Vol. 21 No. 9 - October 17, 2016

The Department of Music will host professional musician Spencer Baker in a two-day piano residency, Oct. 20-21.

The residency begins at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 in Ophelia Parrish 3320, with Baker presenting a lecture-recital entitled “Transcription and Song.” The program features works by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Godowsky, Thalberg and Smetana. He will also conduct a masterclass featuring Truman piano majors at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 21 in Ophelia Parrish 3320.
 
Baker is a Las Vegas musician, conductor and teacher who recently completed doctoral studies in piano performance at UNLV. He has been a soloist with the UNLV Symphony Orchestra, Las Vegas Civic Symphony and the Desert Spring Arts Chamber Orchestra. Most of Baker’s solo appearances have occurred in the Southwest, but he has also performed in Dallas, Texas; Washington., D.C.; Disneyland; Niagara Falls; Montreal; Italy; Canada; and China. He is a founding member and vocal coach for the Las Vegas voice festival La Voce Totale, and is in his third season with the International Opera Performing Experience in Mercatello sul Matauro, Italy, as faculty collaborative pianist, teacher and vocal coach.

The third Buddy Pack Walk supported a total of 66 Buddy Packs, meals prepared by the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri that will go to children from low-income families.

Multiple Truman departments competed in the walk to support the program. In first place was the Health and Exercise Science Department, which raised $1,281. Education followed in second place, raising $988. In third place was the McNair Program, earning $370. There were 100 volunteers in total, many of which came from Truman.

To further support the food bank, Truman students will be trick-or-treating for canned goods from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 19. The event coincides with Homecoming festivities and is part of the annual Big Week of Giving. 

More information about the Buddy Pack program can be found on the food bank's website.

The Education Department raised $988 during the Buddy Pack Walk.

Members of Truman's McNair Program raised $370 during the Buddy Pack Walk.

Several Truman alumni will be recognized at the Bulldog Forever Celebration Banquet at 6 p.m. Oct. 21 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room as part of Homecoming 2016.


Originally from the Moberly, Mo., area, Dan is a 1979 Truman graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture. While at Truman, Dan was involved in the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and worked a full-time job while carrying a heavy class load during his last two years at Truman.

Hailing from Bevier, Mo., Jan is a 1976 graduate with a one-year clerical certificate in business and accountancy.

Together, they own and operate Shepherd Farms, a 4,000-acre farm, located in central Missouri near Clifton Hill. The main focus of Shepherd Farms is the pecan enterprise. With the largest northern pecan orchard in the country, their farm is home to more than 300 acres of pecan trees. In 1990 they opened a store to sell their products and in 1996 started an online store. Featured products include their pecans, along with candies, jams and jellies, all sold at their store in Clifton Hill and online.

Dan and Jan were introduced by a mutual friend and went on their first blind date. Truman has remained near and dear to their hearts after 32 years of marriage. In 2015, through their estate, they established two scholarships: the Dan and Jan Shepherd International Student Scholarship to offer resources to international students, and the Dan and Jan Shepherd Scholarship for U.S. students.

The Shepherds regularly participate in exchange programs through their Rotary Club. They have hosted 12 youths from nine countries. The international high school students stay for four months and then move to another Rotary family. The Dan and Jan Shepherd International Student Scholarship will offer resources exclusively to international students, since the Shepherds are well aware of the struggles those students can face.

“Many of them would have liked to attend college in the U.S., but the money was just not available,” Dan said. “With this scholarship, we might be able to help some really talented kids experience life in the U.S., and also add to the understanding of the local students that it is a big world.”



Angela “Ann” (Leone) Patterson is the director of operations for the Patterson Legal Group in Wichita, Kan. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Truman in 1972 and a master’s degree in 1973. As a student, Ann was active with Cardinal Key, Echo Yearbook, Sigma Sigma Sigma, Student Senate and the Student Union Board. Ann has hosted several Student Send-off events in Wichita to help welcome new Truman students from the area.

Ann serves as the programs and awards committee chair on the Alumni Board of Directors; she is involved with Sigma Sigma Sigma alumni and assisted in organizing the sorority’s 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2016 reunions. She works with the Wichita Habitat for Humanity and has served as an executive officer for 10 years including serving as president, as well as a member of the fundraising committee. In 2012, Ann received the Habitat for Humanity Affiliate Leadership Award. The Patterson family established the Leone-Patterson Scholarship in 2015 to be utilized by the Office of Admissions as a recruitment scholarship to encourage students to attend Truman.

Ann Patterson resides in Wichita with her husband, Gary. They have two children, Megan and Tyler (’06), and two grandchildren.


Colleen Ritchie, of Brentwood, Mo., is a senior IT program manager for Reinsurance Group of America (RGA) at the company’s headquarters in Chesterfield, Mo. She has 30 years of finance, information technology and consulting experience. Over the course of her career, Colleen has delivered technological solutions to improve and enhance business processes for Anheuser-Busch, Solae, Monsanto, Express Scripts, Century Link, Bunge North America, Forest Pharmaceuticals, Mallinckrodt, KPMG and Daugherty Business Solutions. Colleen has been with RGA for the last six years, where in conjunction with her role as an IT leader, she has also served as a career mentor for the past three years.

Colleen has been actively engaged philanthropically at Truman, as she established the Joseph Baldwin Academy Opportunities Scholarship in 2004 to enable students to attend the JBA program every summer. She provided funding and initiative to launch a five-year matching gift commitment focused on harnessing the generous civic spirit of Truman students by encouraging them to channel that giving attitude toward Truman as new alumni by leaving a legacy of support for those yet to come.

Outside of Truman, Colleen gives back to the St. Louis community through her commitments to the St. Louis Komen Race for the Cure, American Heart Association, iTN St. Charles and Autism Speaks. In her spare time, she enjoys cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, traveling, reading and, most importantly, spending quality time in the company of family and friends, many of whom are Truman alumni.

Colleen graduated from Truman in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and was an active member of Delta Sigma Pi. She recently served six years on the Truman State University Foundation Board of Directors.



Justis Tuia is a 2007 graduate, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He is employed by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and serves as president of LGBT and Allied Employees at ED, the Principal Representative for ED’s Asian-American Pacific Islander Connections, a member of the ED’s Diversity & Inclusion Council, a member of Truman State University Alumni Board of Directors, a member of the Joseph Priestly District Board of the Unitarian Universalist Association and a member of the International Board of Directors of Affirmation.

While at Truman, Tuia was a Pershing Scholar. He was involved in Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honor society; Pi Sigma Alpha national political science honor society; the Phi Beta Kappa Society; the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi; Student Ambassadors; Society for Sino-American Studies; International Club; and Phi Sigma Pi national honor fraternity. After graduating from Truman in 2007, Tuia went on to receive a Master of Arts degree in international and intercultural communications (formerly known as international communication) from American University’s School of International Service, graduating summa cum laude and was involved in Golden Key International Honour Society. He is a former diversity fellow of the Washington Center, International Scholar Laureate, past MLK Drum Major for Service Award recipient and a Presidential Management Fellow.

Tuia resides in Chevy Chase, Md. He is actively involved in the Mid-Atlantic Alumni Chapter, currently serving as the chapter treasurer and the representative to the National Alumni Board. Tuia previously served on the Bright Minds Bright Futures Mid-Atlantic regional campaign committee and currently serves on the Pursue the Future Mid-Atlantic regional  campaign committee. He is a member of the Truman State University Kirk Society and the Joseph Baldwin Society.





Clifton Ray grew up in a difficult time in the inner city of St. Louis. He loved sports and played both basketball and football at Beaumont High School. He earned All-State honors as quarterback and his high school coach contacted coach Red Wade at Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Truman). Clifton knew Fred Lyles, a high school friend and teammate, and Fred encouraged him to join him in Kirksville for college and football. He enrolled and played football from 1962-65 as a defensive cornerback, offensive wingback and weak side end. He lettered all four years and performed in every varsity game. In 1965, the MIAA named an All-Conference defensive team for the first time and he was a unanimous selection.

Clifton wanted to play professional football, and he was offered a chance to play with the semi-pro Chicago Owls team in the Continental League. He would play football in the winter and return to Kirksville to take classes. In 1969, he left football and returned to Kirksville as a full-time student and completed his Bachelor of Science in Education degree. He immediately got a teaching position as an elementary PE teacher at four St. Louis schools. In 1970, he was hired at Soldan High School as a PE teacher and assistant football coach and remained in that position for eight years. He went on to teach and coach football and basketball at several other St. Louis schools. During this time, Clifton attended classes in Kirksville during the summers and earned his master’s degree in administration in 1976. Clifton was inducted into the Truman Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994 and was named to the Truman All-Century Football team in 2000.

In 1994, he moved into administration at Vashon High School while coaching basketball at Metro, a magnet school. Clifton held administrative positions at King, Gateway Tech and Sumner schools, retiring in 2007. He and his wife, Brenda, have a blended family with seven children. They are grandparents to 24 and great-grandparents to 23.


In celebration of 100 years since 1916 state champion Bulldog baseball team, pitcher Roy Neff will join his battery mate, catcher Leo Petree, in the Truman Athletics Hall of Fame. Neff was a star pitcher for the Bulldogs at the turn of the century and averaged nearly 12 to 15 strikeouts per game. In six games in 1914, Neff fanned 101 hitters (16.6 per game) and allowed only 11 base hits.

He was captain of the 1915 Bulldog squad and hit better than .500 during that campaign.

The signature year for the team was in 1916. Head coach H.L. “Curly” McWilliams’ squad hosted Missouri Wesleyan College for the state championship game in May. Wesleyan jumped out to an early lead but following the substitution of Neff to the mound for the final three innings, the Bulldogs rallied for the 5-4 victory.

Neff was awarded the first letter blanket in school history. Following his time in Kirksville, Neff taught at Hannibal Senior High School for one year before serving in the United States Army during World War I.

He returned from the war and was in education for the next 10 years with stops in McGregor and Luana, Iowa. Neff returned to the family farm in Shelbina, Mo., in 1929. He was awarded a plaque from the Shelby County Historical Society for his “outstanding contribution and tireless effort in preserving the history of the county” and was a charter member of the Shelby County Historical Society. He passed away in 1980 at the age of 86.



Ross was the second All-American for the Truman men’s soccer program and earned the award in both 1988 and 1989. He was a three-time first team All-MIAA member. He broke or tied 12 school records in his career and currently ranks tied for second in goals scored (35), fifth in assists (26), third in points (96) and fifth in shots (198).

Truman won at least 11 games in each of Ross’s four seasons with the team under the direction of head coach Dave Poggi. Ross was named the squad’s “Rookie of the Year” in 1986 after registering six goals and eight assists for 20 points. He was the co-most valuable player as a sophomore with defender and Hall of Fame member Bob Atherton in 1987. The Bulldogs peaked at number 10 in Division II during the 1989 season and finished that year with a 13-6-1 overall record.

Ross was the first Bulldog soccer player to play professionally as he was signed out of a special tryout by the Portland Timbers of the then Western Soccer Outdoor League.



Brad Boyer and Hank Janssen has been a fixture for Bulldog fans for over two decades. The duo has been broadcasting Truman Football and Basketball games through the facilities of “Superstation” KRES 104.7 FM radio since the 1995 campaign.

Boyer, a native of Memphis, Mo., is currently the operations manager for KRES, KWIX, KTCM and KIRK for the Alpha Media USA group. He and his stations have been known as North Missouri’s Sports Leader with their thorough coverage of not only the Truman Bulldogs but all high school sports within the listening area. He has earned many awards for his broadcasts from the Missouri Broadcasters Association and was inducted into the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2015.

“Mr. Bulldog” Hank Janssen has been associated with teams at Truman since the mid-1970s. Janssen attended Truman and showed an immediate passion for Bulldog athletics. He served as sports editor for the Index then was the sports editor for the Kirksville Daily Express. Janssen began working with hall of famer Bob Carlson on Truman football and basketball broadcasts in the 1980s. He continued covering Truman when games moved from KIRX to KTUF then transitioned over to KRES with Boyer in 1995. In addition, Janssen has given countless hours in support of the Kirksville Baseball Softball Association.



Pete Kendall served as tennis coach for Truman for 20 years. His teams won a combine 476 dual matches, two MIAA titles and made 13 NCAA tournament appearances.

Kendall arrived on campus in 1992 following a four-year stint as head coach at Methodist University in North Carolina. He guided the Bulldog women to MIAA titles in 1995 and 1998. He was named the MIAA Women’s Coach of the Year following both seasons and had five winners of the MIAA Sportsmanship Award. On the men’s side, Kendall’s teams qualified for nationals in 1997 and again from 2004 through 2008. He had six players garner the conference Sportsmanship Award and had individual conference champions before the format was changed to a team tournament.

In addition to the on-court accolades, Kendall’s student-athletes earned multiple national and conference academic awards. He had four College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-Americans and eight players earn Academic All-District distinctions.

Kendall retired from coaching following the 2012 season and moved with his wife Lynn to Arizona.

More detailed biographies for the 2016 Homecoming honorees can be accessed below.

Alumni of the Year: Dan Shepherd (’79) & Jan Shepherd (’76)
Distinguished Service Awards: Ann Patterson (’72, ’73), Colleen Ritchie (’84)
Young Alumni of the Year: Justis Tuia (’07)
Bulldog Forever Volunteer of the Year: Marsha (James) Redmon (’79), Christopher Weidmeyer (’96)
Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal: Clifton “Dickie” Ray (’69, ’76)
Athletics Hall of Fame 2016 Inductees: Roy Neff, Quin Ross, Brad Boyer/Hank Jenssen, Pete Kendall

The award for the Alumni Chapter of the Year will be announced at the banquet.

More information on each of these awards, past recipients and how to nominate someone can be found here, or contact bulldogforever2@truman.edu. To purchase banquet tickets, visit the online Alumni Store.

Alumni Sean and Melinda Mettler are the winners of the Bulldogs Biggest Fans photo contest.

The photo they submitted on National Truman Spirit Day had 999 combined "likes," "loves" and shares on Facebook. As winners, the 2005 alumni receive a Homecoming VIP package that includes: four tickets to the Bulldog Forever Tailgate; four tickets to the game; four Truman T-shirts, Bulldog Forever koozies and sunglasses; and one hotel room for Oct. 21-22.

Second place in the contest went to Morgan Dobbie's entry with 814 combined "likes," "loves" and shares. Laci Cook's entry took third with a total of 146. To view all of the submissions in this year’s contest, click here.

Author Jack Smith will be reading from his 2016 novel, “Being,” as part of the for·Words series sponsored by the Department of English and Linguistics.

The event will take place at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 24 in the Del & Norma Robison Planetarium.

Smith has published three novels including “Icon” and “Hog to Hog,” which won the 2007 George Garrett Fiction Prize. He has published stories in a number of literary magazines, including Southern Review, North American Review, Texas Review, Xconnect, In Posse Review and Night Train. His reviews have appeared widely in such publications as Ploughshares, Georgia Review, American Book Review, Prairie Schooner, Mid-American Review, Pleiades, the Missouri Review, Xconnect and Environment magazine. He has published a few dozen articles in both Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market and The Writer magazine. His creative writing book, “Write and Revise for Publication: A 6-Month Plan for Crafting an Exceptional Novel and Other Works of Fiction,” was published in 2013. His coauthored nonfiction environmental book, “Killing Me Softly,” was published 2002.

In addition to his writing, Smith was fiction editor of GHLL, an online literary magazine published by Truman for 25 years.

More information about Smith, for·Words events and additional activities sponsored by the School of Arts and Letters can be found at facebook.com/trumansal.

The Global Issues Colloquium will feature Geoffrey Bergen, consultant for the World Bank and the U.S. Agency for International Development, presenting “International Development: Is There Hope?” at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 in Magruder Hall 2001.

The merits of international development assistance have been debated over the years. Advocates for ongoing and increased aid flows to developing countries, such as Jeffrey Sachs, argue that these are necessary to boost those countries and their poorest citizens out of the “poverty trap.” Opponents of aid argue that development assistance undermines their self-reliance.

From the perspective of his long experience in international development agencies, Bergen will discuss ever-changing theories and the complex realities of international development in actual practice. His discussion will focus on both the successes and failures he has witnessed in countries where he has worked, stressing the ways in which politics on both the giving and receiving end of aid, and institutional characteristics of aid organizations like the World Bank, influence development outcomes. He will also reflect on the joys and sorrows of a career in international development and offer guidance for students considering the career path.

The Global Issues Colloquium was first developed more than a dozen years ago as an informal attempt to broaden conversations about current issues affecting the world. More recently, it has found a niche within the structure of the International Studies Program. Charged with “sustaining and enhancing an atmosphere in which global thinking becomes habitual,” the colloquiums aim to help the broader community understand the “strengths, beauties and core humanity of other cultures.” The series is presented for educational or civic purposes and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Truman State University. For more information, visit globalissues.truman.edu or contact Marc Becker.

Truman has earned a spot on yet another national list of exceptional universities.

AffordableColleges.com, which helps prospective students find rewarding but cost-effective education, listed Truman as one of the top 10 most affordable public universities for in-state students.

In a rigorous review of more than 600 schools nation-wide, Truman stood out as a high-quality yet economical option. The ranking weighs criteria such as in-state tuition, the number of students receiving financial aid, graduation rate and overall net cost to determine which schools across the country offer the most valuable education to students with residency status. Truman is the only Missouri school to make the top 10.

The full list of schools can be seen here.

The Del and Norma Robison Planetarium has featured a series of themed laser light shows set to music by artists including the Beatles, Pink Floyd and U2, among others, but the last chance to catch one of the shows is Oct. 22.
 
In conjunction with the Kirksville Tourism Office, the planetarium, located in Magruder Hall, has hosted daily laser shows from Oct. 8-22. Complete descriptions of each show and their individual screening times can be found below. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased in advance at planetarium.truman.edu/shop. Any remaining tickets will be available for purchase at the door.
 
In addition to the laser shows, the planetarium hosts regular program most weekends during the academic year. The complete schedule of events can be found at planetarium.truman.edu.

 
Laser Show Schedule

Oct. 17
5:30 p.m.
Laser Vinyl
 
Oct. 17
7:30 p.m.
Laser Country
 
Oct. 18
5:30 p.m.
Laser Magic
 
Oct. 18
7:30 p.m.
Hypnotica
 
Oct. 19
5:30 p.m.
Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon”
 
Oct. 19
7:30 p.m.
Pink Floyd’s “The Wall”
 
Oct. 20
5:30 p.m.
Laser Pop
 
Oct. 20
7:30 p.m.
Laser Country
 
Oct. 21
7 p.m.
Fright Night
 
Oct. 21
9 p.m.
Laser Beatles
 
Oct. 22
2 p.m.
Double Feature
“Seven Wonders”
Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon”
 
Oct. 22
4 p.m.
Double Feature
“Ice Worlds”
Laser Beatles
 
Oct. 22
7 p.m.
Legends of the Night Sky – Orion
 
Oct. 22
9 p.m.
Fright Night II
 
 
Laser Show Descriptions

Fright Light
Looking for a unique way to send chills up your spine? Do you have the courage to sit through the most terrifying laser experience ever? Are you brave enough to witness vampires seducing their prey and demons haunting the unsuspecting? Or perhaps you will keep your eyes closed and only sneak a peek at fun renditions like “Purple People Eater” or “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”
Showtime
7 p.m. Oct. 21
 
Fright Light II
Are you brave enough to witness the undead nibbling brains or an unexpected encounter with little green men? Or perhaps you will keep your eyes closed and only sneak a peek at ghoulish renditions of “Thriller” or “Feed My Frankenstein.”
Showtime
9 p.m. Oct. 22
 
Hypnotica
Techno music and lasers go together perfectly, and that is the mix that is Hypnotica. This program offers a mixture of techno and ambient electronic music taken directly from the late-night rave scene. Reflecting influences from hip-hop, soul and pop, this dance-based program with a rock-band feel will shake your entire body with pulsing beats, incredible imagery and dazzling laser light effects.
Showtimes
7:30 p.m. Oct. 18
 
Laser Beatles
Featuring the music of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band of all time, Laser Beatles will take you back to a different time in history to re-experience and remember the evolution of this musical phenomenon. The “Fab Four’s” best-spanning six years becomes the background for dazzling laser-art. All ages and backgrounds will appreciate this fantasy tribute of music and light to the Beatles and how they helped define a generation.
Showtimes
9 p.m. Oct. 21
4 p.m. Oct. 22 (two-for-one double feature; preceded by a screening of “Ice Worlds”)
 
Laser Country
Set to the all-American sounds of modern and classical country songs, this laser show will appeal to all generations. From Garth Brooks and Shania Twain to Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline, this show promises to be a boot-scootin’ good time.
Showtimes
7:30 p.m. Oct. 17
7:30 p.m. Oct. 20
 
Laser Magic
This program offers a magical mix of music, from those you love to those you have forgotten, all presented in concert with stunning laser images. This musical compilation is fun for the entire family and includes artists like Joan Jett, The B-52’s, Will Smith and many more.
Showtimes
5:30 p.m. Oct. 18
 
Laser Pop
The hottest pop artists and the latest laser art come together in a sensational, eye-popping laser show that will have your heart thumping and your feet tapping. Laser Pop features sizzling stars, both past and present, in brilliant laser light.
Showtimes
2 p.m. Oct. 20
 
Laser Vinyl
This presentation captures the pure intent of the laser show experience. Accompanying a fantastic musical concert representing the best of classic rock is some of the most beautiful and stunning laser art ever produced. Reminisce, tap your feet and enjoy a truly fantastic audio-visual event that will rock your body, mind and soul.
Showtimes
5:30 p.m. Oct. 17
 
Laser X
The top alternative songs of the ’90s helped usher in a major cultural shift, as serious-minded, image-free bands blew hair metal and pop off the airwaves almost overnight. Many of these bands have gone on to become the new ruling class of rock ‘n’ roll in the years and decades that followed.
Showtimes
2 p.m. Oct. 16
 
Legends of the Night Sky: Orion
This performance takes a lighthearted and imaginative look at the myths and stories associated with the constellation Orion, the great hunter of the winter sky. The show brings the mythological Orion to life in a fun-filled, animated adventure. Accompanied by narrators Aesop the owl and Socrates the mouse, we follow Orion’s adventures as he grows to manhood, battles mythical beasts, foils the plot of an evil king and wins the heart of Artemis, the beautiful moon-goddess. By the end of the story, we learn how the constellation Orion was placed in the sky, forever turning overhead throughout the seasons.
Showtime
7 p.m. Oct. 22
 
Pink Floyd, “Dark Side of the Moon”
Based on Pink Floyd’s 1973 album of humanitarian, political and philosophical empathy, “Dark Side of the Moon” is one of the most startling and bizarre laser light shows of all time. Considered by many critics to be the album that brought the commercial breakthrough to Pink Floyd, “Dark Side of the Moon” offers a mixture of psychedelic, rock and jazz sounds. Its sonic backdrops and atmospheric soundscapes combined with a unique assortment of sound effects yield an emotional resonance. When accompanied by a diverse and unusual display of laser art, the overall feel is a dramatic and haunting atmosphere.
Showtimes
5:30 p.m. Oct. 19
2 p.m. Oct. 22 (two-for-one double feature; preceded by a screening of “Seven Wonders”)
 
Pink Floyd’s “The Wall”
“The Wall” is truly the mother of all laser-light shows and a cult favorite throughout the world. Considered to be one of the best classic rock albums of all time, “The Wall” is best considered as a continual story rather than a collection of individual songs. It tells the tale of a rock star named Pink and his downward spiral into madness. To the listener, and indeed many critics, “The Wall” is a gripping and spellbinding musical journey – beautiful, haunting, powerful and thought provoking. It is a timeless classic, and one of Pink Floyd’s best, becoming the group’s second best seller behind “Dark Side of the Moon.” Now coupled with spectacular and mesmerizing laser art, Pink Floyd’s classic 1979 epic about personal struggle takes on a unique look, weaving its story in one of the most-popular laser shows ever produced.
Showtimes
7:30 p.m. Oct. 20

Students interested in foreign service careers with the State Department are invited to a discussion with a veteran foreign diplomat at 6 p.m. Oct. 17 in the Student Union Building 3000.

Nickolas Katsakis has 13 years of experience representing the United States overseas. He is currently the border and law affairs officer in the Office of Canadian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. Previously, Katsakis served at United States embassies in Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Moscow, Iraq and Poland, as well as postings at the Department of State in Washington, D.C. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in foreign service from Georgetown University and started his career as a social studies teacher. He speaks Russian, Polish, German and some Dari.

The event is sponsored by the Career Center.

The Institute for Academic Outreach is looking for students to provide feedback on their preferences for summer and interim courses in 2017. Students are encouraged to visit survey.truman.edu/Survey.aspx?surveyid=5069 and complete a short survey that will help identify the courses, schedules and modes of delivery most desired by Truman students. The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. For more information about summer and interim sessions, visit summer.truman.edu.

Student Affairs is partnering with the Interfaith Center and SAB to host a panel regarding faith and leadership and the roles they play in decision making at 6 p.m. Oct. 19 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room. Professors and members of Truman’s campus will facilitate the discussion, titled “Faith and Leadership in Decision-making.” This event is free and open to the public.

The event will be followed by a presidential debate watch party. Refreshments will be provided.

Truman alumni Brian Santos and Dr. Jennifer Miller will present “Beyond the Curriculum:  Advice for First Year Language Teachers and the Incorporation of ACTFL Can-Do Statements” at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 in Ophelia Parrish 2121.

As Truman alumni and professional educators, Miller and Santos know the challenges and struggles new educators face in their first professional year. Future educators are invited to come by to hear the advice and wisdom gained from their experience and to ask questions about topics of concern, best practices or anything else related to education.

Miller is currently the foreign language department chair and Spanish teacher at Francis Howell Central High School. In addition to her bachelor's and master's degree from Truman, she has a Doctor of Education from the University of Missouri in St. Louis. She received her National Board Certification in 2007.

Santos is currently a Spanish teacher at Francis Howell North High School. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Truman and is ABD in the Doctorate in Education and Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Missouri in St. Louis. Santos was awarded the Francis Howell School District 2015 Teacher of the Year, the Missouri Foreign Language Association’s 2015 Distinguished Foreign Language Educator Award, and was selected as the Missouri Language Teacher of the Year by the Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

This event is sponsored by the Department of Classical and Modern Languages and LinguaProfs.

Apparel for Homecoming 2016, including sweatshirts, t-shirts and tank tops, is now available for purchase. To see the products, go to homecoming.truman.edu/shop.

The Alumni Office, located in McClain Hall 205, is featuring new alumni apparel options for Homecoming.

Available are Truman purple and white scarves for $12, charcoal gray fleece vests in fitted and unisex styles for $20 and long-sleeved purple T-shirts for $10. They may be purchased online or in the Alumni Office during regular business hours. Also for sale are discounted long-sleeve gray alumni T-shirts for $5 and gray or purple fleece jackets for $20. Sizes are limited.

Tickets are also now available for Homecoming events. Tickets may be purchased online at the link above or in the Alumni Office. For any questions, call 660.785.4133.

A music faculty recital, featuring Brian Kubin on cello and Michael Bunchman on piano, will take place at 8 p.m. Oct. 22 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall. The concert is free and open to the public. Kubin and Bunchman will perform a variety of musical works spanning many genres and years, featuring Beethoven’s fifth cello sonata, Robert Schumann’s Fantasy Pieces and Barber’s cello sonata.

More information about this recital, future Music Department events and other events happening in the School of Arts and Letters can be found at facebook.com/trumansal.

The Communication Disorders Association is collecting diapers and wipes for local families in need at the Speech and Hearing Clinic. Diapers in larger sizes are especially sought after. Families can visit the Salvation Army from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Oct. 28 to receive diapers. For more information, contact Greta Roettgen.

Author and alumna Samantha Fidler-Newby will discuss her journey into the world of publishing and building her brand as a new fiction writer at 1 p.m. Oct. 21 in the Student Union Building CSI Complex.

Fidler-Newby will talk about the difference between traditional and self-publishing, how she found an editor and how she is marketing herself both online and in person. She will also have a question-and-answer session following her presentation.

From 2-4 p.m. in the CSI Complex, Fidler-Newby will be available to sign copies of her novel, “The Thornless Rose: Fire Blush.”  

For more information, contact Fidler-Newby at samanthafidlernewbyauthor@gmail.com.

Truman’s National Collegiate Hispanic Honors Society, Sigma Delta Pi, will be hosting a variety of events designed to share and inform about Hispanic culture. Students and faculty will present on the Dominican Republic, Día de los Muertos and Cuba. Refreshments will be provided.

Discover the Dominican Republic
7:30-8:30 p.m.
Oct. 18
Violette Hall 1010  

Celebrate Día de los Muertos
7:30-8:30 p.m.
Nov. 1
Violette Hall 1010

Cuba: Past and Present
8-9 p.m.
Dec. 6
Magruder Hall 2001

The workshop, “What Horses Can Do For Your Health,” will be offered at 3:40 p.m. Oct. 28 at the University Farm.

The workshop, open specifically to Truman students, has been repeatedly popular with those who participate. Although participants will not be riding the horses, they will have the opportunity to interact closely with the horses during the session. The session will allow them to experience first-hand how horses help humans mentally process and how horses can teach self-discipline and self-worth. The event is limited to the first 15 Truman students who sign up here. Questions may be directed to Beth Miller.

The Institute for American Universities invites Truman faculty to apply for its Resident Fellows Program, which allows visiting professors on sabbatical leave to tap into IAU’s existing resources, such as faculty, classroom space, housing, library and archives.

The fellows program is available in Aix-en-Provence, France, and will be available in Barcelona, Spain, for the 2018-19 academic year. Interested faculty should complete the IAU Resident Fellows Application. The spring semester deadline is Nov. 10. For questions about the Resident Fellows Program, contact the Center for International Education Abroad.

The Missouri Folklore Society will host its annual conference in Kirksville Nov. 3-5, and society members, students, faculty and staff will present research or showcase a particular strand of folklore.

Dozens of presentations will highlight the rich cultural traditions of the state, focusing on the northeast region. Features of the conference include the Missouri Folklore Society Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 3 in the Student Union Building Georgian Rooms, with Sodexo providing specialized catering using the MFS Journal’s Missouri Foodways issue. Loretta Washington’s performance and book launch for “My Corner of the Porch,” a For·Words event, will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 3 in the Student Union Building Georgian Rooms. Following the performance, the Folklore Society will host an open jam session. The conference will also feature the Schroeder contest, which will provide $125 scholarships for the best papers submitted on Missouri folklore or folk life.

Throughout November, the Kirksville Arts Association will host a folk arts exhibit. The visual arts of Kirksville’s new African and Latino immigrants will be featured and foregrounded along with the works of local Hands of Friendship quilters, regional musicians, artists and basket weavers. The exhibit is free and open to the public for the entire month. It is co-sponsored by the Missouri Humanities Council, the Kirksville Arts Association, Truman’s Multicultural Affairs Center and the Missouri Folklore Society.

The conference is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the Missouri Folklore Society’s website.

The Communication Disorders (CMDS) Department will host a Graduate Student Open House from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Nov. 5 in the Health Sciences Building 2203. All prospective students interested in pursuing a master’s degree in communication disorders from Truman are invited to attend. Information regarding the CMDS graduate program, the profession, employment opportunities and funding for graduate school will be provided along with the opportunity to meet faculty, alumni and students of the program. RSVP to Connie Ikerd, department secretary, at cikerd@truman.edu.

The study abroad playlist on Truman’s YouTube Channel provides a unique way to learn more about opportunities available through the University. Student testimonials offer a glimpse of what it is like to study abroad and describe how that experience changed their lives.

This week’s featured video looks at art history opportunities in Europe.

Truman will celebrate Sustainability Week Oct. 23-28 as part of the University’s continuing efforts to encourage lasting ideals to meet the needs of the present while also securing prosperity in the future.

The highlight of the week will be Michael Urban’s presentation, “The Science Behind Climate Change,” at 4 p.m. Oct. 25 in Violette Hall 1000.

Urban is an associate professor and chair of geography at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and his research specialty is climate change, water resources and environmental management. The focus of much of his work has been on how river systems and water resources have changed in response to patterns of climate, human behavior and human impacts on the environment during the past century. His recent work involves modeling 20th and 21st century climatic water budgets across the United States and Northeastern China.  

Urban has attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference as a representative of the Association of American Geographers. He is interested in how a changing climate will affect water resources and environmental management on local and regional scales. Some of Urban’s published works include topics such as how the perception of natural environments influences public policy, the ethics and philosophy behind environmental restoration, and the effect of agriculture on the physical integrity of river channels and stream networks.

Truman’s Sustainability Committee strives to dedicate its resources to coordination, development and engagement of sustainable practices. Details for other events taking place throughout the week can be found below or on the Truman Sustainability Facebook page.

Local Foods Dinner
6:30 p.m.
Oct. 23
Centennial Hall Lounge
Hosted by Tri-Beta

Zero Waste Day and Sustainability Pledge by ECO
11 a.m.-3 p.m.           
Oct 24
University Mall
 
Environmental Studies Minor Reception
3-4 p.m.
Oct. 25
Violette Hall Commons
For students interested in the minor, this is a chance ask questions and meet each other. This event is hosted by PSAC and the ENVS minor committee.

“The Science Behind Climate Change”
Dr. Michael Urban, chair of geography at the University of Missouri-Columbia
4 p.m.
Oct. 25
Violette Hall 1000

Learn About Local Foods Table
Sponsored by Communiversity Garden/Green Thumb Project
11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Oct. 26
University Mall

Sustainability Fee Committee Project Showcase
11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Oct. 26
University Mall

Recycling Drive
For glass, batteries and used cell phones
12-4 p.m.
Oct. 26
Violette Hall 1310

TLS Thrift Shop
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Oct. 27
Student Union Building Alumni Room

Recycling Drive
For glass, batteries and used cell phones
12-4 p.m.
Oct. 27
Violette Hall 1310

TLS Thrift Shop
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Oct. 28
Student Union Building Alumni Room
 
Recycling Drive
For glass, batteries and used cell phones
12-4 p.m.
Oct. 28
Violette Hall 1310

The Sustainability Tag Event will take place from Oct. 23-28. Post a picture on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #trumansustainability. The person with the most tags will win a free bike from the Bike Co-op.

Check out the Truman Snapchat account Oct. 26 for more information about that day’s events and the University’s sustainability efforts.

Jerrold Hirsch, professor emeritus of history, has an essay, “Kentucky Folk Art: New Deal Approaches,” in Kentucky by Design: The Decorative Arts and American Culture, which has just been awarded the Alice prize given by the J. M. Kaplan fund. The award recognizes nonfiction books having to do with art, architecture, design and cultural history and that appeal to an informed general audience and give evidence of high standards in editing, design, and production. Kentucky By Design was published by the University of Kentucky Press.

Antonio Scuderi, professor of Italian, has published an article “Tracing Ritual to Theatre: The Carnival Encoded in Plautus’ Menaechmi” in the book “Stage, Page, Play: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Theatre and Theatricality.”

The Morris K. Udall Foundation awards scholarships to sophomore or junior students who have demonstrated leadership and commitment to public service in areas related to environmental issues on a local, national or global scale. Students interested in applying should contact Franta Majs by Nov. 18. For more information, visit the Udall Foundation website.