Vol. 30 No. 37 - July 20, 2026

President Susan L. Thomas has announced she plans to retire following the upcoming academic year.
 
“It is an honor of a lifetime to serve as the president of Truman,” Thomas wrote in an email to campus announcing her decision. “Truman State University is an extraordinary institution with a proven legacy of transforming students’ lives, producing exceptional outcomes, and cultivating generations of remarkable alumni. I did not come to this decision easily.”
 
By the time of her retirement, Thomas will have served 11 years, marking the sixth-longest tenure of the University’s 17 presidents. Particularly beloved by students, she can regularly be found on campus, attending events and introducing herself to visiting guests as “the enormously proud president of Truman State University.” 
 
“Throughout her presidency, Dr. Thomas has been an engaged presence on campus and a strong advocate for Truman’s students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Her personal engagement and genuine concern for their success have strengthened the Truman experience for countless students,” said Bill Lovegreen, chair of the Board of Governors.
 
More than a third of Truman’s rankings from U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 public university in the Midwest have taken place with Thomas as president. Under her leadership, the University added 16 undergraduate and 10 graduate degree programs to meet student interests and workforce needs. Thomas oversaw the investment of more than $67 million in campus facility and infrastructure improvements while simultaneously maintaining exceptionally low debt levels. That achievement has placed Truman on excellent financial footing and led the University to the best Higher Learning Commission Composite Financial Index among its peers.
 
What may ultimately define the Thomas presidency is her commitment to Kirksville and the surrounding area. The Greenwood Interprofessional Autism Center came to fruition under her watch, and countless children and their families will benefit from that much needed resource. Thomas is also responsible for the Kirk Building renovation project and the creation of the Senator Roy and Abby Blunt SKILLS Center, which will support the local economy and workforce. Through her collaborations with the City of Kirksville, Thomas established partnerships with Kraft Heinz, the Kirksville Community Connections Group and Special Olympics Missouri.
 
“We have accomplished so much together over the past 10 years, never letting a challenge stand in our way. Please know the words ‘thank you’ cannot adequately express my profound gratitude and appreciation for you, our remarkable achievements, and what we will achieve this upcoming year. I remain fully committed to our work,” she said.
 
Thomas joined the Truman community in July 2014, serving as the executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. She assumed the position of interim president July 1, 2016, and was offered the role of president in February 2017 following a unanimous vote by the Board of Governors. Thomas will officially retire July 31, 2027. Her full year’s notice will allow for a comprehensive presidential search and a smooth leadership transition.

The 2026 Homecoming committee has officially announced “Home Sweet Homecoming” as the celebration’s theme, kicking off registration for organizations interested in participating in the week’s events, Oct. 19-24. 

Leaders of organizations seeking involvement will have the opportunity to choose how involved their group will be through the organization registration form. Forms should be completed by 11:59 p.m. Aug. 28, with liaison meetings beginning Sept. 1 and continuing until Homecoming week. All liaisons will be added to the Homecoming Slack channel so they can receive regular updates, communicate with the committee and find resources as needed.

Additional details will be found at homecoming.truman.edu as they become available. All questions about Homecoming should be directed to Matthew Freitag, Homecoming coordinator, at homecoming@truman.edu.

Robert Yawson has been selected as Truman's next dean of the School of Business and Professional Studies.

Yawson joins Truman with more than 30 years of experience in teaching, research and service. He has held several leadership roles and earned local, national and international recognition for his work in leadership and human resource development.

Most recently, Yawson served as professor of management and as the William S. Perlroth Endowed Professor of Business, and chair of the Department of Entrepreneurship, International Business and Strategy at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. He is also the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Organization Management Journal and a Fellow and President-Elect of the Eastern Academy of Management. During his career, he has served as a lecturer, part-time faculty, research fellow, analyst, and head of administration at a variety of institutions, including the University of Southern Maine, Providence College, Johnson and Wales University, the University of Minnesota, and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Ghana.

“I am honored and excited to join Truman State University and to lead a school as rich and interdisciplinary as the School of Business and Professional Studies,” Yawson said. “What drew me to Truman is its genuine commitment to students and to the communities it serves. Spanning business, education, nursing, communication disorders, exercise science, military science, and psychology and counseling, this school reflects the very best of what higher education can be: preparing capable, thoughtful professionals who go on to strengthen their communities. I look forward to working alongside our talented faculty, staff and students to build on the strong foundation already in place, and to writing the next chapter of this school’s story together.” 

Yawson has a rich educational background with degrees and certificates covering the sciences, public policy, leadership and food management. His credentials include a Ph.D. in organizational leadership, policy and development and a master's degree in science, technology and environmental policy, both from the University of Minnesota. He also holds a Master of Philosophy degree in biochemistry and a bachelor's degree in biochemistry with chemistry, both from the University of Ghana.

Yawson will begin his duties with the School of Business and Professional Studies July 27.

The Truman women's swimming team gathers after winning the NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships in Indianapolis March 11, 2006.

Six NCAA Division II national champion women's swimming teams will be inducted into the Truman Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class.

The teams being inducted include the 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008 NCAA Division II national championship squads. The 2001 NCAA national championship team, which was previously inducted into the Truman Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011, will also be invited back and recognized as part of a celebration of one of the greatest dynasties in NCAA Division II history.

Together, these teams captured seven NCAA Division II national championships in eight seasons, establishing Truman as the dominant women's swimming program in Division II during the first decade of the 21st century.

The dynasty began in 2001 when the Bulldogs captured the first NCAA team championship in Truman history. Truman followed with six consecutive national championships from 2001-06, becoming the first women's swimming program in NCAA Division II history to win six-straight national titles. After a runner-up finish in 2007, the Bulldogs reclaimed the national championship in 2008 to secure their seventh title in eight years.

Under head coaches Seth Huston, Colleen Murphy and Mark Gole, the Bulldogs produced NCAA individual champions, national champion relay teams, Coach of the Year recipients, Academic All-Americans, NCAA scholarship recipients and hundreds of All-America honors while building one of the most successful programs in Division II athletics.

The 2026 Truman Athletics Hall of Fame Weekend will take place Sept. 11-12. Members of the six newly inducted championship teams, along with representatives of the previously inducted 2001 national championship team, will be recognized throughout the weekend's festivities. The teams will also be honored Sept. 12 during halftime of the football game against Northeastern State University. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.

Sal Costa will offer a brand-new course, “The History of the Mafia,” to all non-degree seeking students interested in taking it this fall.

For many years, Costa taught multiple unique courses at the University. Now retired, he has developed public, condensed versions of his most popular courses, including “Serial Killers” and “The Psychology of Abnormal Behavior.” This fall, Costa will unveil a new publicly available course, “The History of the Mafia.” Participants will be able to gain a wealth of knowledge, including about Sicilian and Italian customs.

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. The eight-week course will begin Aug. 18 and run through Oct. 6. 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 under “Community Courses.” 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.

Move-In Day will take place between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 12. Those who volunteer will help new students move their belongings from their car to their respective rooms, direct traffic at essential locations and guide families to long-term parking. Sign up is available here.