Vol. 31 No. 3 - August 31, 2026

The legendary comedy institution The Second City will launch this year’s Kohlenberg Lyceum Series at 7 p.m. Sept. 23 in Baldwin Auditorium.

The Second City is one of the oldest and most infamous comedy empires, having been co-founded as a small cabaret theatre in Chicago in 1959 by Bernie Sahlins, Howard Alk and Paul Sills. After generations of success, the company is now home to iconic alumni including Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Keegan-Michael Key and many more.

In their show, The Second City will blend signature improv comedy with hilarious songs, classic characters and timeless sketches handpicked from their comedy archive and modernized by some of today’s boldest comedic voices.

Tickets will be available starting Sept. 9 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 at the ticket window in Baldwin Hall beginning 30 minutes before the performance. 
 
Tickets for the 2026-27 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 Career Center will kick off the brand new “Alumni Career Coffee Chat” series with a conversation featuring Truman’s education alumni.

“Making a Difference Through Education” will focus on the ways careers in education extend far beyond the classroom. Three Truman alumni will lead the talk, including; Deborah Knaust (’94), dean of student life and engagement at Franklin University Switzerland; Alison Notter (’16), director of outreach at the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development; and Dr. Melanie Hutchinson (’04), director of instructional technology and online learning at Lee’s Summit School District. Attendees will have the chance to hear how each panelist built their career, what their work looks like now and what they have learned along the way.

All Truman students are welcome to attend. This conversation may be especially valuable for students interested in education, student affairs, instructional technology, higher education, workforce development or careers focused on helping people learn and grow.

The virtual talk will take place from 12-1 p.m. Sept. 10, with an in-person viewing party taking place in Violette Hall 1300. Snacks and light refreshments will be provided. Registration is required and can be completed on Handshake. Questions should be directed to Kim Sprought, director of employment development, at ksprought@truman.edu.

The University Art Gallery will feature “The Legend of Kente” and “ETCETERA” Sept. 1 through Oct. 20.

“The Legend of Kente” explores the rich history, artistry and cultural significance of kente cloth, Ghana’s iconic woven textile. Featuring more than 50 kente weavings, four dresses, a video demonstrating the weaving process and interpretive materials, the exhibition highlights the intricate patterns, colors, symbols and stories embedded within each work. From its origins as a royal textile to its role as a global symbol of African heritage, pride and Pan-African identity, “The Legend of Kente” celebrates the enduring legacy of this artistic tradition.

The collection is toured by Exhibits USA National Traveling Exhibitions, a program managed by Mid-America Arts Alliance, one of the six nonprofit regional arts organizations. Exhibits USA expands the depth and breadth of cultural life in local communities, rural and urban, by offering accessible exhibitions to small and mid-sized venues nationwide. Additional information about the program can be found at eusa.org.

An opening reception for the exhibition will take place from 5-6 p.m. Sept. 4 in the University Art Gallery. This event is free and open to the public.

“ETCETERA” by Rao Ibtisam Najam, assistant professor of design, brings together a collection of work created across years of exploring, experimenting and working between disciplines. Spanning graphic design, illustration, comics, concept art, film and animation, the exhibition reflects a creative practice that has never quite fit into a single box. These varied experiences eventually converged in “Interactive Storytelling: Comics through Gameplay,” a master’s thesis that combined visual storytelling, comics and video games to explore new ways audiences can interact with and experience a narrative. 

Originally from Lahore, Pakistan, Najam’s creative practice spans a wide range of mediums and formats, shaped by experience working both independently and commercially across various forms of visual storytelling. His multidisciplinary background has encouraged an approach to making that is driven by experimentation and a willingness to move between traditional and digital media. Additional information about Najam, as well as more of his work, can be found at raoibtisam.com.

Najam will host an artist’s talk at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 4 in the Charlyn Gallery, with an opening ceremony for “ETCETERA” following from 5-6:30 p.m. These events are free and open to the public.

The American Red Cross will host blood drives from 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sept 1-2 in the Student Union Building. Donors will receive an exclusive Red Cross x Hello Kitty collectible item, while supplies last. One donation can save up to three lives. To schedule an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org/give or call 800.733.2767.

Admissions and Residence Life are looking for students to participate in the "Showroom Host" program. Through the program, students who live on campus are paid to show off their room to visiting students and families during recruitment events. Applications are due Sept. 2. Additional details including the application, job description and compensation can be found here.

Proctorio, Truman’s test proctoring partner, works inside Brightspace to provide an extra layer of secure testing confidence.  In this webinar, the University’s training specialist from Proctorio will introduce new users — and refresh existing users — to the current best practices in using the software. He will also introduce the new, easier-to-use support website. No pre-registration is required to participate. Those interested can join the meeting using this link at the time of the event.

In celebration of National College Colors Day Sept. 4, free Truman cow bells will be handed out from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in front of the Student Union Building. Truman spirit shirts will also be available for $5 at the information desk in the Student Union Building. Sizes small to 5X will be available, while supplies last.

The Robert L. Gould Scholastic Award is an opportunity for students of all majors to submit a research paper for the chance to win up to $10,000.

For more than 30 years, SS&C Technologies, a financial technology company, has sponsored the award to recognize outstanding university students who produce academic papers on topics related to investment management strategies, theories and trends.

The topic for this year questions if investors should expand access to tokenized assets, asking students to evaluate portfolio benefits, risks and regulatory challenges in modern financial markets. Evolving financial markets have influenced institutional and high-net-worth investors to increasingly allocate capital to tokenized assets and blockchain-based securities. Simultaneously, advances in blockchain technology have enabled the development of asset tokenization, which has been argued by critics as both favorable and problematic.

First place will receive $10,000, second place will receive $7,500 and third place will receive $5,000. To apply for the Gould Scholastic Award, students must be a university junior or senior. Graduate students are not eligible to participate. Group projects are eligible, but if the group wins, the winning dollars are split equally among the members of the group.

In 2025, Truman students earned first, second and third place in the contest, taking home a combined total of $22,500.

Interested students should contact Yung-hwal Park, associate professor of business administration, at yhpark@truman.edu by Sept. 11.

Applications for positions on AFAC are available at senate.truman.edu/application. Questions should be directed to studentgovernment@truman.edu.

Students who may be interested in sharing their Truman experiences should fill out this form.

The University is seeking students to be Spike for various events on and off campus, including some nights or weekends. This is a paid position at a minimum $25 per event. Applicants must be taller than 5’4” and shorter than 6’2”. Applicants must also be enthusiastic and outgoing. Those interested can email wcarter@truman.edu to apply.

Holly Kincaid, assistant professor of education, presented at the European Council for High Ability (ECHA) conference, Aug. 12-15, at St. Patrick’s University in Dublin, Ireland.

This international gathering brought together researchers and educators from 48 countries to share research, exchange innovative practices and foster collaboration in gifted education. Kincaid contributed to this global exchange alongside colleagues from around the world by presenting research and leading workshops that provided practical tools and strategies for educators working with gifted and talented learners.

Huanxin Liu, assistant professor of business administration, earned the 2026 Organizational Behavior Division Best Paper with Practical Implications for Management Award. 

Liu is the lead author on "Implicit Leadership and Followership Theories and Leader-Member Exchange: A Dyadic and Dynamic Perspective." Her co-authors are: Tiffany Keller Hansbrough, Fairleigh Dickinson University; Guiyao Tang, Shandong University; and Shelley Dionne, State University of New York at Binghamton. The group’s piece was recognized at the Academy of Management meeting in Philadelphia in early August.

Applications are available here. Questions should be directed to Brody Douglas, recruitment chair, at jc22571@truman.edu.