Vol. 29 No. 37 - July 21, 2025

Sal Costa will again offer an abbreviated public version of his popular “Serial Killers and Psychopaths” course to all non-degree seeking students interested in taking it this fall.

For many years, Costa taught the unique course at the University. Now retired, he developed the condensed version last year, which was only offered in-person at the time. Due to popular demand, the “Serial Killers” class is being offered again, now with an online version also available. Participants can experience the content in-person or online in real time (synchronously), or asynchronously by watching the lectures at their convenience. The online version of the course can be taken from anywhere in the United States.

A lecture-based course, Costa will provide new material each week. Topics include personality disorders, the theory of why some individuals become serial killers, and infamous serial killers such as Ted Bundy, the Boston Strangler and the B.T.K. Killer.

The eight-week course will begin Aug. 19. Classes will take place in-person and online from 6-8 p.m. every Tuesday. Soon after each class period, lectures will be available for viewing. 

Registration can be completed online and is open to all non-degree seeking students. Anyone who takes the class – which is offered as a pass/fail option – will receive one hour of college credit.

More information about the course can be found online at institute.truman.edu. Cost is $65. Payment instructions will be sent after registration. For any questions about the course or registration, contact the Institute for Academic Outreach at 660.785.5384 or institute@truman.edu.

This fall, Truman is offering an introductory ceramics course open to community members.
 
“Community Ceramics” begins Aug. 25 with weekly class meetings from 6-8 p.m. Mondays. The 15-week course will conclude Dec. 5. Cost of the class is $375, which includes instruction and materials. Participants will keep all the works they create.
 
As an introductory course, “Community Ceramics” will teach students proper use of ceramic tools, handbuilding techniques, basic glazing and surface decorating methods, and rudimentary knowledge of kiln firings.
 
“There’s something special about getting your hands in clay – shaping, experimenting and bringing ideas to life,” said William McKinney, assistant professor of art. “It’s not just about making pottery, it’s about building community, finding joy in the process and discovering the excitement of creating something from the earth with your own hands.”
 
“Community Ceramics” is under the direction of Truman’s Institute for Academic Outreach as part of its professional development and enrichment mission.
 
More information about “Community Ceramics” can be found online at institute.truman.edu under “Community Courses, Professional Development and Enrichment.” Registration is open to community members and Truman employees. This is a one-credit, pass/fail course. It is not available to degree-seeking Truman students.
 
Registration can be completed online. Because space is limited, spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration does not guarantee a spot in the class. There is no charge to register, and payment is not due until a spot in the class has been confirmed by the University. Once registrations are processed, an email will be sent with information on how to pay online. Payment in full is due by Aug. 15. Additionally, payment may be made at the cashiers’ window in McClain Hall, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. or 1-3 p.m. 

Any questions about the course or registration can be directed to the Institute for Academic Outreach at 660.785.5384 or institute@truman.edu.

Beginning this fall, the University Bookstore’s First Day Complete program will take effect, simplifying the textbook process and lowering costs for students.
 
First Day Complete uses course schedules, faculty feedback and registration data to predetermine quantities of course materials needed. Students are automatically enrolled in the program and can receive all their textbooks and other course materials at the current rate of $22 per credit hour. Students also have the ability to opt out of the program and purchase materials on a course-by-course basis from whatever retailer they choose.
 
All enrolled students should have received an email regarding their course materials for the fall semester. From the email, students are prompted to go to the Barnes & Noble College website where they will either select their delivery method through First Day Complete or choose to opt-out. The website will also provide a cost savings analysis to help students make an informed decision. For the fall 2025 semester, the opt-out window opened July 15 and will close Aug. 27.

Any changes to their schedules made by students during the summer will automatically be updated through First Day Complete. There is also a grace period at the start of each semester for students who may add or drop classes.
 
Participation in First Day Complete includes all materials, whether they be physical or digital copies. Materials can be delivered directly to the student, or they can be picked up in person at the University Bookstore.

The University Bookstore is operated by Barnes & Noble College, a network of more than 1,400 school stores. Barnes & Noble College estimates the First Day Complete program saves students on average between 35-50% each semester.

Non-degree seeking students – typically high school students participating in dual enrollment or those enrolled in community courses – are not eligible for the program. Students participating in study abroad are also not eligible for the program in the semesters they are away from campus.  
 
More information about First Day complete, including an FAQ section, can be found at truman.edu/student-life/university-bookstore.

From the time Emma Lewis decided to become a teacher, her ultimate goal was to be in gifted education. The St. Louis native earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology secondary education from Millikin University in 2023 and started teaching middle school science, first in Maroa, Illinois, where she completed her student-teaching, and later at schools in her home region. 

“I immediately started looking into ways that I could obtain a gifted degree and move into my dream career,” she said. “Truman’s degree was completely online, which made it easy to complete from St. Louis while also working full-time. Not only that, but it would only take me one year to complete the degree, which was a huge plus as I wanted to get into the gifted classroom as soon as possible.”

Having done all her research, and realizing Truman’s program was ideal for her plan, Lewis went looking for the final piece of the puzzle: someone to do the program with her. The classmate she recruited for her one-year adventure was Christy Lewis, her mom.

Christy was already a seasoned educator teaching math and computer classes in the Hazelwood School District. She came to the field with bachelors’ degrees in math and multidisciplinary studies (education) from McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. The idea of continuing her own education had always been in her mind, but work and raising two children put the plan on the backburner for 30 years. 

“I had considered going back to get my master’s degree, but the thought of it was a little daunting. When Emma asked me though, circumstances were different, so I told her I would consider it,” Christy said. “I teach a lot of honors and AP classes. I have so many gifted students in those classes who might be able to benefit from me being better educated on the best practices of working with them.”

The duo began the Master of Arts in gifted education program in summer 2024. Strategically, they took the same courses at the same time. Emma was still living at home that summer, and they made time every day to sit down together. 

“We spent many days sharing notes, documents and presentations,” Emma said. “She looked over all of my assignments and approved them before I submitted them, and vice versa.”

Aside from some pandemic-era necessity, neither woman had previously participated in an extensive online education program. They both appreciated the flexibility of being able to complete the program at their own pace and did not find the schedule intrusive. They were even able to take a trip to Denmark together while still completing their coursework. While Emma was a resource for her mother on the technology side, Christy was able to share wisdom from her career. 

“At times it felt a little odd, knowing I was older than my professors and most people in the class,” Christy said. “There were times, though, that I could provide a different outlook on something that Emma could see. She just hadn’t had the experience or as much time in the classroom as I had. I think that worked in her favor at times.”

Being at different points in their careers, participating in the Master of Arts in gifted education means different things to each woman. For Emma, it’s a stepping stone that advances her career immediately. 

“Earning this MA has opened up the job opportunities that I could have, and now I will start as a gifted specialist next year in Hazelwood,” she said. 

At some point in the future, Christy might parlay her master’s degree into an opportunity such as serving as a gifted resource high school teacher. In the short term, she got to work side by side with her daughter, and the skills she gained will benefit her current students. 

“I would not have ventured out on this journey if it weren’t for Emma. She was the catalyst. She was also the one who kept me going when I would get frustrated or overwhelmed,” Christy said. “For now, I am content in knowing that I think I can have a bigger impact on my students’ learning based on the knowledge I have from completing this program.”

While Emma and Christy will officially complete the program in August, earlier this year they were able to formally celebrate their progress. Mother and daughter made the trip to Kirksville to participate in Truman’s spring commencement ceremony where they sat on the field together and crossed the stage one after the other. 


“I had the best view of anyone watching her cross the stage,” Christy said. “I am so proud of what we did together!”

The 2025 Bulldog Nation Road Show will end with its last show at 7 p.m. July 24 on the quad. 

“Truman State University’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, with President Sue Thomas” will take place from 7-9 p.m. Aug. 17 on the quad. All students, faculty and staff are invited to attend.
 
In celebration of the start of the new academic year, a variety of mocktails, snacks, lawn games, party hats, noisemakers and stickers specific to the event will be provided. President Thomas will lead the countdown to the new year, with the ball drop taking place at 8:30 p.m.

The University Board of Governors will meet at 1 p.m. Aug. 2 in the Student Union Building Conference Room.

Elsa Soto Leggett, professor and practicum/internship coordinator of counseling, began serving as president of the American Counseling Association, July 1.
 
Soto Leggett is the 74th president of ACA, the leading organization providing education, community and professional development opportunities for professional counselors and counselors-in-training. She is also the association’s fourth Hispanic, Latina president.
 
A distinguished counselor educator and licensed professional counselor with a robust academic background, Soto Leggett has more than two decades of experience in the field. She has a Ph.D. in counselor education and a Master of Science in school counseling from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, along with a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Texas Southern University. Soto Leggett is a licensed professional counselor-supervisor and registered play therapist-supervisor in Texas, as well as a licensed professional counselor in Missouri. 

An ACA member for more than 20 years, Soto Leggett has served in a variety of leadership roles with the association and its chartered divisions, including on ACA’s Governing Council, as a founding member of the Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling (ACAC), and a past president of the Texas Counseling Association (TCA). Her leadership and dedication to service have been recognized with numerous awards and honors over the years, including the Texas School Counselor Educator of the Year award, ACAC’s National Leadership & Advocacy Award, and the Ashley Jadine Foundation Distinguished Recognition.
 
Soto Leggett is an author of numerous publications which concentrate on counseling children and adolescents as a marginalized and underserved population. She is also a frequently invited speaker, delivering more than 100 peer-reviewed presentations at local, regional and national conferences.
 

In addition to the awards Truman Theatre won from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, the organization’s national committee recently bestowed the following commendations. 

The Company for Distinguished Achievement in Student Centered Production

The Company for Distinguished Achievement in Company Collaboration

The Company for Distinguished Achievement in Production of a Musical

The Company for Distinguished Achievement in Performance Ensemble

Regan Bohanan for Distinguished Achievement in Direction of a Musical

Brad M. Carlson for Distinguished Achievement in Visual Concept and Scenic Design

Brad M. Carlson for Distinguished Achievement in Projection Design

Alexander Pikiben for Distinguished Achievement in Sound Design and Engineering

AP Pikiben for Distinguished Achievement in Costume and Makeup Design

Grace Eness for Distinguished Achievement in Choreography

Rowan Burba for Distinguished Achievement in Light Board Operation

Parker Shinn for Distinguished Achievement in Performance

Elias Tucker for Distinguished Achievement in Performance

Michelle Yoder for Distinguished Achievement in Performance

Morgan Youngstrom for Distinguished Achievement in Performance 

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, 2025.

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. 27, 2025.

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, 2025.

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. 5, 2026.


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. 15, 2025.

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, 2025.

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 Jan. 5, 2026.

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. 15, 2025.

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 the 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, 2026. Campus deadline for fellowships (graduate) is Dec. 29, 2025.

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, 2025. Read about Truman’s first Rhodes 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. 12, 2025.

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.

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. 15, 2025.