room. More information about applying to live on campus for the 2025-2026 academic year can be found online here.

“Students who live on campus perform better academically because of the close connections to fellow students that develop,” said Jamie Van Boxel, director of residence life. “It is also more convenient to focus on your academics when you are close to your classrooms, study areas, labs and performance spaces. Having an on-campus meal plan makes it easy to eat a well-balanced meal without taking the time to shop for groceries, prepare meals and do the dishes. When you compare housing options side by side, living on campus has value when it comes to the conveniences, flexibilities and supportive environment offered to residents living on campus. Successful students often find that living on campus was part of their success in college.”

There are many on-campus living options to choose from, including single-, double- and triple-occupancy residence hall rooms and single- and double-occupancy apartments available in Campbell. Upperclass students can select deluxe double residence hall rooms or a deluxe double apartment in Campbell. Deluxe double residence hall rooms offer more living space at the same price as a standard double room. Deluxe double apartments allow each roommate to have their own private bedroom in a shared apartment. Deluxe double spaces are limited and upperclass students who apply for housing and follow the room self-selection timeline outlined on the website will have priority in being able to select deluxe accommodations while supplies last.
 
“Returning students living on campus have more options than a first-year student because returning students self-select their room earlier,” Van Boxel said. “Returning students can group up with their friends to take over a section of a residence hall or a group of apartments in Campbell. Returning students also have the opportunity to live in larger rooms or in an on-campus apartment with more space with a roommate of their choosing.”

The housing portal is open now and can be accessed through TruView. Room selection will take place in the spring semester. Questions about the housing process can be directed to Residence Life at 660.785.4227 or reslife@truman.edu.

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.

MFA is one of the most effective ways to ensure the person logging into a student account is who they say they are. Once the system goes live later this fall, students will be required to identify themselves with a one-time password received via email, text or mobile app each time they log in to their account. If they do not have a security profile, they will be prompted to create one and enroll in MFA.

• Authentication app (preferred): The user gets a time-sensitive code from an app like Google Authentication, Microsoft Authentication or Authy. Authentication apps are the most secure and popular options, especially since many use biometrics to log in for extra security.
• SMS code: The system texts a one-time passcode to the user’s mobile phone.
• Email code: A one-time code is emailed to the user.

Truman recommends creating both a primary and backup profile to receive passcodes.

An email will be sent out to students and authorized users once the system goes live.

Burden was recognized for the second year in a row as a top five presenter at the conference. His presentation this year focused on how Truman Residence Life works to better connect students to their communities and the institution through expanded use of creative branding in the residence halls. This includes nearly 25 years of utilizing hall mascots and colors during Truman Week and beyond. The presentation highlighted a creative partnership between Residence Life, Publications and Student Engagement staff at Truman. Burden presented a second session with assessment firm Elentra on strategies for successful assessment of residence life operations.