Vol. 30 No. 1 - August 18, 2025

 
The 102-year-old structure has been completely renovated, and some services began operating from the building during the spring semester. Kirk is now home to the Career Center, the Student Health Center, Counseling Services, Student Access and Disability Services, the Center for Academic Excellence, the Communication Lab and the Writing Center. The Kirk Building is open 8 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday. 
 
Kirk has several supplemental rooms, and students and employees should be aware most of these spaces are reserved for the services in the building. Many of the areas are not intended for open access. This includes the forum on the second floor. Reservations for the forum can be made through the normal process. To inquire about reserving space in Kirk Building email gbradshaw@truman.edu. Students looking for study space are encouraged to first try Pickler Memorial Library, the Student Union Building or any of the academic buildings and residence halls on campus. 
 
In addition to housing the Student Success Center, Kirk will also eventually be used to provide resources to the community, including workforce development outreach, rural telehealth counseling and academic outreach workshops.
 
There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the Kirk Building during Homecoming. Details will be announced as they become available. 
 
Career Center  
660.785.4353
career.truman.edu
Kirk Building 1012-1018

Center for Academic Excellence
660.785.7403
advise@truman.edu
Kirk Building 2020

Communication Lab 
excellence.truman.edu/tutoring/departmental-tutoring
Kirk Building 2031

Counseling Services
660.785.4014
truman.cfmcares.com/university-counseling-services
Kirk Building 3025-3029

Student Access and Disability Services 
660.785.4478
disabilityservices.truman.edu
Kirk Building 1006-1007

Student Health Center 
660.785.4182
truman.cfmcares.com/student-health-center
Kirk Building 3004

Tutoring Services
660.785.7403
Kirk Building 2020

Writing Center
660.785.4484
writingcenter.truman.edu
Kirk Building 2004-2005

The Chick-fil-A expansion was one of two major dining projects on campus over the summer. Ryle Hall cafeteria received some moderate renovations and upgrades in the kitchen. While the cafeteria is now fully operational, there are still some minor aspects of the project that will be completed during the semester.

Session 1: 10-11:05 a.m.

“Designing Interactive and Engaging ExerGames (Exercise + Computer Games) to Promote Rehabilitation for Stroke Patients”
Enyetullah Rahimullah
Faculty Mentor: Kafi Rehman, associate professor of computer science

“Asthma Screening Recommendations Towards the Research and Development of an Accessible Serious Game to Provide”
Mohamed Amine Saoud
Faculty Mentor: Kafi Rehman, associate professor of computer science

“SqueezeNextV2: Rethinking SqueezeNext Deep AI model to Detect American Sign Language (ASL)”
Aamosh Bikram Thapa
Faculty Mentor: Nazmul Shahadat, assistant professor of computer science

“TruCrisisAware: Integrating Naturalistic Decision Making into AI for Enhanced Disaster Response”
Kamsi Amaeshi
Faculty Mentor: Nazmul Shahadat, assistant professor of computer science

“Enhancing User Trust and Control in AI-Driven Interactive Human-Computer Interfaces”
Ankit Regmi
Faculty Mentor: Nazmul Shahadat, assistant professor of computer science

Session 2: 11:10 a.m.-12:20 p.m.

“MindMapper 3000”
Aditya Jigarkumar Shah
Faculty Mentor: Chad Mohler, professor of philosophy and religion

“Research and Development of Automated Fungal Growth Analysis Using Deep Learning”
Mohammed Ayan Mahmoo
Faculty Mentor: Kafi Rahman, associate professor of computer science, and Hajeewaka Mendis, assistant professor of biology

“Prediction of Band Gaps in Two-Dimensional Semiconductors and Perovskites with Machine Learning and Feature Engineering”
Yashwinder Rajput
Faculty Mentor: Rasanjali Jayathissa, assistant professor of physics, and Scott Thatcher, associate professor of statistics

“Philosophical Implications of the Kochen-Specker and Bell Theorems in Quantum Mechanics”
Raghu N. Shahi
Faculty Mentor: Chad Mohler, professor of philosophy and religion

“Co-evolution of Supermassive Black Holes and Host Galaxies in the IllustrisTNG-100 Simulation”
Kate Kireyeva
Faculty Mentor: Colin DeGraf, assistant professor of physics

“Small Mammal Community Survey in the Spring Creek Watershed Priority Area”
Ethan Nicoli
Faculty Mentor: Stephanie Fore, professor of biology

Session 3: 12:40-1:55 p.m.

“How Do Mitochondria of Glia Influence Behavior?”
Molly Cernich
Faculty Mentor: Brett Berke, associate professor of biology

“Coupling historical datasets with geospatial software to assess distribution patterns and climate effects on plants and pathogens”
Jenna Wood
Faculty Mentor: Maria Beatriz de Souza Cortez, assistant professor of biology, and Drew Sieg, associate professor of biology

“Vocational Decision-Making of Youth with Intellectual Disabilities Participating in a Summer Vocational Rehabilitation Program”
Sarah Ann Gillespie
Faculty Mentor: Carolyn Cox, professor of health science

“Heritage and Identity: Examining Farsi Language Attitudes and Maintenance Among Iranian Immigrants”
Sara Kangarloo
Faculty Mentor: Emily Olsen, assistant professor of linguistics

“Rhotacization of /ju/ in Memphis African American English”
Nolan Regalo 
Faculty Mentor: Emily Olsen, assistant professor of linguistics

Session 4: 2-3:10 p.m.

“Do Work Arrangements Matter for Wages? Evidence from Post-Pandemic U.S. Labor Market”
Pujan Gauli
Faculty Mentor: John McNeill, assistant professor of economics

“Criminal Legal Contact and Women’s Health in Arkansas: Addressing the Role of Police Stops, Gender, and Geography”
Breanna Mathes
Faculty Mentor: Jeff Gruenewald, Steven Windisch and Michael Niño, University of Arkansas Sociology and Criminology Department

“The Influence of Social Cohesion on College Campuses and How It Influences the Crime Reporting Practices of College Students”
Emma Suchsland
Faculty Mentor: Yuna Ferguson, professor of psychology

“Self-organizing behavior and anxiety and depression symptoms”
Emma lewis
Faculty Mentor: Katrina Schmerold, associate professor of psychology

“ADHD, OCD, and ASD assessment scores as predictors of perceived benefit of therapy effectiveness and outcome expectancies in college students”
Angelica Zagar
Faculty Mentor: Katrina Schmerold, associate professor of psychology

Session 5: 3:20-4:15 p.m.

“Dancing Through the Decades: An Oral History of the Truman State Showgirls”
Liza Catlin
Faculty Mentor: Stephanie Russell, instructor of history

“An Illustrated Memory”
Marni McDermott 
Faculty Mentor: Lindsey Dunnagan, associate professor of art

“Exploring Midwestern Environments to Decode Inspiration and Unlock the Inner Professional”
Lyrick Baker
Faculty Mentor: Charles Gran, professor of music

“Exploring Video Game Music Composition and Education”
Evan O’Day
Faculty Mentor: Victor Marquez, associate professor of music

The Shakespeare comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will kick off this year’s Kohlenberg Lyceum Series at 7 p.m. Sept. 6 in Baldwin Auditorium. 
 
Performed by St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is one of William Shakespeare’s most popular plays. This comedy revolves around the romantic entanglements of four young Athenians and the magical interventions of fairies in a moonlit forest. Through a series of comedic mishaps and magical transformations, the play explores themes of love, illusion and the power of dreams. 
 
St. Louis Shakespeare was founded in 1984 to professionally produce and perform the plays of Shakespeare and other dramatic classics for the Greater St. Louis Area. The company is one of only seven nationwide to have performed the entirety of Shakespeare’s canon. 
 
Tickets will be available Aug. 25 and can be picked up at any of three convenient campus 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.  
 
Tickets for the 2025-26 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.

Four times throughout the fall, a variety of food trucks will be on campus giving students, employees and members of the community another dining option. 

The first food truck event will take place from 4-7 p.m. Aug. 21. Visiting trucks include: Casa Maria Mexican Cantina, that offers modern Mexican cuisine; Coffee Cravings, a mobile trailer that serves coffee and lotus drinks; The Munch Box, an American cuisine food truck; Frosted Flamingo, a mobile ice cream service; and Nolia Jeans, which serves Cajun-seasoned foods.

The parking lot between the Student Union Building and McClain Hall will be blocked off to accommodate the trucks and to set up tables and chairs for diners. 

Students and employees who may have received vouchers during move-in and Truman Week activities can redeem them at any of the food trucks. The $5 vouchers can be stacked up to $10 to apply toward the cost of a meal. Cash and card will also be accepted methods of payment. Meal swipes and Bonus Bucks cannot be used at the food trucks.

Dates have been set for the remaining food truck events. The specific venders are still to be determined.  

Sept. 17
11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Oct. 3
4-7 p.m.

Nov. 4
11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Scene from last year’s showing of “Rocky Mountain Horror Show.”This year’s Truman Theatre schedule explores comedy, drama and musicals through contemporary and traditional works alike.  

The first production of the year, “The 39 Steps,” is a fast-paced spoof that is equal parts slapstick comedy and film noir thriller. With just four actors playing more than 100 characters, this comedy is packed with nonstop laughs, an onstage plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers and romance. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2-4, and 2 p.m. Oct. 5, in the James G. Severns Theatre in Ophelia Parrish. 

Auditions for “The 39 Steps” will take place Aug. 21 in the James G. Severns Theatre with callbacks Aug. 22. Email cgleason@truman.edu for any questions.

“Cabaret” explores the decadent world of cabaret inside the Kit Kat Club. Pleasure and danger entwine as love, freedom and identity clash against the rise of darkness in 1920s Berlin. Performances of “Cabaret” will take place in the Severns Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13-15 and Nov. 19-20, as well as a matinee at 2 p.m. Nov. 16. 

Auditions for “Cabaret” will take place Sept. 7 in the James G. Severns Theatre with callbacks Sept. 8. Email wehmeyer@truman.edu for any questions.

The Fall Student Showcase will take place at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4-5 in the Black Box Theatre. Students will perform one-act plays and scenes from the play direction class.

“Little Women,” by Kate Hamill, adapted from the novel by Louisa May Alcott, will run at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19-21 and 2 p.m. Feb. 22 in the Severns Theatre. Alcott’s beloved classic comes to life on stage in this charming adaptation of “Little Women.” Follow the spirited March sisters – Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy – as they face love, loss and growing up during the turmoil of the Civil War. 

Each year, Truman Theatre performs a show tailored to young audiences. This year’s show, “Lions in Illyria,” follows Violet, a brave young lioness, as she navigates a world of lovestruck peacocks, graceful gazelles and ridiculous warthogs. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. March 26-28 and 2 p.m. March 29 in the Black Box Theatre.

The theatre season will end with a comedic romp into the world of fantasy role-playing games. “She Kills Monsters” is a high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres and ’90s pop culture. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. April 16-18 and April 24-15, as well as a matinee at 2 p.m. April 26. 

The Spring Student Showcase will take place at 7:30 p.m. April 30 and May 1 in the Black Box Theatre. This event will feature musical theatre performances from Truman Theatre’s Musical Theatre Workshop. 

More information about events and tickets can be found here. Students interested in auditioning for upcoming productions, or working as a member of the crew, can find more details here. Roles and participation in Truman Theatre productions are open to all Truman students.

Profiles for each of the schools included in the book can be found at princetonreview.com/college-rankings/best-colleges.

 
The Institutional Actions Council of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) has affirmed the accreditation of the University through 2034-35.
 
The report from the HLC visiting team was positive, noting that all criteria for reaffirmation had been met and no interim monitoring was recommended. As part of HLC’s Open Pathway, Truman will complete a mid-point Assurance Review in 2029 and will complete a Quality Initiative between approximately 2032 and 2034.
 
Truman has been fully accredited since 1914 by the Higher Learning Commission.

This league is a great opportunity for those looking to meet new people, learn the game or sharpen their skills. Regular intramural pickleball will take place Oct. 6-30.

For questions regarding work-study student employment, contact the Financial Aid Office at 660.785.4130 or email drigby@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 Students logging in should use their Truman username and password. 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.

Truman’s Student Health Center now offers on-campus services to University employees.

Since 2021, the health center has been operated through a partnership with Complete Family Medicine. As a subsidiary of Hannibal Regional, a not-for-profit health system, the center has been able to expand its on-campus offerings to include Truman and Sodexo employees.

The Student Health Center offers preventative and primary care, such as immunizations, well-women exams, allergy immunotherapy, physicals and medication management. Acute care is also available for injuries or cold and flu treatment. Additionally, the health center has access to nearby off-campus outpatient services including radiology and specialists. 

Appointments can be made by calling 660.785.4182 or by visiting the health center in person. Located in the Kirk Building, hours of operation are 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday.

Employees are only eligible for services provided at the health center. While Complete Family Medicine also oversees University Counseling Services, those resources will continue to be provided exclusively to students. 

Services provided at the Student Health Center are billed through insurance, Medicaid or private payments. Complete Family Medicine is an in-network provider for Truman’s Anthem plan.

For more information, visit the Student Health Center website, or call 660.785.4182.

In celebration of students being back, donuts will be available from 7:45-8:45 a.m. Aug. 19 in Violette Hall, Pickler Memorial Library and Pershing Building until supplies last.

Jujitsu Ultimate Frisbee is hosting a men’s 3v3 ultimate frisbee tournament from 1-6 p.m. Aug. 23 at the south fields located at 1750 South Florence Street. No experience necessary. This event is meant to be a fun, competitive environment for people to play and discover the sport of ultimate Frisbee. 

Sign-up posters will be placed around campus, but walk-up teams are also welcome. Water will be provided for free; food and stickers will be available for purchase. Participants are required to wear tennis shoes.

Enjoy free a banana split from 2-4 p.m. Aug. 25 in the Student Union Building in honor of National Banana Split Day.

The Communication Lab has moved to the second floor of the Kirk Building in Room 2031. 

Now part of the Student Success Center, the Communication Lab will be supervised alongside the Tutoring Center under the Center for Academic Excellence. This relocation brings key academic support services together in one central location, making it easier for students to access the help they need. Students can schedule appointments with the Communication Lab through WC Online.

Students interested in working in the Communication Lab for scholarship can contact Violet Odzinski, academic advisor and coordinator of student support programs, at vodzinski@truman.edu.

During the fall semester, the Student Union Building will be open Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sundays 12-9 p.m.

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

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

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

Positions require regular weekly availability, one to three days per week between 1:30-6:45 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Applicants must be juniors, seniors or graduate students. Applications are available online and review of applications begins immediately.

Truman’s Publications Office can help student organizations and University departments with creating materials to promote their events free of charge. The Publications Office can also provide images in the correct size for the Truman Today, social media and traditional printed posters. For more information, contact the Publications Office at publications.truman.edu or fill out a work order job request at publications.truman.edu/request-a-work-order-form. Information about Truman’s brand and visual identity can be found at identity.truman.edu.

The following organizations and individuals volunteered during Move-In Day, Aug. 13.

Alpha Gamma Delta
Alpha Kappa Lambda
Alpha Phi Omega
Alpha Sigma Alpha
August Walston
Baptist Student Union
Baseball
Beta Theta Pi
Campus Christian Fellowship
Cardinal Key
Delta Chi
Delta Phi Epsilon
Delta Sigma Pi
Delta Zeta
Football
Heidi Duque
Ignite
Kaylee Green
Lambda Chi Alpha
Mason West
Men’s Basketball
Momentum
Natalie Whipple
Newman Center
Phi Sigma Kappa
Phi Kappa Tau
Pi Kappa Phi
Residence Hall Association
Sayri Colindres
Sigma Kappa
Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sigma Sigma Sigma
Men’s Soccer
Women’s Soccer
Softball
Men’s Swimming
Women’s Swimming
Track & Cross Country
Truemen
Tsunami
Volleyball
Women’s Basketball

The Adair County Department of Children and Families will temporarily be operating out of offices in Barnett Hall while its permanent space undergoes renovation. Earlier this year, DCF approached the University about leasing space on a temporary basis and will utilize portions of the building previously occupied by the Psychology Department. 
 
Although most classes and academic offices have been relocated to other areas on campus, Barnett Hall continues to house Printing Services, Mail Services, Publications, esports and ROTC.

Nine McNair Scholars attended the 2025 UCLA National McNair Conference with attendees from programs across the United States, July 28-30, in Los Angeles. The students were joined by Charlotte Klimovich, program specialist, and John Quinn, program director and professor of political science and international relations.

All nine students presented their original research to other scholars at one of the nine oral presentation sessions. The conference also featured workshops on financing graduate education and writing a statement of purpose, a networking breakfast, a graduate opportunities fair and five poster sessions along with a sunset UCLA campus tour led by a current graduate student. 

There was also time for an architecture river boat tour in the stopover in Chicago, a USC campus tour and two visits to Santa Monica Pier.

The May 2025 graduates of Truman’s nursing program achieved a 100% NCLEX-RN pass rate.     

Graduates with an associate of applied science (AAS) in nursing degree or a bachelor of science (BSN) in nursing degree must take the NCLEX-RN exam in order to obtain their RN license and function as a registered nurse. 

The National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses is administered by the National Council State Boards of Nursing. It is a computer-adaptive test that assesses a candidate’s critical thinking, application of nursing knowledge and ability to make safe and effective decisions in a clinical setting. Its purpose is to assess whether the candidate possesses the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to practice safely as a registered nurse.

For a nursing program to maintain Board of Nursing approval, each state board of nursing determines the expected NCLEX-RN pass rate for graduates. In Missouri it is expected that graduates would have a first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate of 80%.

Truman’s Rho Rho Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, was named an “Honor Chapter” for its outstanding activities in 2024-25. 

Truman has earned this distinction for 31 consecutive years which represents the longest continuous “Honor Chapter”-run in the 106-year-history of Sigma Delta Pi. The first award was received in 1993 under co-advisers Lucy Lee and Michael Buzan. Stacy Davis, Truman’s SDP chapter advisor in 2024-25, was instrumental in earning this year’s national honors.  

Since Truman’s chapter has earned this recognition each year of Sigma Delta Pi’s 2022-25 triennium, it also was granted the prestigious Octavio Paz Award, which is the chapter’s eighth such award as received every triennium since 2004, the first year of this award’s existence. 

Each summer, the 637 chapters of Sigma Delta Pi nationwide are asked to submit an annual report detailing their numerous activities and projects from the academic year. Based on these reports, the National Executive Committee chooses approximately 10-15 “Honor Chapters” annually. This recognition is based upon the caliber of chapter projects that reflect the Sigma Delta Pi mission of honoring excellence in the study of the Spanish language, contributing to cultural understanding and upholding the goals of the society.

In addition to gift cards and other prizes, students were awarded student membership in the American Statistical Association.

Jason McDonald, assistant professor of history, recently had his article, “Normalizing the Invisible Empire: Local Newspapers, Press Neutrality, and the Rise of the Ku Klux Klan in Kirksville, Missouri, in the 1920s,” published in Journalism History.