A mainstay of campus life at Truman will take center stage during Homecoming Week activities, Oct. 21-26.

The theme for this year’s homecoming is “Squirrel Scouts” and all money raised will go to the Pantry for Adair County (PAC).

Homecoming apparel is now available for purchase online. Short sleeve shirts are $10 and long sleeve shirts are $15. Orders will be available for pick up from the Union & Involvement Services Office (SUB 2000) Oct. 21.

For information as it becomes available, follow @trumanstatehomecoming on Instagram.

The fall 2024 Celebration of Faculty Scholarship event will take place from 3-5 p.m. Oct. 18 in Kirk Memorial.

This event is designed for faculty members to share recent scholarship, research or creative activity with colleagues from across the campus in a casual, conversation-oriented atmosphere. Attendees will be able to browse posters, articles, artwork and other artifacts of scholarship, research and creative activity in a leisurely manner. This is also a great opportunity to hear from colleagues who have returned from sabbatical.

A full range of artifacts are welcome at the event, including articles, books, posters, artwork, slideshows, programs and video demonstration. Faculty interested in participating should register their intent to display artifacts here no later than Oct. 9.

 
Five distinguished alumni will return to Truman for the next installment of the Chuck and Sherri Woods TRU-Biz Forum at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 16 in Violette Hall 1000.
 
The alumni presenters will draw on their personal experiences to discuss opportunities in finance, accounting, supply chain, banking, sales/marketing and executive-level management. Students who are interested in business, but who may not know what area to pursue, are particularly encouraged to attend.
 
As a successful sales/business professional Rod Cooper (’88) retired at the age of 49 to manage his real estate holdings and help others achieve their dreams. He is now the owner of RKCC Real Estate Holdings. Prior to retiring in 2015, Cooper was managing director for a national accounting and business consulting firm. He was responsible for new client development, growing the firm’s public awareness, and sales consulting with companies on top-line growth and management-related issues. Cooper’s business roles have included president/owner, entrepreneur, managing director, vice president of sales, vice president of operations, director of sales and branch manager. He was named to the Top 100 People to Know in St. Louis Small Business Monthly in 2011 and was the 2008 Truman State University Business Alumnus of the Year.
 
Ed Dehner (’00) earned a bachelor’s in finance at Truman, followed by an MBA from St. Louis University. He began his career at First Bank as a credit analyst and became a vice president in corporate banking. In 2009, he joined CIBC Bank USA as a managing director of the Midwest Regional Commercial Banking group. Dehner serves on the board of directors for STL Partnership, an economic development agency serving St. Louis City and County. Additionally, he is an advisory board member for Eagle Private Capital (Funds III, IV and V), which is a private debt and equity fund making investments in lower middle market companies.  
 
Doug James (’86) earned a degree in criminal justice at Truman and furthered his education with an MBA from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Following graduation, he was an associate purchasing manager for McDonnell Douglas Missile System Company. From there, he became a director of purchasing at Monsanto, where he had a series of leadership roles locally and globally through the transition to Bayer and for the remainder of his career. James retired as head of strategy and supply for large scale herbicides for Bayer.
 
Greg Meier (’89) graduated from Truman with degrees in accounting and finance. He began his career at Ernst & Young (now EY) as an audit senior/CPA and then embarked on a 15-year career at Correctional Medical Services (currently Corizon) as vice president of operations. After two years in senior leadership roles with Express Scripts, he joined Mercy (Roi), serving more than 10 years in vice president, CFO and general manager roles. Meier also has experience as a COO with HealthTrust Performance Group. Most recently, he established Peak Organization Performance, LLC, which helps organizations optimize their short- and long-term performance. He serves as CFO, COO, advisory board member and/or partner for multiple health care organizations in the St. Louis area.  
 
Barbara Witte (’83) earned a degree in accounting from Truman, followed by an MBA from Webster University and a CPA certificate from the state of Missouri. In a 40-year career she has occupied a number of roles ranging from accounting manager to CEO. Witte served as state CEO in the managed care industry for both WellCare (now Centene) and Coventry Health Care (now Aetna). Currently, she owns and operates a consulting business specializing in managed care operations and finance. Witte was honored as an Alumni Fellow in 2023.
 
After the speakers’ presentations, there will be time reserved for a question-and-answer sessions followed by 30-45 minutes allocated for networking with students. In addition to the forum, the speakers will meet with students in select classes, Oct. 17.
 
The TRU-Biz Forum is made possible by the Chuck and Sherri Woods Endowment for Business Excellence at Truman. The fund was established by alumni Charles H. “Chuck” and Sherri Woods as part of generous support of Truman.

 
As part of the Ofstad Visiting Scholar Program, prize-winning author Dr. Janet Sylvester will read selections of her work at 7 p.m. Oct. 17 in Ophelia Parrish 2210.
 
Sylvester will share from her earlier books of poetry, “That Mulberry Wine,” “And Not to Break” and “The Mark of Flesh.” She will also read selections from her book-in-progress, “Color-Wheel.”
 
Currently the associate director of the low-residency undergraduate program at Goddard College in Vermont, Sylvester has taught creative and expository writing at Harvard University, Old Dominion University, Ohio University and Endicott College, among others. From Oct. 14-18, she will teach a creative writing course at Truman. “At the Edge: Hybrid Writing,” will explore newer literary forms such as the lyric essay, prose poetry and flash fiction.
 
Sylvester’s poems have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, including Best American Poetry, Pushcart Prize XXVIII, Colorado Review, Triquarterly and Boulevard Harvard Review. In 2018, her work was nominated for the 2018 Rome Prize at the American Academy in Rome.
 
This event is free and open to the public.

Students with an affinity for business can now submit their ideas for the annual Bulldog B.I.T.E. elevator pitch contest.

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 Truman student, or team of students up to three members, enrolled during the fall semester. Additionally, students enrolled in the fall semester at Moberly Area Community College are eligible to participate. Six teams will be selected to attend a live pitch competition Nov. 14 to present their concept to a panel of judges. Submissions can be made here until 10 p.m. Oct. 25.

In conjunction with Bulldog B.I.T.E., an elevator pitch contest for area high school students will take place the same day. Bulldog Pitch Day is open to any high school student or team of students up to three members. The first round is scheduled for the morning of Nov. 14, with the finals taking place later in the day in the Student Union Building. Submissions can be made here until 10 p.m. Oct. 25.

The top three finalists for Bulldog B.I.T.E. will receive financial awards: first place will receive the Amanda Gioia Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award of $3,000, second place will receive $2,000 and third place will receive $1,000. The top three finalists for Bulldog Pitch Day will also receive financial awards: first place will receive $500, second place will receive $300 and third place will receive $200.

The 1969, 1970 and 1972 Bulldog football teams will gather at Stokes Stadium to be inducted into the Truman Athletics Hall of Fame, Oct. 12. The teams will be recognized during halftime of the 6 p.m. game against Missouri S&T.

Compiling a 22-5-1 record with three Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Association championships, Russ Sloan’s football teams epitomized the term “Bulldog.” They were projected to finish no better than fourth in each season, yet they were co-MIAA champions in Sloan’s first two years of 1969 and 1970 before winning the title outright with a 6-0 record in 1971.
 
During those three seasons, Tom Geredine, Craig O’Sadnick, Aubrey Johnson, Don Cummings, Mike Berentes and Ken Bebermeyer were named All-Americans by the Associated Press.

Berentes still holds the Bulldog single-game record for receiving yards with 248 yards on 10 catches and had the single-season receiving yards record for 16 seasons with 946 yards in 1970.
 
O’Sadnick is currently second and third on the single-season tackles list with 145 in 1972 and 159 a year later in 1973.
 
Quarterback Don Cummings held the single-season passing record for 12 seasons after throwing for 2,221 yards in 1970 and was the career passing leader until 1983 with 5,531 yards. He is eighth in touchdown passes thrown with 38.
 
Lenvil Elliott finished second in career rushing yards with 2,770 and is now fifth all-time. He is ninth in career touchdown runs with 28.
 
Al Fulton still holds the single-season quarterback sack record with 12 in 1972. Mike Dahlberg and Harold James are third in single-season interceptions with six each.

Coach Russ Sloan was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 and his teams joined him in the prestigious hall in 2012.

Elliott, Geredine, O’Sadnick, Larry Jones and Marvin Robinson went on to the professional ranks. Elliott won a Super Bowl title with the San Francisco 49ers. Geredine won a national championship in the long and triple jumps and still holds the school record in the indoor long jump. Jones was a three-time national champion in the 440 and 400-meter dashes and still has the indoor record in that event.

Coach Sloan referred to this group as the “Bulldog Brotherhood of Champions” and that moniker has lived up to its name with a tight-knit group that regularly gets together to celebrate their accomplishments.
 
Several of these players and coaches have been inducted individually into the Truman Athletics Hall of Fame.

As part of the TRU-Entrepreneur Speaker Series, Amanda Montgomery (’12) will speak from 12:30-1:20 p.m. Oct. 9 in the Doug and Diane Villhard Innovation Lab in Pickler Memorial Library.

A student-athlete at Truman, Montgomery competed on the swim team and earned a Bachelor of Science in biology. After graduation, she became a certified yoga instructor and pursued several opportunities related to sustainability, awareness of self and food knowledge while traveling both nationally and internationally.

Montgomery returned to Kirksville in 2017 and began teaching yoga classes to the community and at the University. She offered her first yoga teacher training in 2018 and opened Mystic Meadows Yoga in downtown Kirksville in 2021. She continues her personal mission of promoting a comprehensive awareness of self, both physical and spiritual, a more meditative lifestyle and an acute awareness of where food comes from and how it affects human beings.

The 34th Annual Philosophy and Religion Conference will take place Nov. 16 in Baldwin Hall 114.

Students can now submit papers to be featured at the conference. The submission deadline is Oct. 16. Papers from any area of philosophy and/or religious studies are welcome. This may include fields such as classics, anthropology and others. Papers should be no longer than 25 minutes reading time (approximately eight-10 pages). A review panel of Truman undergraduates will select the program. If a paper is selected, the author will be asked to provide a 100-word abstract upon acceptance of the invitation to present.

Papers should be submitted to Chad Mohler, professor of philosophy and religion, with the subject line: Undergraduate Philosophy and Religion Conference. Students should separate all identifying information, including name and school, from the body of the paper in either format – include this information only in the body of the email. The title of the paper should be listed in both documents.

Alumni, family and friends are invited to attend the Bulldog Forever Homecoming Tailgate before the football game, Oct. 26.

People who reserve a tailgate spot in advance will be granted early access to the tailgate lot and admitted ahead of the post-parade crowd. Those who wish to reserve a spot can register here. All requests must be approved by Alumni Relations. Those attending should review the Homecoming Tailgate Policies prior to the event.

Spaces will be reserved for requests submitted by Oct. 11. Non-reserved space at the tailgate will be first-come, first-served at the event. For any questions email bulldogforever@truman.edu.

Residence Life is looking for students who will create welcoming environments, develop connections with on-campus residents and foster a learning-centered community to apply as resident advisors for the 2025-26 school year. Resident advisors will have their room and meal fees fully covered.

Anyone enrolled in classes, who has lived on campus for at least one semester and maintained a 2.75 GPA, is qualified to apply. The application is open now until Jan. 14. Visit reslife.truman.edu or email reslife@truman.edu for more information.

The Admission Office is now hiring student digital ambassadors for the remainder of the academic year.

A student digital ambassador communicates with prospective students by text message or phone to answer any questions they may have about the University, remind them of upcoming events or deadlines and share their own Truman experience. This position will begin Oct. 29 and work from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday nights.

Scholarship, work-study and institutional opportunities are available. Institutional opportunities are limited. Applications can be found here and are due by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 11.

 
The course, “CML 200: Taiwan Connect” (CRN: 6112), is a service-learning experience that begins in the second block of the semester. Classes will take place every Monday evening in Baldwin Hall 309, starting Oct. 14. Before Nov. 3, the class will meet from 6:30-8 p.m., and after Nov. 3, the time will change to 5:30-7 p.m. The only requirement for participation is that students must be native English speakers.
 
Students enrolled in 12-16 credit hours can take CML 200 at no additional cost. For more information or an override to enroll in this course, contact Zhijun “David” Wen, assistant professor of Chinese, at zwen@truman.edu or in McClain Hall 313.

• a US Citizen
• a resident of the state, or attending a college or university in Missouri (students may not register to vote in both your home state and Missouri)
• 17 ½ years of age to register and 18 years of age by election day registered to vote on or before Oct. 9 to vote in the Nov. 5 election

• Students may register to vote in Adair County (the county where Truman located) and vote in person at their local polling precinct on election day.
• Students may request an absentee ballot in their registered county. Registration for an absentee ballot is usually open six weeks before election day. Ballots are due back to the county clerk’s office before the election. Absentee ballots in Missouri require notary service. There are notaries on campus to assist students in the Business Office in McClain Hall and in the Department of Public Safety in the General Services Building. A picture ID is required for notary service.     
• Students may vote absentee in person in their registered county at the county clerk’s office up to 5 p.m. the night before the election. This is for voters who will not be able to vote in person at their regular precinct the day of the election.

Voters should contact the county clerk’s office in the county in which they are registered if they would like additional information regarding this year’s election. Be sure to allow plenty of time before the election to meet the voting deadlines.   

AGSC 490 practicum class is working to create a community supported agriculture project for students, faculty and staff at Truman. By subscribing to the CSA, students and Truman affiliates would receive a weekly box of vegetables and herbs which would help support the farm and Truman community. A survey for this project can be completed here.

Facilitate relational and intellectual wellness by crafting and socializing with other faculty and staff by attending mocktails and crafts with Jeanne Harding at 4 p.m. Oct. 8 in Health Sciences Building 1212. RSVP here.

Recipients must be enrolled full-time during the term of the scholarship to receive the full amount. Applications can be submitted and revised at any time prior to the Oct. 16 deadline. To apply, log in to TruView, go to the Student Tab, Scholarships, Financial Aid & Loans then Foundation Scholarship Application.

These scholarships are available thanks to the private gifts of alumni and friends of the University.