Vol. 30 No. 25 - March 16, 2026

  
Nancy Gingrich of Clarence, Missouri, is a career educator who has been involved with instruction at every level. She taught high school health and physical education, gifted education for grades K-12 and was an adjunct instructor for Moberly Area Community College. Among her volunteer activities, Gingrich is a member of P.E.O., a philanthropic educational organization, where she served as the Missouri state president. She also spent time on the international board of the Educational Loan Fund. An alumna of the University, Gingrich graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree. She also earned a master’s degree in education with a specialty in curriculum and instruction from the University of Missouri.
 
Alan Hillier of St. Peters, Missouri, is a seasoned hospitality revenue management professional with Marriott International. He currently serves as Senior Manager of Revenue Management Products, where he is responsible for integrating hotels onto enterprise systems, and future pricing strategies. In addition to a Bachelor of Science degree in justice systems from Truman, Hillier earned a Master of Science degree in criminology from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
 
Gingrich was originally appointed to the board in June 2019 and reappointed in February. The appointments of Gildehaus and Hillier were confirmed by the Missouri Senate in March. 

Each year, students submit work to be reviewed by a visiting arts professional. The exhibition features a wide range of media and disciplines and highlights the creativity, technical skill and conceptual development of Truman students. All works included in the exhibition were created during the artists’ time at Truman, offering students an opportunity to present their work in a professional gallery setting and share their achievements with the campus and local community.

This year’s guest juror is artist Brooke Alexander, instructional assistant professor of art in drawing and painting at the University of Mississippi. Her exhibition, “I’ve Always Loved the Path,” is also on view March 16-April 16 in the Charlyn Gallery.

Woking as a painter and educator from Alabama, Alexander’s work explores the blurred spaces between certainty and ambiguity. Through dynamic compositions of fragmented forms and layered environments, her paintings invite viewers to engage with shifting perceptions of time, memory and place.

Alexander will present an artist talk from 4-5 p.m. March 17 in Ophelia Parrish 2210, followed by the opening reception from 5-6:30 p.m. in the University Art Gallery.

The Office of Student Engagement will be celebrating National Bubble Week, March 16-20.

Celebrated annually during the third week of March, National Bubble Week was established by Sherman’s Specialty Company as a way to welcome spring. This year marks the holiday’s 26th consecutive year of recognition, bringing simple joys to every generation for more than two decades. 

Various bubble-themed activities will be scattered throughout the week, including bubble bottles and bubble gum, featuring Spike with bubble wands. Events will take place in and around the Student Union Building, depending on weather conditions.

The Truman Forensics Union is currently accepting tryout applications for the 2026-27 season.

The forensics program offers a broad range of events for student participation. Students can participate in NFA Lincoln-Douglas Debate and any of the 11 NFA individual speaking events (IEs) offered. Many students cross-over and participate in both debate and IEs, but often choose to specialize in one area.

Applications are available at forensics.truman.edu/joinus and close March 16. Applications consist of the online form submission, as well as a letter of interest, a letter of recommendation and a video demonstration that must be emailed to forensicstruman@gmail.com. Additionally, incoming students’ application materials will automatically be considered for renewable scholarship opportunities. Current students may also submit a letter of interest and a video demonstration to be considered for a service scholarship, but only if funds allow.

Nominations are currently being accepted for this year’s Leadership Recognition Program.

Submissions for the LRP are taken online only. A link to the nomination form can be found at involvement.truman.edu/leadership-recognition-program. Multiple nominations for individuals or organizations are welcome. Details about all of the awards can be found in the nomination packet available here. Nominations will close at 5 p.m. March 16.

The Career Center and Office of Advancement will host “Working in the Nation’s Capitol Region” from 6:30-7:30 p.m. March 17. 
 
The virtual Zoom panel will give students the opportunity to ask alumni who work in public service, government and national media for internship and career advice. The alumni featured in this panel include Renee Baharaeen (’16), producer at CNN, Wyatt Feeler (’05), assistant appellate public defender for the Office of the Public Defender Maryland, Wyatt Hoffman ('13), foreign affairs officer for the United States Department of State, and Justis Tuia ('07), special education, rehabilitation, research, and higher education analysis branch team lead for the United States Department of Education.

This event is free to attend but requires registration. Additional information, as well as signups for the event, are available via Handshake.

Truman’s languages and linguistics clubs will host “Languages Trivia” at 7 p.m. March 17 in Baldwin Hall 241. The trivia will feature categories centered around food, geography, art and literature, demographics, history, linguistics and guessing languages. This event is free of charge and hosted by Sigma Delta Pi, Pi Delta Phi, Hanami, Chinese Language and Culture Association, Ling Club and Classics Club.

Dr. Sarah Juliet Lauro, associate professor of English and writing at the University of Tampa, will present “Zombies: Our Mirror Monsters?” at 5 p.m. March 18 in the Baldwin Little Theatre as part of the Ofstad Visiting Scholar Program. 

Lauro’s presentation will focus on the most recent developments in zombie mythos in films such as “28 Years Later,” with its differently embodied zombies, and “Weapons,” which some critics have argued is a zombie film. Her research compares the thought of zombies acting as a cultural barometer to provide insight into stock market trends or political outcomes with that of horror films simply being made for society’s worst fears to be dramatized in ways that makes them feel less terrifying.

Hosted by the Department of English, the Ofstad Visiting Scholar Program is available thanks to the generosity and vision of Odessa Ofstad in creating Truman’s first-ever endowed chair. The Ofstad Visiting Scholar Program brings renowned guest writers and scholars from around the world to the Truman campus. During their stay, these talented scholars offer a range of workshops, lectures and readings.

TruPoets, the campus poetry club, will host an open mic night from 7:30-8:30 p.m. March 18 in the Student Union Building Activities Room 3200. There are no signups. Everyone is welcome to share their poems and listen to others share their own.

The Student Activity Board’s annual spring survey is now open. 

The survey is open until March 20 and is available at sab.truman.edu. Anyone who fills out the survey will be entered into a raffle for a prize. Students must be logged into their Truman email to submit a response. 

Volunteer and service sign-ups for the Big Event, taking place from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. March 28, are now open. 

As a way of saying thanks to the Kirksville community, Truman students, alumni, faculty and staff are participating in the 25th annual Big Event. Hundreds of volunteers will provide services to the residents of the community by raking leaves, washing windows, painting and more. The Big Event gives Truman the opportunity to show appreciation for all the support the Kirksville community has offered to them.

Those interested in volunteering can sign up here. Sign-ups for volunteers will close March 20. 

Kirksville residents and non-profit businesses interested in receiving volunteer service can sign up here. Sign-ups for residents and non-profit businesses will close March 20.

Registration is now open for the 2026 TruHacks hackathon, taking place March 20-22.

In collaboration with Boeing, TruHacks is a 48-hour creative marathon where students from across the country gather to build the extraordinary. The event features both workshops and a tournament, with the competition separated into three different categories — developer, business and beginner — that challenge students to create, pitch and learn about coding at different levels. 

Any student 18 or older and currently enrolled at a university or college is eligible to participate. They should bring their laptop, charger, toiletries and student ID. Registration is free, and meals, swag and workspaces are provided for the entirety of the event. 

Students can participate individually or in a team of up to four players. Any student looking for team members can join the TruHacks or Truman Google Developer Group (GDG) Discord servers or participate in the team formation event at the start of the hackathon. Team members are allowed to compete virtually if half of their team members are present in-person.

Additional information about the event, as well as the latest updates and prizes, can be found at truhacks.truman.edu or on the TruHacks Instagram, GDG LinkedIn or Community of College Entrepreneurs (CCE) Instagram.

The Environmental Sustainability Fee Accountability Committee (ESFAC) is currently accepting campus sustainability project proposals.

Project proposals should be focused on enhancing sustainability on campus. They are judged based on environmental benefit, cost-effectiveness, visibility, student impact and opinion, contribution to Truman’s image, feasibility and time sensitivity. 

Most projects approved by ESFAC will receive funding for the 2026-27 calendar year and are intended to be completed within that year. However, the committee also allocates funding to one ongoing project that will take multiple years to complete. Their last major project, installing solar panels at the University farm, has concluded and they are welcoming submissions for a new major project.

Lambda Pi Eta, Truman’s communication honor society, will host their annual COMM Week celebration, March 23-27.

Communication (COMM) Week is a weeklong celebration of the communication discipline. It brings students, faculty and alumni together through professional development, community involvement and fun events. The celebration highlights how communication connects people and shapes interaction with the world.

Throughout the week, alumni career panels, resume workshops, First Amendment discussions and social gatherings will be featured in various areas around campus and in downtown Kirksville. 

Beta Alpha Psi will host free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) sessions for Truman students, employees and community members. 

The final VITA session of the semester will take place from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. March 28 in Violette Hall 1432. Students, employees or community members who come to VITA should bring: social security cards for spouses and dependents; bank routing numbers and bank account numbers for direct deposit; wage and earnings statements such as W-2, 1098T and 1099; a copy of last year’s federal and state tax returns if available; and, if applicable, the total paid for day care provider(s) and the day care provider’s tax identifying number. VITA services will be completed by IRS-certified volunteers and will also offer free electronic filing to receive a faster return.

Appointments are required. Truman students can make appointments online. International students who did not have income for 2025 will need to schedule an appointment to file Form 8843. The final session of the semester for international students filing 8843 forms will take place from 7-9 p.m. March 25 in Violette Hall 1428. Truman employees and community members must call 660.785.6064 to schedule an appointment. For more information, visit bap.truman.edu/vita.

The Children’s Literature Festival will return to the Truman campus, March 27.

The event will feature 12 authors to share their books with fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students in the northeast Missouri region. This year’s lineup includes Robbi Behr and Matthew Swanson, Tamika Burgess, Rob Buyea, Heather Murphy Capps, Megan E. Freeman, Sarah Guillory, Matt Heagerty, Varian Johnson, Meg Eden Kuyatt, Brandon Mull and Taryn Sanders. More information about them can be found on the CLF website.

Students will participate in 30-minute sessions with the guest authors. All schools or individuals attending must be pre-registered. Registration can be completed online at childrensliteraturefestival.truman.edu. 

In addition to the traditional literature festival activities, the Truman Theatre Department will perform “Lions in Illyria,” an adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” at 9:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. This animal-themed show, best suited for third through seventh grade students, follows a young lion named Violet as she navigates a new island after being shipwrecked in a storm. “Lions in Illyria” has central themes of love and kindness but also touches on themes such as the loss of a loved one, bullying and friendship.  

Those attending the literature festival in the morning could eat lunch on campus and attend the 12:30 p.m. performance of “Lions in Illyria” Those attending in the afternoon could arrive early for the 9:45 a.m. performance, eat lunch and then attend the literature festival. 

All the authors will be signing books from 3-4 p.m. in the Student Union Building Conference Room. There is no cost to attend the book signing, and it is open to the public. 

At 6 p.m. there will be banquet in the Student Union Building Georgian Rooms. Attendees can choose to sit at the table with any of the authors. Cost for the banquet is $20 for all guests, and seating is determined on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration can be completed online on the CLF website. The deadline for banquet registration is March 25.

The Truman Showgirls will host a prep clinic for high school and collegiate-level dancers, as well as tryouts for the 2026-27 Showgirls season.

The clinic will take place from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. March 28 in the Pershing Building Small Gym. The event will allow dancers strengthen their skills for high school or college dance teams. Dancers should wear clothes or dancewear they can move in comfortably. There will be a performance for family and friends at the end of the clinic to showcase the material learned.

There is a $15 fee for the clinic that covers lunch. Payment should be brought with participants the day of the event in the form of cash, Venmo or a check made out to the Showgirls Dance Team. All dancers will have to sign an informed consent and treatment authorization form to participate. This form will be emailed to attendees closer to the event. Dancers must print it out and bring it with them on the day of the clinic. They will receive a confirmation email including more details about the prep clinic the week of the event.

In-person tryouts for the 2026-27 Truman Showgirls Dance Team will take place April 24-25. Both days are mandatory to tryout in-person. Tryout material will be taught from 5:30-8:30 p.m. April 24. The official tryout will take place from 9-11:30 a.m. April 25. After tryouts there will be a team meeting for all selected dancers from 12-1 p.m.

To try out, participants must be a senior in high school, a transfer student who is already admitted to Truman or a current Truman student. All candidates must have prior dance experience. There is a $25 fee to tryout. Payment should be brought with participants April 24 in the form of cash or a check made out to the Showgirls Dance Team. Payments can also be sent through Venmo the day of the event. All participants must sign a waiver to participate in tryouts. Participants must bring their health insurance card or know their health insurance information to complete the waiver. They will receive an email closer to the tryout date with further information.

Registration for the clinic is due by 11:59 p.m. March 23. The registration form, along with further information about the event, can be accessed here. Registration for the Showgirls Dance Team tryouts is due by 11:59 p.m. April 18. The registration form and additional information about tryouts can be accessed here.

Additional information can be found on the Showgirls Linktree. Questions about the clinic or tryouts should be directed to the Showgirls at trumanstateshowgirls@gmail.com. 

Submissions are now open for the Truman Short Film Festival, taking place at 3 p.m. April 11 in the Del and Norma Robison Planetarium.

Short film submissions are due by midnight April 7. Submission is open to all Truman students. Submission guidelines will be made available via the Film Club Linktree. 

Admission to the festival is free and food and door prizes will be provided. Viewer discretion is advised. Some films may contain mature language and themes or content that may not be suitable for all audiences.

Union and Involvement Services will host workshops throughout the semester that cover some commonly asked questions and topics from student organizations. 

The Office of Community Enrichment (OCE) is hiring candidates for various positions for the 2026-27 academic year.

Open positions include event manager, social media manager, pride exchange manager, webmaster, newsletter manager and TRUSelf mentors. All students are encouraged to apply. Applications can be submitted at trupositions.truman.edu.

The Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) Tutoring Center is hiring academic peer tutors for the 2026-27 academic year. 

This is a scholarship or work-study position, three to four hours per week, with initial training and additional training throughout employment. Tutors provide academic support to their peers with one-on-one instruction for specific courses, subjects or learning strategies support.

All majors are welcome to apply. The Center is particularly seeking tutors for ACCT 220/221; BIOL 107;  BSAD; Communication Disorders; Computer Science; DATA 222; Economics; Health Science; LING 238; Math; Nursing; PHYS 185;  Statistics; and Learning Strategies.

To qualify, students must maintain scholarship eligibility, be a sophomore or above and have successfully completed the course they plan to tutor with an "A" or "B."

Upward Bound is currently seeking Truman juniors, seniors or graduate students to serve as residential mentors for the 2026 Summer Academy. 

Upward Bound participants are income-eligible students from Northeast Missouri high schools, and the Academy is designed to help prepare underrepresented students for success in college.

Dates of employment are May 28-July 1, with most weekends free. Successful applicants are responsible, high-energy, interested in working with adolescents and possess an understanding of educational barriers experienced by low-income/first-generation college applicants.

The Center for Academic Excellence is accepting applications for student workers for the 2026-27 academic year. Additional information and applications for these positions are available on TruPositions.

For questions about tutoring positions, contact Violet Odzinski, Tutoring Center supervisor, at vodzinski@truman.edu. For questions about the Bulldog Scholars Program, contact Ashleigh Harding, director of student success, at aharding@truman.edu. 

The Missouri Scholarship and Loan Foundation will offer the Purdy Emerging Leaders Scholarship, named in honor of Allan Walker Purdy. Born in 1914 on a farm near Macon, Purdy was the first in his family to attend a four-year college. He worked in the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture before becoming the campus’s first director of scholarships and student financial aid.

This program supports candidates who demonstrate leadership, character and academic performance. It is open to students who started higher education right after high school, as well as adult learners who are now pursuing or returning to complete a degree. Additionally, these students have a vision, are eager to make their contribution to the world and have the work ethic to bring their dreams to fruition.

The scholarship application period runs through April 1. More information, including details on how to apply, can be found here. The scholarship amount can vary based on an applicant’s circumstances. The general range will be $2,000-$5,000 based on student aid index (SAI), unmet need and other factors.