Vol. 27 No. 15 - December 5, 2022

The fall commencement ceremony to honor graduates will begin at 11 a.m. Dec. 17 in Pershing Arena.

Allison Duncan, a bachelor of fine arts in creative writing and bachelor of arts in psychology candidate, will be the student speaker.

Alumna Dusty Folwarczny will give the commencement address. A native of Winfield, Missouri, Folwarczny earned her BFA in sculpture from Truman in 2003 and made her way to Chicago in 2006 to establish her sculpting practice and work in management consulting.

Doors will open at 10 a.m. for seating on a first-come, first-seated basis. Guests are asked to use the main entrance on the west side of the building. Graduates, faculty members and those who need to utilize handicapped parking spaces can use the east entrance. Restroom facilities are accessible on the arena level by the east stairs.

For those who cannot attend in person, livestreams will be available on YouTube and Facebook. More information can be found here.

The top six pitches in each competition advanced to the finals that took place on campus, Nov. 17. Finalists pitched their concept or idea for a product or service to a panel of live judges for the chance to win a portion of the $7,000 in financial awards that were available. Pitches were limited to two minutes with a question-and-answer session of four minutes.

Bulldog B.I.T.E. was open to students from Truman and Moberly Area Community College. Out of 44 students that provided 31 pitches, six individuals/teams advanced to the finals.

Truman students Grace Johler and Esther Lee won first place in the Bulldog B.I.T.E. competition. As the winners they received the Amanda Gioia Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award and earned an award prize of $3,000 for their pitch of a non-profit to support local immigrant-owned businesses.

Kaleb Fothergill and Lola Ellison from MACC placed second and received an award of $2,000 for their pot and pan safety device to help prevent kitchen fires. Truman students, Jillian Pry and Justina Wimer, placed third and received an award of $1,000 for their idea of supplement vending machines for gyms.

Bulldog Pitch Day had six finalist positions that was made up of 14 students from Kirksville High school. Ally Easdale, Camryn Martin and Veil Tipton won first place for their sleep assistance product and received a $500 award. Ellen McNeely, Pari Patel and Brianna Yowell placed second for their accessible and friendly local gym idea and received a $300 award. Angely Pacheco-Gomez placed third for her sign language to text app and received a $200 award.

These competitions were made possible through the generosity of Doug (’94) and Diane (’95) Villhard, Amanda Gioia (’93) and the School of Business.

For more information about this year’s competition visit bulldogbite.truman.edu/winners.

Truman football won their third straight America’s Crossroads Bowl, Dec. 3.

The Bulldogs faced off against Tiffin University, a team they have played against several times within the last two years. The Truman defense made one last stop to halt a two-point conversion attempt by the dragons and claimed their win by a final score of 28-27.

Shamar Griffith was named the game’s most valuable offensive player scoring a 51-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter and finishing with 92 yards on the ground.

Truman concludes the 2022 season with a 9-2 record, which is the program’s ninth time and third straight of winning nine or more games in a season. Gregg Nesbitt, head coach, also reached the 80-win mark at his alma mater.

Auditions for “The Mousetrap” by Agatha Christie will take place at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 in the Blackbox Theatre.

“The Mousetrap” will be directed by Randall Bame and is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. The cast will include three female and five male presenting characters. Auditions are open to all students. Sides do not need to be memorized, but the pages can be found here for different characters.

Callbacks will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 6 in the Blackbox Theater. Emails will be sent out, as well as a callback list posted by the main elevator in Ophelia Parrish.

The University Art Gallery will present this semester’s capstone exhibition from Dec. 5-10 in Ophelia Parrish 1114.

A closing reception will take place from 6-7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 with refreshments provided. The exhibition features the work of three senior studio art students. Kameron Clark and Anna Grahlherr are completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in painting, and Kit Cork is completing a Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in ceramics.

The bodies of work on display are the culmination of a semester of labor. This event is free and open to the public.

Volunteers are asked to arrive at the stadium by 9:40 a.m. for directions prior to the doors opening at 10 a.m. Shortly after commencement begins, volunteers are free to leave or stay for the ceremony.
 
Anyone willing to volunteer or anyone with questions about volunteering, can contact Nancy Asher at nasher@truman.edu or Kaytee Wood at kwood@truman.edu, or call 660.785.4145. For those who volunteer, more detailed information will be sent closer to the actual date.

The event celebrates first-year students’ work in their Symposium and Self and Society courses. Presentations from more than 20 of the classes, including original music written by students and a puppet show, will be available to view. Hot chocolate and cookies, including the Sodexo brownie cookies, will be served.

Follow the tsu_symposium Instagram page for updates and more information.

People will be able to join Roberta Donahue, professor of health science, from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Dec. 9 in Pickler Memorial Library 308 for the last Fresh Start Friday of the semester. This TruSolutions initiative seeks to offer accessible yoga and stretching activities to promote a balanced culture of wellness and academic focus. Participants are encouraged to bring their own yoga mat: a limited number of mats will be available for those without one. For questions, contact Donahue at rdonahue@truman.edu.

Preceptors are needed for the following academies:

• Joseph Baldwin Academy (June 7 - July 1 and/or July 5 - 29)
• JBA Junior (July 16 - 21)
• ATSU-Truman Healthcare Academy (June 23 - 30)

The Institute for Academic Outreach is seeking applications for each academy for programs ranging from one to three weeks during June and July. Stipends vary based in the length of the program and nature of the work.

To be eligible as a preceptor, applicants must be a Truman student or a May 2023 graduate, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and not have outside commitments while working for the program(s). Individuals hired for these programs will also be required to complete a criminal background check, pre-academy trainings and pre-academy orientations.

“To me, the best thing about JBA is the connections you make,” said Holly Peters, former preceptor. “The lasting friendships and memories I’ve made over the years have truly been what keeps me coming back each year.”

Applications are currently being accepted, interviews will take place in February. Information about each available position can be accessed at Institute for Academic Outreach Summer Employment or by emailing Michelle Wilson at mwwilson@truman.edu.

Truman’s Upward Bound program is currently accepting applications for spring employment. Influence equity in and access to higher education by joining the Upward Bound team in helping area high school students prepare for college. Interested students can access application materials here.

Applications are now being accepted for summer internships at the following locations in Missouri:

•    Independence: Harry Truman Presidential Library (full-time, 9 credits)
•    Kansas City: National World War I Museum (part-time, 4 credits)
•    Kirksville: Judicial Archives Project (part-time, 4 credits)
•    Olathe, KS: Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop-Farm (part-time, 4 credits)
•    St. Joseph: St. Joseph Museums (part-time, 4 credits)
•    St. Louis: Field House Museum (part-time, 4 credits), Missouri History Museum (part-time, 4 credits), Mercantile Library (part-time, 4 credits)
•    Springfield: MSU Special Collections and Archive (part-time, 4 credits)

The summer internships are open to all Truman students and are especially relevant for those considering careers in archives, museums and teaching. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until all positions are filled. Email jasonmcd@truman.edu to find out what the internships entail and how to apply.

The Office of Admission is looking for orientation leaders to welcome and introduce all first-year students and their families to Truman during summer orientations. Orientation allows students to enroll in classes, discuss transitional issues with current students and staff and begin to make friends at Truman.

Applications are due Dec. 14. Applications and full job description can be found at truman.edu/ol. Contact Michaela Elsbernd, orientation leader coordinator, with any questions.

Residence Life is looking for students who will create welcoming environments, develop connections with students and foster a learning-centered community to apply as student advisors for the 2023-2024 school year. Student advisors will have their room and meal fees fully covered.

Anyone enrolled in classes, has lived on campus for at least one semester once employed and maintained a 2.75 GPA, is qualified to apply. The application is open now until Jan. 20. Visit reslife.truman.edu or email reslife@truman.edu for more information.

Junior and senior students could win up to $250 from Truman, and $10,000 nationally, through the Robert L. Gould Scholastic Award competition.

SS&C, a financial technology company, sponsors the annual Robert L. Gould Scholastic Award to recognize outstanding university students who produce academic papers on topics related to investment management strategies, theories and trends.

• As we continue to explore technology in our everyday lives, how do you see technology changing the interactions we have and the types of interactions as it relates to investing?    
• As technology is explored in everyday lives, how could gamification impact or encourage appropriate investing behaviors and what are the real or potential positive and negative consequences of using gamification in this environment?  
• Given the advancements in technology, how is or will investment advice and portfolio construction change in the next 3, 5 and 10 years?
• As a consumer of that future state, what are your expectations surrounding engagement with those financial products and the brands that manufacture them?

In addition to the national award, the University will offer prizes to the top three papers from Truman students. Locally, first place will earn $250, second place will receive $150 and third place will get $100. All three will be submitted to the SS&C for the national competition. For details on disbursement, refer to the Financial Aid Office website.

Papers should be submitted to Chuck Boughton, instructor in business administration, at boughton@truman.edu. Polished drafts are due by Dec. 9 with final paper submission due Jan. 15. Submissions should be in Word format only. Local awards will be announced after the Jan. 31 submission to the Gould judges. For more information email boughton@truman.edu.

SS&C is a global provider of investment and financial services and software for the financial services and health care industries. Named to Fortune 1,000 list as top U.S. company based on revenue, SS&C is headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut, and has 25,000+ employees in more than 100 offices in 40 countries. Some 20,000 financial services and health care organizations, from the world's largest institutions to local firms, manage and account for their investments using SS&C's products and services.

In 2018, SS&C acquired DST Systems, Inc., which was founded and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. Gould was president of DST from 1984 until his death in 1987. He had a distinguished career in the financial services industry and was known for his creative and results-oriented style. Prior to joining DST, Gould was president of Fidelity’s Service Company in Boston.

Allison Gus
4:15 p.m.
Dec. 8

Candidates will interview on campus and participate in an all-University open forum. The curriculum vitae (CV) for each candidate can be found on the search website. All open forums will be recorded, and a webcast of each forum will be available on the website shortly thereafter. A link to an electronic candidate evaluation form will also be available on the website.

Dr. Laurie Couch
Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education & Student Success, Morehead State University
10 a.m.
Dec. 5
Violette Hall 1000

Dr. Eric Freedman
Dean, School of Media Arts, Columbia College Chicago
10 a.m.
Dec. 7
Violette Hall 1000

Dr. Jennifer Schlueter
Associate Provost and Dean of Academics, Columbus College of Arts & Design
10 a.m.
Dec. 9
Violette Hall 1000

There will be an all-University open forum for a finalist for the position of director of student success. The candidate will give a 20-minute presentation entitled “Envisioning the Future of Truman’s Student Success” with a question-and-answer session to follow. The open forum will be available via Zoom and will also be recorded. Candidate evaluation forms will be available in-person and online.

Ashleigh Harding
11 a.m.
Dec. 7
Baldwin Hall 102

There will be all-University open forums for two finalists for the position of director of diversity and inclusion. More information on the candidate, and the evaluation form that will be used, can be found here. The open forums will be recorded.

Tonja “Tee” Lee
1 p.m.
Dec. 6
Violette Hall 1000

Vanessa Alexander
1:45 p.m.
Dec. 8
Violette Hall 1000