Vol. 12 No. 33 - June 17, 2008

A partnership originally envisioned after a visit to Kirksville about a year ago by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Director Doyle Childers, has now become a reality. After several conversations and meetings, a formal agreement has been created between Truman State University and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to formalize the partnership creating a DNR Satellite Office on the Truman State University campus. Through this arrangement, a DNR environmental engineer now has an office and lab facilities in Magruder Hall.

“This collaboration will serve the needs of both organizations as the Department of Natural Resources will have a local field officer serving the Northeast Region (which is headquartered in Macon), while Truman State University will benefit from increased opportunities for internships and other student learning experiences, “ said Douglas R. Davenport, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. “Furthermore, we anticipate that the presence of the Environmental Engineer will provide opportunities for interaction and collaboration with faculty and they  will be available to serve as a guest lecturer in classes and available to work with faculty in research settings.”

Thuy Le, the DNR field officer assigned to the northeast region is already working out of Magruder Hall. Le is a water quality specialist and registered Professional Engineer in Environmental Engineering. She holds a B.S. and M.S. in chemical engineering, both from UCLA.

The campus is invited to an open house and ribbon cutting June 18 to celebrate the new partnership. The open house will begin at 3:30 p.m. followed by a 3:45 p.m. ribbon cutting in the Magruder Hall Cyber Cafe.

Kathy Elsea will become Truman’s new director of financial aid effective, July 1.

“Kathy brings 27 years of direct financial aid experience to this position and a passion for delivering excellent customer service,” said Regina M. Morin, associate vice president for enrollment management. “I am confident she will build upon the fine work of Melinda Wood and Sue Neely, providing support and guidance to this important area.”

Elsea graduated from Truman with a bachelor of science in education-business, with certification in English in 1981. She has worked in the Truman Financial Aid Office since 1981.

Fourteen graduating students were recognized in the General Honors program medal ceremony May 9 in the Sunken Garden. This is the 15th year of recognizing graduates of the General Honors program, which all Truman State University students are eligible to pursue. The medals are sponsored by the Phi Beta Kappa Association of Northeast Missouri.

The following students were recognized: Lindsay Rebecca Blick, a biology major from Wichita, Kan., was presented her medal by Diane Janick-Buckner, professor of biology; Ryan Palmer Dabler, a philosophy and religion and mathematics double major from St. Louis, was presented his medal by Mark Appold, professor of philosophy and religion; Kelly A. Daniel, a chemistry major from Basehor, Kan., was presented her medal by Eric V. Patterson, associate professor of chemistry; David Michael Failing, a mathematics and philosophy and religion double major from Lisle, Ill., was presented his medal by Patricia Burton, professor of philosophy; Colleen Elizabeth Fitzgerald, a communication disorders and linguistics double major from Red Bud, Ill., was presented her medal by Janet Gooch, associate professor and department chair of communication disorders; Emily Hall, an exercise science major from St. Peters, Mo., was presented her medal by Jerry Mayhew, professor of exercise science; Alexander J. Hayden, a philosophy and religion and communication double major from Jefferson City, Mo., was presented his medal by Kevin Minch, associate professor of communication, director of forensics and dean of the 2008 Joseph Baldwin Academy; Laura Johnson, a biology major from Kansas City, Mo.; Stephanie Ann Kimball, a Russian major from Bloomington, Ill., was presented her medal by Howard Worcester, recycling coordinator; Chinazor E. Oguejiofor, a biology major from Amawbia, Anambra, Nigeria, was presented her medal by Debbie Nothdurft, Residential College Program; Dale R. Pahls, a chemistry major from Kansas City, Mo., was presented his medal by Anne Moody, professor of chemistry; Bryan Daniel Sitzmann, a chemistry major from Kansas City, Mo., was presented his medal by Maria C. Nagan, associate professor of chemistry; Keith David Watson, a English and history double major from St. Louis, was presented his medal by David Robinson, professor of European history; and Gregory Allen Wisa, a nursing major from St. Peters, Mo., was presented his medal by Stephanie Powelson, department chair and associate professor of nursing.

Truman’s General Honors program recognizes students who have completed five approved courses, with at least one from each of the four areas of mathematics, science, social science, and humanities with a grade point average of at least 3.5 in those courses and an overall cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5. Only grades of “A” and “B” may count toward the five General Honors courses and students who complete a single undergraduate major may not satisfy General Honors requirements with any course within their major.

For more information, please visit the General Honors Web page at http://honors.truman.edu/.

Gregory Jones, professor of music, traveled to Albania in May at the invitation of the U.S. Embassy in Tirana to perform concerts alongside Albanian musicians. Jones was a featured artist on the “Klasik Concert Series” in performances in the capital city of Tirana and the coastal city of Durres. These concerts featured Albanian and American compositions for brass, piano and singers. Jones was also interviewed on Albanian National Television and gave master classes at several Albanian academies.

Taiwan at Truman is a program for high school age Taiwan students to come to Truman State University campus for five weeks to improve their English and to learn about American culture.

The Taiwan at Truman Program is looking for families to host a home stay weekend for the Taiwanese students in the program from June 20-22. Twenty-eight high school age girls will be participating in the program. Families can host one or two girls at their home and show them American culture while learning about Taiwanese culture. The whole family can enjoy this cultural experience.

For more information about the program or to volunteer contact Liz Enberg, director of the Taiwan at Truman Program, at eae626@truman.edu or 314.249.3356.

Truman needs volunteers to work July 14 at the NEMO Fair.

Shifts are as follows:
6-9 a.m.
8:45 a.m.-Noon
11:45 a.m.-3 p.m.
2:45-6 p.m.

Volunteers will receive a free one day pass to the fair.

Please call the Public Relations Office at 785.4016 to sign up or stop by McClain Hall 101 if you are interested in volunteering.

Pickler Memorial Library
June 2-July 27

Monday-Thursday
7:30 a.m.-8 p.m.

Friday
7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Saturday
1-5 p.m.

Sunday
4-8 p.m.

Student Recreation Center
June 2-July 25

Monday-Friday
9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Saturday
11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Sunday
Closed

The Writing Center
McClain Hall 303
June 2-July 25

Monday-Thursday
8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Friday
8:30-11:30 a.m.

Saturday and Sunday
Closed

On behalf of the Summer Orientation Planning Team, we would like to thank the entire campus community for all of your work and support for Summer Orientation. No matter how big or small the role, the support of the Truman family has made Summer Orientation possible!

As a thank you for all of your hard work this summer, we would like to invite you to a reception from 1:30-3 p.m. June 24 in the SUB Alumni Room. Refreshments will be served. We look forward to seeing you there!

Sincerely,

Brad Chambers
Marty Eisenberg
Lou Ann Gilchrist
JoAnn Jorgovan
Dave Lusk
Gina Morin
Andrea O’Brien

Pickler Memorial Library has added the online version of the microfiche series Early American imprints, 1801-1819. Covering every aspect of American life during the early decades of the United States, Early American Imprints, Series II (1801-1819) provides full-text access to the 36,000 American books, pamphlets and broadsides published in the first 19 years of the 19th century. This database offers fully searchable text and a browse feature with topical indexes.

For more information about this resource, contact Daisy Rearick at 785.4048 or drearick@truman.edu.

The Student Recreation Center Fitness/Wellness is offering free fitness classes for students, faculty and staff in town for the summer. Classes offered include step, yoga, body sculpting, ballet and more. For more information visit http://recreation.truman.edu/instructional_programs.asp.

Are you taking advantage of Staff Exercise Time? For more information visit http://recreation.truman.edu/set.asp.

A surplus auction will begin at 9 a.m. June 21 in the Dulaney/Baldwin Building No. 4. Contact Howard Worcester at howard@truman.edu for more information.

Staff Council is sponsoring an American Red Cross blood drive from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. June 23 in the Student Union Building Down Under. All donors who present to donate blood will receive a limited edition rock and roll T-shirt and a chance to win a platinum record donated by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

The next issue of the Truman Today will be published July 1. Truman Today is published biweekly during the summer. Submissions for the next issue are due by June 25 to truman.kbest@gmail.com.

Sodexo invites members of the Truman community to attend barbecues on the Mall this summer. The dates are June 26, July 11 and July 25.

The Center for Student Involvement (CSI) is now accepting registration for the 2008 Activities Fair, to take place from noon-4 p.m. Sept. 4 on the Quadrangle. All campus departments and student organizations in good standing with the CSI are eligible to register. Registration forms are available in the Center for Student Involvement or at http://studentinvolvement.truman.edu. The first 100 organizations to sign up will be entered into a drawing for a prize.