Vol. 21 No. 21 - February 13, 2017

Dr. Susan L. Thomas has been selected to serve as the 17th president of Truman State University, effective March 1.

After a unanimous vote, the University Board of Governors extended, and Thomas accepted, the invitation to serve as the next president. The announcement was made Feb. 10 by Mike LaBeth, chair of the Board.

“Dr. Thomas possesses the qualifications, characteristics and values we were seeking in our next president,” LaBeth said. “Her qualifications, experience and interviews placed her as the top candidate in a group of outstanding and highly qualified applicants. She is a strong strategic leader, cares deeply about our students and the welfare of the institution, and she will do everything in her power to forward the mission and promise of a public liberal arts and sciences university in the 21st century. In addition, she is the best candidate to manage the changes and evolution needed as Truman seeks to provide a world-class liberal arts and sciences education in a way that is relevant and that will evolve and change as needed in the future. She is an exceptional administrator and is well-positioned to meet the challenges, including the fiscal challenges, Truman will face over the next several years.”

Thomas has served as interim president of Truman since July 1, 2016. Prior to becoming interim president, she served as Truman’s executive vice president for academic affairs and provost since July 2014.

Before arriving at Truman, Thomas spent seven years as the associate provost for academic planning and program development at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She began her career at Edwardsville in 1991 as an assistant professor of psychology. She was promoted to the rank of associate professor in 1999, and became the assistant provost for planning in 2005. In 2006, she was promoted to the rank of professor. Prior to arriving at Edwardsville, Thomas served as an assistant professor of psychology at Central College in Iowa.

Thomas received her Ph.D. and Master of Arts degree in social psychology, as well as her M.B.A. in administrative management, from the University of Missouri–Columbia, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa. Her recent teaching and scholarly interests include mentor effectiveness, psychological grit and underrepresented students in STEM.

“Truman is an extraordinary institution, and I am humbled, honored and energized by the faith the Board of Governors has in me,” Thomas said. “Truman deserves nothing less than the most dedicated, informed, visionary and inclusive president to lead it in achieving its vision, and I will give it my all to be that president. The University has been actively engaged in vital work to ensure we are a leader in providing a relevant and impactful liberal arts and sciences education now and into the future. I am thrilled to have the honor of working with a campus of bright and talented individuals who are committed to achieving our University’s promise and reach even greater heights than ever before imagined.”

Thomas and her husband, Dr. Michael Oliveri, a clinical neuropsychologist, have one son, Sam, and one daughter, Annie.

In June 2016, the Board initiated an extensive nationwide search following the resignation of then-President Troy D. Paino. Thomas was asked to assume the role of interim president. A presidential search committee – co-chaired by Dr. Cheryl J. Cozette, vice chair of the Board, and Dr. Debra Kerby, dean of the School of Business, assisted by the external search firm of R. William Funk & Associates – identified a pool of semi-finalists who were interviewed by the committee in mid-January. The committee narrowed the semi-finalist pool to a group of finalists who were interviewed by the stakeholder advisory committee, a group of individuals appointed by the Board and representing all constituent groups of faculty, staff, students, alumni and the Kirksville community at large. Finalists were also interviewed by the Board of Governors in the finalist vetting process.

“The confidential process, using the stakeholder advisory committee to provide feedback regarding the candidates, resulted in a search that included a large group of highly qualified applicants from across the country,” said LaBeth. “Nearly two-thirds of the candidates in the semi-finalist pool expressed to the search consultant that they would not have entered the search had it been the traditional process.”

Additional information on the presidential search process can be found on the presidential search website located at truman.edu/presidential-search.  

The Del and Norma Robison Planetarium will feature some new events this semester, beginning with a special Valentine’s Day show.

Anyone can visit the planetarium website and purchase a star to rename it for a significant other. Starting at 6 p.m. Feb. 14, the planetarium will open and visitors can see their newly named star. The Valentine’s Day shows will also explore constellations with romantic myths.  

The new show, “Dark Matter Mystery,” will debut Feb. 25 with back-to-back showings at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. There will also be free posters available at the door to anyone who shares a future Facebook post about the event.

To celebrate the birthday of one of the planetarium’s namesakes, Del Robison, there will be free shows all day, March 22. The door will be open beginning at 8 a.m., and all are welcome at no cost through 5 p.m.

The planetarium features screenings every Saturday at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. for $5 a ticket. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. For more information, including a schedule of all planetarium events, visit planetarium.truman.edu.

The first-time pass rate for Truman students on the 2016 CPA exam is among the highest in the nation.

According to a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) report, Truman’s first-time pass rate ranked second in the country for medium-sized programs with 21 to 60 reported candidates. Truman ranked 15th out of the 858 institutions with 10 or more reported candidates.

Truman had 49 first-time candidates sit for the exam in 2016. University candidates passed 81.1 percent of exam sections taken with an average score of 81.2 percent. Nationally, the first-time pass rate was 54.4 percent.

Consistently among the top 10 percent in performance on the CPA exam, Truman is one of only five public universities in the top 20 for medium-sized programs.

Truman is one of only 185 universities worldwide accredited in both business and accounting by AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. AACSB accreditation is the internationally recognized, specialized designation for business and accounting programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels.

In a show of community solidarity and service, Truman’s annual Friends of the Gallery fundraiser will partner with the Kirksville Arts Association.

Donors attending the March 3 event will be invited to support the University Art Gallery, the Kirksville Arts Association, or both. The fundraiser will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Ophelia Parrish. Those interested in attending should RSVP by Feb. 20 to stuckerpotter@truman.edu.

The event will coincide with the last day of two Truman exhibitions focusing on the centennial of U.S. involvement in World War I. Donors will enjoy thematic food, beverages, music and good conversation during this 18th annual celebration. In the spirit of the occasion, and in aftermath of the fire that destroyed the Kirksville Arts Association, organizers set a theme of community service for the event.

“We know our quality of life in Kirksville depends upon so many members of our community who serve. These include first responders, teachers, local business leaders, artists, donors, the media, civil servants, veterans and active members of the armed forces,” said Cole Woodcox, a Truman professor and event organizer. “When the fire occurred at the arts center, we immediately knew we wanted this event to be about the wider community.”

Harriet Beard, a longtime local supporter of the arts and many other community service projects in the area, will speak about living a life of service.

The suggested donation from the general public is $40 for this event, with a donation of $20 suggested for first responders, members and veterans of the armed forces, members of the Kirksville Arts Association and the Missouri and Southern Iowa Arts Guild (MOSI), and K-12 teachers.

Those giving a full donation to the KAA can simply make one payment as usual. A contribution to both organizations will require two separate donations. Both the University Art Gallery and the KAA will accept cash or check.

 
The Office of Sustainability is available to help connect and promote sustainability efforts at Truman and in the Kirksville community.
 
Open Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Violette Hall 1310, the office has information about how to get involved in sustainability related organizations and environmental courses, as well as how to live more sustainably in Kirksville.
 
Created last semester by way of a student internship through the President’s Sustainability Action Committee, office workers are currently planning several events to bring different groups of people together around sustainability. Potential ventures include a recycling drive, a World Water Day celebration and a local foods dinner/recycling fashion show in conjunction with health science students, ECO and the Green Thumb Project.
 
For more information regarding the Office of Sustainability, contact Becca Elder.

Dr. Tamara Schenkenberg, associate curator at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation in St. Louis, will give a free public lecture titled “German and Allied Art during the First World War,” at 5 p.m. Feb. 23 in the University Art Gallery.

Schenkenberg’s presentation will draw on both the “Join, Save, Buy” and “Arts Against the Great War” exhibits currently on display in the gallery.

A 2014 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Ph.D. in art history, Schenkenberg has frequently presented and published research concerning German art during World War I. Her dissertation was “Kriegszeit and Der Bildermann, Agents of German Kultur: Paul Cassirer’s Flying Pages During the First World War.”

In her role with the Pulitzer Arts Foundation, Schenkenberg’s recently curated exhibitions include “Exquisite Everyday: 18th-Century Decorative Arts from the J. Paul Getty Museum,” “Home Soft Home: Claes Oldenburg’s Soft Sculptures” and “Ellipsis.”

Established by curator, philanthropist and arts patron Emily Rauh Pulitzer, the Pulitzer Arts Foundation promotes the significance of art in everyday life and its impact on the health and success of a community.

The Department of Classical and Modern Languages and the Department of Art are sponsoring Schenkenberg’s visit.

The for·Words event “Ready to Write: Cultivating Young Voices through Literary Expression” will take place at 4 p.m. Feb. 24 in the Del and Norma Robison Planetarium.  

Mallory Hellman, director of the Iowa Young Writing Project (IYWP), will present on writing instruction and how to make writing an engaging endeavor for children instead of a chore. This event is free, and all are invited to attend.

The IYWP was founded in 2010 by graduates of the prestigious University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop with the goal to empower, inspire and educate Iowa’s children and teens through language arts and creative thinking. Through the investment of time, energy and creativity by volunteers, as well as partnerships with local organizations and institutions, the IYWP is able to offer children and teens events and workshops led by nationally recognized writers, opportunities to publish creative endeavors and receive mentoring and tutoring at little to no cost.

Hellman received a Master of Fine Arts degree in fiction from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and American literature from Harvard. Her short story, “October, Forest River,” was a finalist for the Room of Her Own Foundation’s Orlando Prize, and her nonfiction has appeared on the Forbes Booked Blog and the Indiana Review. Additionally, Hellman has served as fiction editor on the Iowa Review and associate editor of fiction and nonfiction on the Indiana Review, as well as a regular contributor to the Little Village, an independent news publications for Eastern Iowa. She has taught writing courses at Indiana University, the University of Iowa, the Duke Talent Identification Program and at primary and secondary schools throughout Eastern Iowa.

More information about this event, other English and Linguistics’ programming, and other events sponsored by the School of Arts and Letters can be found at facebook.com/trumansal.

The 49th Phi Mu Alpha Jazz Festival will take place Feb. 25 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room.

The festival will begin at 9 a.m. with various performances and sessions throughout the day, culminating in the Jazz Festival Evening Concert at 8 p.m.

Since Truman’s chapter was founded in 1968, it has hosted an annual event celebrating jazz at the University. Having been ranked one of the top collegiate jazz festivals by Down Beat magazine, the Phi Mu Alpha Jazz Festival has become one of the larger events of its kind, attracting high school and middle school bands throughout the Midwest.

Traditionally held the last weekend in February, “JazzFest” brings in nationally renowned artists every year. It includes a day of performances by high school and middle school jazz combos and big bands with a personalized clinic for each group.

This year’s guest artist, Carl Allen, will also present a clinic and perform with Truman jazz groups during an evening concert. With more than 200 recordings to his credit, the gifted Milwaukee-born, New York-based drummer is a sideman, bandleader, entrepreneur and educator. His multifaceted career provides the perfect template for what a modern musician should be. As Sid Gribetz of Jazz Times wrote, “more than just another fine drummer, Carl Allen has it all together as a bandleader, businessman and producer, becoming a force in today’s jazz world.”

Representatives from the University of Missouri will be on campus for an informational and Q&A session about Mizzou medical school and the Bryant Scholars pre-admission program from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Feb. 14 in Magruder Hall 1096.

Click here for more information, or contact Brittany Harden, Truman’s pre-health professions coordinator and academic advisor.

President Sue Thomas will host an all-University meeting at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 15 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room. The annual State of the University address will focus on the state budget for next year as well as the processes that are being developed to not only address the current withholdings but also budget challenges in the next fiscal year and beyond.

Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology, will host a social from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 13 in the Centennial Hall Lounge. Students can see what Psi Chi is about, ask questions about the organization and hang out with other psychology students. There will be free pizza, drinks, ice cream, a GameCube and other board games.

Men’s Health Awareness Week is reaching out to start the conversation about men’s health on Truman’s campus. This showing of the award-winning documentary “The Mask You Live In” from The Representation Project is the first of three men’s health centered events this month. The film follows young men as they try to navigate society’s expectations of masculinity through their own journey of growing up while addressing how this intersects with issues like race and social class. The film will be introduced with a short speech from James Cianciola, associate professor of communication, on his own experience with this topic. This showing is free and open to all.

Author, editor and mentor Faith Adiele will read selections from her nonfiction writing at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15 in the Del and Norma Robison Planetarium as part of the 2017 Ofstad Reading Series.

Adiele is the author of “Meeting Faith,” a memoir about becoming the first African-American woman ordained a Buddhist nun in Thailand. The book received the PEN Beyond Margins Award for Best Memoir of 2005. She also wrote “The Nigerian-Nordic Girl’s Guide To Lady Problems.” Adiele was writer/narrator/subject of “My Journey Home,” a PBS documentary film about growing up with a Nordic-American mother and then traveling to Nigeria as an adult to find her father and siblings. She is also the editor of the international anthology, “Coming of Age Around the World.”

An associate professor in creative nonfiction at California College of the Arts in the Bay Area, Adiele is a member of the San Francisco Writers’ Grotto where she is completing “Twins,” a memoir that will finish the story begun in the PBS film. Named as one of Marie Claire magazine’s “5 Women to Learn From,” Adiele, who was educated at Harvard University and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, has been featured on NPR; in a pilot for a new reality show; in a national television ad; on “The Tavis Smiley Show”; and in “A Day in the Life of Faith Adiele,” a two-page, center spread in Pink Magazine. She has also been a contributor to O: The Oprah Magazine, Essence and Transition. More information about Adiele can be found on her website, adiele.com.

Prior to arriving at Truman to conduct a weeklong writing workshop, Adiele will be reading at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. as part of the Associated Writing Programs (AWP) Convention. Generously funded by the Clayton B. Ofstad Endowment, the Ofstad Readings take place during the residency of a visiting writer.

“Considering Medical School?”
7 p.m.
Feb. 13
Violette Hall 1144
Sponsored by the Center for Academic Excellence

“Transferable Skills: What They Are and How to Get Them”
7 p.m.
Feb. 16
Centennial Hall Main Lounge
Sponsored by the Center for Academic Excellence

The Interfaith Center will host an open discussion with University Counseling Services staff members about interfaith relationships. The discussion will take place from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Feb. 15 in Kirk Building 116.

Truman’s Funds Allotment Council is now accepting new member applications. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Feb. 15. The Funds Allotment Council is committed to helping various organizations fund campus events. This is an excellent opportunity for students of all majors to make a difference on campus and connect with new people. Applications are available at fac.truman.edu. For more information, contact Tori Wallis.

The President's Office has scheduled the first Coffee (and Chocolates) of the semester for 3:30 p.m. Feb. 16 in the Student Union Building Conference Room.
 
This event will focus on the recommendations of two Next Steps teams that made reports to faculty governance last fall: a bill calling for the reform of the LSP; and the development of a sequence of two common seminars aimed at first-year students. A third team charged with creating a centralized system of support for high-impact experiences also submitted a report to governance and was discussed at one of the coffees last fall. All three of these initiatives are currently under review in Undergraduate Council.

Bridget Thomas and Chad Mohler, who chaired the two Next Steps teams, and Paul Parker, chair of Undergraduate Council, will be joining to facilitate discussion.
 
The work of these teams has grown out of the efforts of the Action Teams and Blue Print Teams over the past two years. Background information and reports of all these teams can be found on TruView.

The Office of Admission is looking for enthusiastic student leaders with a passion for sharing their positive Truman experience.

Applications are open for student ambassadors for the 2017-18 academic year. Student ambassadors guide visiting students and their families on campus tours, assist in the recruitment of prospective students and represent the University.
 
Scholarship, institutional, work-study and volunteer opportunities are available. Applications can be found online and are due by midnight, Feb. 17. Questions should be directed to Shari Fieser, student ambassador adviser.

The 34th annual Truman Piano Festival will take place Feb. 17-18 in Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall.  

This year’s featured guest artist is Dr. Josh Pifer. At 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17, he will perform a solo recital that features works by Scarlatti, Justin Aftab, Tcherepnin and Corigliano. At 9:30 a.m. Feb. 18, he will conduct a master class featuring Truman piano majors. Both events are open to the public and free of charge.

Pifer, serves as lecturer in piano at Auburn University where he teaches class piano, applied piano and music skills. Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, he made his piano debut playing Haydn’s “Concerto in A Major” with the Kotani Chamber Ensemble. At age 10 he performed as a vocalist for the MGM Tokyo Red Carpet premier of the movie “Mr. Mom.”

Pifer has an exciting solo and collaborative career that has taken him to four continents where he regularly appears as guest lecturer and clinician. Additionally, he has presented at national and state music teachers conferences and has adjudicated at more than 25 festivals and competitions in the United States. The summers find Pifer as faculty and artist at the Orfeo Music Festival in the Italian Alps. He has also been sought out by many college and graduate level pianists who have suffered injuries from excessive tension in their playing to help them overcome their problems and learn to play with much more individualistic freedom and ease.

Before graduating with honors and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Southern California in 2009, Pifer completed his bachelor’s degree in pre-medicine, piano and organ from Wittenberg University and his master’s degree from Miami University. His major teachers include Antoinette Perry, Stewart Gordon, Dennis Thurmond, Robert Thomas, Donald Busarow, Magen Solomon, Sharon Lavery and Robert Howat.

During his career, Pifer has been on the faculty at Florida State University, Wittenberg University and Miami University. He is a founding member of the Oto Trio, which includes internationally acclaimed artist Chikuen Kato. Pifer has commissioned and premiered works by 21st-century composers such as Andre Cormier, Justin Aftab, Gary Shields, Douglas Townsend and Andrea Clearfield, and he is an advocate for the piano music of Alexander Tcherepnin.

The Environmental Sustainability Fee charges all students $5 per semester to fund environmentally friendly and sustainable projects on campus. To ensure students, faculty and staff have a loud and clear voice on environmental issues and projects they wish to see implemented, the Environmental Sustainability Fee Accountability Committee will host constituent meetings until Feb. 17. Students, faculty and staff can present their ideas for programs or projects the fee could fund during the upcoming school year. For information on presenting an idea or submitting a proposal, email esfeecommittee@truman.edu.

The Leadership Recognition Program recognizes the accomplishments of outstanding organizations and organizational members, advisors and faculty. Nominations can be submitted online at wp-internal.truman.edu/csi/leadership or in person at the Center for Student Involvement Office. Nominations are due by 5 p.m. Feb. 17.
 
Contact Alex Ward at csilrp@gmail.com with any questions regarding the program and nomination process.

As part of an agricultural research project, student volunteers are needed to help construct a natural building project at the University Farm. Interested students should contact Tommy Fieser for more information.

Beta Alpha Psi will host Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) sessions from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 18, Feb. 25, March 4 and March 25 in Violette Hall 1424.

VITA offers free tax assistance for clients with low to moderate income levels filing simple tax returns. The tax assistance will be completed by IRS-certified volunteers and will also offer free electronic filing to receive a faster return.

Clients who come to VITA sessions should bring: social security cards for spouses and dependents; bank routing numbers and bank account numbers for direct deposit; wage and earning statements such as W-2, 1098T and 1099; and a copy of last year’s federal and state tax returns if available.

For more information, visit bap.truman.edu/vita.

The Center for Student Involvement is accepting homecoming committee applications at homecoming.truman.edu, as well as applications for a year-round homecoming coordinator position available on TruPositions.

The Center for Student Involvement and the Student Union Building are hiring students for the next academic year. Interested students can find more information on TruPositions, at csi.truman.edu/employment or by contacting Laura Bates.

Sigma Alpha Iota’s Epsilon Pi chapter is seeking help in renaming its new music festival. Rewards include a prize and recognition at the finale concert.

Entries can be submitted to musicfest.saiep@gmail.com or Sigma Alpha Iota, 100 E. Normal, Kirksville, MO 63501. Deadline for entry is March 10. The results will be announced March 24.

The Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) program is a half-credit self-defense class offered through the Department of Health and Exercise Sciences and taught by officers of the Truman Police Department. This cooperative program is a block class consisting of eight weeks of instruction. It is offered during the first block of the fall semester.

The program is designed as a women-only program and consists of both classroom and hands-on instruction. At the end of the program, students will take part in a realistic scenario-based simulation to use the skills they have learned.

Instructions on how to sign up for the class can be found online at police.truman.edu/services-programs/rape-aggression-defense-training.

The University Swingers will sponsor “Swing into Spring” dance workshops, Feb. 18 from 9 a.m.-12:05 p.m. and 1:30-4 p.m. in the Pershing Building dance studio.

There will be two tracks of lessons taught by Truman alumni and covering various topics. This workshop is completely free and open to all students, regardless of dance experience.

Marc Rice, professor of music, will present “Musical Representation in the Black Newspapers of the Midwest: New Revelations and Possibilities” at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 in Magruder Hall as part of the Faculty Forum series.

Presentation abstract:
From the 1880s to the 1940s, dozens of African American newspapers were established in the Midwest by editors whose progressive politics encouraged activism among their readership. These newspapers provided a wealth of material about Black American music and its audience reception, allowing us to understand more fully the role that music played in African American communities in our region.

The Center for International Education would like to invite all students to the Study Abroad Fair from 12-4 p.m. Feb. 20 in the Student Union Building Georgian Rooms. Talk with students who have studied abroad and speak with representatives from universities in France, Israel, England and Costa Rica. Representatives for the Semester at Sea program, faculty-led programs, internships abroad and many more, will also be available. For more information, stop by the Center for International Education and Study Abroad, located on the first floor of Grim Hall.

The 30th annual undergraduate and 15th annual graduate research conference will take place April 20. The deadline for abstracts is Feb. 20.

2017 SRC Important Dates
Go to the SRC Website

The Communication Disorders Association will host a book reading by author Jamie Graham at 4 p.m. Feb. 21 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room A. Graham is an adult in the Kirksville community who draws cartoons, writes children’s books and has special needs.

The Center for International Education Abroad and the Career Center will partner together to host an informative presentation at 4 p.m. Feb. 28 in Violette Hall 1436 on how students can effectively market their study abroad experience to graduate schools and future employers.

For more information, contact the Center for International Education Abroad at ciea@truman.edu or 660.785.7466 or contact the Career Center at careers@truman.edu or 660.785.4353.

A guest jazz workshop featuring saxophonist Logan Richardson and music from his album “Shift” will take place at 4 p.m. Feb. 22 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall.

Born and, raised in Kansas City, Mo., Richardson was mentored by some of the finest figures in the history of improvised music, including Jay McShann, Claude “Fiddler” Williams and Queen Bey. At 19 years old, he moved to Boston, Mass., to study at the Berklee College of Music. After one year he left Boston to move to New York and complete his studies at The New School University on a full scholarship. At the age of 21, Richardson was provided with immediate opportunities to perform, tour and record professionally with masters such as Joe Chambers, Butch Morris, Stefon Harris, Ambrose Akinmusire, Greg Tardy, Nasheet Waits, Michelle Rosewoman, Billy Hart and Jason Moran.

In 2006, Richardson released his debut album, “Cerebral Flow,” and in 2009 he followed up with his sophomore album, “Ethos.” In 2011, he moved from New York to Paris where he has continued to build a widespread international acclaim. Richardson has been received favorably for his uniquely identifiable alto sound, in addition to his compositional fortitude in which he displays a great depth as an urban sound designer.

In 2012, Richardson collaborated with Concord Records, and soon after released the project NEXT Collective. In addition to being the alto voice in this formation, he was also an arranger and co-producer for the project.  

Richardson recently recorded his highly anticipated third album, “Shift,” with an elegantly matched band of artists and innovators including 20-time Grammy-winning guitarist Pat Metheny; MacArthur genius grant recipient and artistic director of jazz at the Kennedy Center, pianist Jason Moran; drummer Nasheet Waits; and Harish Raghavan, bassist of Ambrose Akinmusire’s band and innovator of the double bass.

This semester, an elevator pitch contest named Bulldog B.I.T.E. could win aspiring entrepreneurs more than just bragging rights as the contest offers a top prize of $3,000.

An elevator pitch outlines the concept or idea for a product, service or project in a short period of time, typically from 30 seconds to three minutes. The length of the pitch mirrors the time spent waiting for and riding an elevator in a high-rise building. The purpose of the pitch is to spur the interest of a potential investor or financial backer.

Bulldog B.I.T.E., which stands for Business Innovation by Truman Entrepreneurs, is open to any student or team of students — up to three members — enrolled during the 2017 spring semester. A student or team may submit only one pitch concept for the contest. Participants may pitch for-profit or not-for-profit concepts.

Students will submit a concept or idea for products, services or solutions to problems facing humanity in a video pitch no longer than two minutes by 11:59 p.m. March 6. The video should not include any props, except the product prototype, and should be one continuous shot. The video submission should include: name of the individual or team members; problem or issue being addressed by the concept; product description; target market; competitive advantage of the concept; value creation; and expected future use of prize money.

Judges will select six finalists to present their pitch to a live panel of judges, April 7. The top three finalists will receive cash awards: the cash prize for first place is $3,000; second place is $2,000; and third place is $1,000. Pitch participants, judges, alumni and audience members are then invited to a networking event following the competition.

The Bulldog B.I.T.E. is sponsored by Villhard Growth Partners and Mastercard. On campus promotion is provided by the Career Center.

For complete details and entry information, click here.

Alumnus Doug Villhard (center) talks with the finalists of the first Bulldog B.I.T.E. elevator pitch competition in March 2016. The competition is returning for the spring semester, and student entrepreneurs will compete for $6,000 in total prizes.

Big Event Registration for students opens at 5 p.m. Feb. 13 via TruService and will remain open until 5 p.m. March 27.

Students can sign up individually or as part of an organization. In order to sign up with an organization, students must make sure they have updated their service profile on TruService to include all organizations they are a part of, otherwise the option will not show up when registering.

Students this year can sign up to be part of the One Greek Challenge. If they are part of a Greek organization, they will have the option to check this box, which will allow them to participate in the Big Event with other members of Greek Organizations who have also chosen this initiative. Students who participate in the One Greek Challenge are still eligible for Greek Week points toward their respective organizations. Students can also be part of the Interfaith Challenge, an initiative where they can participate in Big Event with students of different faiths who have also chosen this initiative. Both challenges are drop down options under the “initiates” option during Big Event registration.

The first 300 students to register will receive a free t-shirt.

For the annual Big Event, hundreds of Truman students provide services to the residents of the community by raking leaves, washing windows, painting and more. The Big Event gives Truman students the opportunity to show appreciation for all of the support the Kirksville community has offered to them. The SERVE Center will provide all supplies necessary.

The 16th annual Big Event will take place at 9 a.m. April 1 on the Mall. Students are asked to arrive 15 minutes early. Breakfast will be provided on a first come, first serve basis.

For more information about Big Event, check out the SERVE Center’s Q&A website page. They can also be contacted at 660.785.7222, by email at trumanserve@gmail.com or by visiting their office in the Student Union Building Down Under 1106.

The application period for Truman’s annual Lincoln contests in art, essay and oratory is now open.

Some would argue that Abraham Lincoln is most remembered for his signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The document may have had a limited direct impact on the lives of many slaves, but it was a watershed moment in stating that previously bound people shall be “forever free.” To emancipate commonly means to free from bondage, oppression or restraint. This year’s prompt asks students to choose one of the following possibilities and develop it into an essay:

•       Choose another emancipatory moment in Lincoln’s life and write about it, incorporating source material.

•       Choose an emancipatory moment in someone’s life and, incorporating source material, write about it.

Alumni Fred and Ethel Schwengel established the Lincoln Contests in art, essay and oratory to pay tribute to Abraham Lincoln. This semester Monica Barron will judge the essays, and Barry Poyner will judge the speeches and art.

Interested students should submit a 1,000- to 1,500-word, three- to five-page essay in response to the prompt to Poyner, Barnett Hall 1110 by Feb. 28. Provide a list of works cited as appropriate. On a cover sheet, provide contact information and clearly indicate if entering the essay or oratorical contest, or both. Finalists in the Oratorical Contest will deliver their speeches before the National Communication Association Student Club later in the semester. Communication Club members will assist Poyner in judging. Essay and oratory prizes for first and second places will be $200 and $100, respectively.

Art contest entries also should be submitted to Poyner by Feb. 28. Create a faux poster (11 inch x 17 inch) promoting a “live” presidential speech from Lincoln announcing the Emancipation Proclamation to the nation. What would this poster look like in today’s visual aesthetic, or how would it have looked in the 1860s? What message/concept in the design would speak to a broad audience or to a very targeted audience? Alternatively, create a faux poster on behalf of a social movement advancing or celebrating emancipation. Winning art will be added to the Schwengel Lincoln Collection in Special Collections at Pickler Memorial Library. Art prizes for first and second places will be $200 and $100, respectively.

New summer and semester programs are available for study abroad in Australia at Bond University.

Located on Australia’s Gold Coast, Bond University is an hour’s drive from Brisbane, with easy access to attractions such as the Great Barrier Reef, some of the world’s finest beaches and the large rain forest areas of the north. The university is Australia’s first and largest private university and offers courses in a variety of disciplines, including accounting, communication and media, health sciences, psychology and more.

For more information, visit ccisabroad.org/program.php?link=australia_bond. Applications for the summer semester are due March 1. For more information and to apply, contact the Center for International Education and Study Abroad, located on the first floor of Grim Hall, at 660.785.4076 or at ciea@truman.edu.

The Joseph Baldwin Academy and Taiwan at Truman are seeking current Truman students to serve as preceptors for the 2017 summer sessions.

Preceptors live with the students in the residence halls. In addition to serving as resident counselors, they assist faculty members and students in the classroom. Preceptors are expected to be responsible, high-energy individuals who enjoy working with teenage students and are supportive of University goals.

Salary for a three-week JBA session is $1,450, plus room and board. Salary for a five-week Taiwan at Truman Session is $1,800, plus room and board. The job looks particularly good on a resume for pre-MAE or MAE students, or those considering work in non-profit, human services or child-focused employment. Prior Taiwan at Truman preceptors have found that job helpful in future employment as English instructors, international educators and linguists.

Potential preceptors for either academy must be a currently enrolled full-time Truman student with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Being a JBA or Taiwan at Truman staff member is a 24 hour-a-day commitment, and preceptors may not be enrolled in summer classes. JBA preceptors of all genders are needed. Because the Taiwan at Truman session for 2017 is only hosting female students, staff applicants for that program are required to be female; however, interested male applicants are welcome to pre-apply for the 2018 session, which hosts male students.

To apply for either program, potential preceptors can visit tiacademies.truman.edu/employment. Applications can be submitted in McClain Hall 303. In person interviews will be scheduled Feb. 23-25, but late applications will still be considered for interviews after that date until positions are filled.

Prior to the summer sessions, preceptors will be required to attend orientation in April. They will also need to complete van training through the Department of Public Safety, as well as CPR and first aid training. They will also undergo a background check, including fingerprinting.

For questions about the application process, contact Jared Young at 660.785.5406 or tiacademies@truman.edu.

Curtis Blakely, associate professor of justice systems, will serve as the new managing editor of the International Journal of Criminal Justice Sciences. This peer-reviewed journal focuses on contemporary issues within the fields of criminology, criminal justice and victimology.  

Michelle L. Blakely, director of disability services, has recently been appointed to the editorial board of Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy. This journal is internationally recognized as a leading peer-reviewed publication in the field of social and administrative pharmaceutical sciences. This position will allow Blakely to work alongside many of the most noted scholars in the public health fields.

Winston Vanderhoof, senior graphic designer, recently received the University & College Designers Association (UCDA) Award. Created in 1995, the award is presented by the UCDA Board of Directors in recognition of those who have donated their time, service and support to further UCDA’s goals. Individuals receiving this award have significantly contributed to the organization’s success. During the last 21 years, the board has only presented 18 awards. Vanderhoof attended his first UCDA Design Conference in 1981 and has been a member ever since.

Expo Bootcamp
7-8 p.m.
Feb. 21
Student Union Building 3202, 3203, 3204

Entrepreneurship Conference
All day
Feb. 27
TBD

Career Week
Feb. 27-March 2

Resumania
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Feb. 27
Barnett Hall

Resumania
12-2 p.m.
Feb. 27
Ophelia Parrish

Resumania
2-4 p.m.
Feb. 27
McClain Hall

SCORE Mock Interviews
9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Feb. 28
Student Union Building 3201, 3202, 3203, 3204

Etiquette Dinner
5:30-7 p.m.
Feb. 28
Student Union Building Alumni Room

Employer Info Sessions
7:15-8:30 p.m.
Feb. 28
Student Union Building 3201, 3202, 3203, 3204, 3000

Career & Grad School Expo
10 a.m.-3 p.m.
March 1
Student Union Building

Professional Photos by Tim Barcus
11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
March 1
Student Union Building 3204

MAE Leadership Series
6-7 p.m.
March 1
Student Union Building Alumni Room

Employer Presentations
6-7 p.m.
March 1
Student Union Building 3201, 3202, 3204, 3000

Interview Day
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
March 2
Student Union Building

Deloitte Interviews
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
March 6
Student Union Building 3201, 3203, 3204

Aldi Dinner
6-7:30 p.m.
March 6
TBD

Aldi Interviews
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
March 7
Student Union Building TBD

Real Life 101
7-8 p.m.
March 7
Student Union Building 3202

BKD Interviews
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
March 8
Student Union Building 3204

PWC Preview Session
4-6 p.m.
March 8
Off Campus

PWC Interviews
9 a.m.-5 p.m.
March 9
Student Union Building 3201, 3202, 3203, 3204

Ernst & Young Interviews
8 a.m.-4 p.m.
March 21
Student Union Building 3201, 3202, 3203

Real Life 101
7-8 p.m.
March 28
Student Union Building 3202

Real Life 101
7-8 p.m.
April 4
Student Union Building 3202

KPMG Interview
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
April 6
Student Union Building 3201, 3202, 3203

Advanced Sports Management Interviews
8:30-9:30 a.m.
April 19
TBD

Advanced Sports Management Interviews
8:30-9:30 a.m.
April 21
TBD

Real Life 101
7-8 p.m.
April 25
Student Union Building 3202

Truman State University Foundation scholarship applications for Truman students in 2017-18 are now available. Applications can be submitted and revised until the deadline of midnight, March 9. To apply, log in to TruView, go to the Student Tab, Student Finances, Scholarships, Foundation Scholarship Application.

This is the primary application process for current students. The process is competitive. To learn more, click on Guidelines and Helpful Hints on the Foundation Scholarship application page on TruView.

Foundation scholarships are available thanks to the generous private gifts of alumni and friends.

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program online application is open for students participating in credit-bearing study abroad programs and international internships during the summer 2017 and fall/academic year 2017-18 terms. The Gilman program aims to diversify the kinds of students who study and intern abroad and the countries where they go.

There will be presentation and information sessions from 6-7 p.m. Feb. 15 and Feb. 16 in Magruder Hall 1098. Interested Truman students should contact the Center for International Education/Study Abroad at ciea@truman.edu. Summer 2017 and fall/academic year 2017-18 applications are both due by 11:59 p.m. March 7.

For more information about the Gilman scholarship, webinar schedules and other helpful resources, including subscription to Gilman advisor newsletters, visit iie.org/gilman. The Gilman Scholarship Program is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who receive federal Pell Grant funding.
 
Truman Gilman alumnus Shannon Marshall will be available for assistance in developing an application at the following times:

Feb. 22
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Study Abroad Office
Grim Hall, First Floor

Feb. 24
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Study Abroad Office
Grim Hall, First Floor

Feb. 28
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Study Abroad Office
Grim Hall, First Floor

March 2
4-5 p.m.
Study Abroad Office
Grim Hall, First Floor

Many scholarships and stipends are offered for a number of study abroad trips to locations in Spanish-speaking countries. These are available to current members of the Truman chapter of Sigma Delta Pi. Truman credit can be earned for participation in the Veritas program and for stipends ($2,000) used for study abroad through a Truman-sponsored program. Applications must be submitted to the faculty advisor of Truman’s Rho Rho chapter of Sigma Delta Pi. For more information go to sigmadeltapi.org/SAR.Undergraduate.Study.Abroad.Awards.html.

The application period for the 2017 Tillman Scholars program is now open. Applications can be found online at pattillmanfoundation.org/apply.

The program is open to active duty military, veterans and spouses pursuing a full-time bachelor’s, master’s or professional degree at a US-based accredited institution. Tillman Scholars represent a rich and diverse set of backgrounds, experiences and ambitions. They exemplify strong leadership potential and a drive to make a positive impact locally, nationally and globally through their academic and career goals.

Each individual scholarship award is based on the applicant’s unique financial need. The application will close at 11:59 p.m. PT, March 1.

Founded in 2004, the Pat Tillman Foundation invests in military veterans and their spouses through academic scholarships – building a diverse community of leaders committed to service to others.

The Fulbright UK Summer Institute Programmes offer students the opportunity to be immersed in the study of British academics and culture. Students will take part in research, collaboration, presentation and cultural events at a British university. They will enhance their leadership skills, develop knowledge and understanding of new subjects and become ambassadors for the United Kingdom and the United States. The awards will cover the majority of all costs incurred, including flights to and from the U.K., university fees and room and board at the host university.

Students from all areas of study are encouraged to apply. To meet the minimum eligibility, applicants must:

• be a U.S. citizen and possess a U.S. passport;
• be at least 18 years old;
• have a high level of academic achievement with a minimum GPA of 3.7 (confirmed by grades, awards and references);
• have at least two years of university study upon their return (i.e. applicants should currently be a freshman or sophomore in college/university)
• be mature, responsible, independent and open-minded

The deadline for 2017 applicants is Feb. 23. Questions should be sent to the Fulbright Awards staff.

Applications for the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s German Chancellor Fellowship will open March 15. The German Chancellor Fellowship allows recent university graduates to spend one year conducting a project of their design with the host of their choice in Germany. The project can be in any field, but should be research-based and create a positive social impact. Benefits include full financial support, a language course, and a study tour culminating with meeting Chancellor Angela Merkel. For more information on the German Chancellor Fellowship and application process, visit humboldt-foundation.de/web/german-chancellor-fellowship.html. Although applications will not be due until Sept. 15 applicants are encouraged to begin drafting project proposals and securing host affiliations early.

FlipKey will be awarding one student with a $1,000 scholarship to put toward studying abroad. This can be used for any expenses associated with studying abroad, from plane tickets, to tuition to spur-of-the-moment excursions. Eligible students should submit a 1,000-word essay to press@flipkey.com describing why travel is important to him or her. The deadline to apply is Aug. 15. For more information and eligibility requirements go to flipkey.com/study-abroad-scholarship.