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| Dr. Thimios Zaharopoulos |
Zaharopoulos tabbed as University's interim provost
Thimios Zaharopoulos, Ph.D., has been appointed Park University's interim provost, effective July 1. Zaharopoulos, previously the dean of Park's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, takes over the position previously held by Michael Droge, Ph.D., who is now serving the University as its acting president.
Born in Greece, Zaharopoulos immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 13. He earned all of his degrees from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, including a Ph.D. in journalism. Prior to coming to Park, Zaharopoulos was on the faculty at Washburn University and Pittsburg State University in Kansas, and The American College of Greece. In addition, he was a Fulbright visiting lecturer at Panteion University in Athens.
A widely-published author, Zaharopoulos has had two books published -- Mass Media in Greece: Power, Politics and Privatization (1993) and Sports and Media (in Greek, 2008). In addition, he has published 11 chapters/articles in books, 19 refereed journal articles, four book reviews and more than 40 conference paper presentations. Zaharopoulos has also been a member of the Editorial Review Board of the Journal of Radio Studies since 1993.
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| Dr. Jane Wood |
Wood appointed CLAS interim dean
Jane Wood, Ph.D., has been appointed interim dean of Park University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, effective July 1. Wood takes over the position previously held by Thimios Zaharopoulos, Ph.D., who was appointed interim provost (see story above). Wood previously served the University as an associate professor of English and department chair.
During her tenure at Park University, Wood has excelled in teaching, scholarship and service, according to Zaharopoulos. She has earned a number of awards, including the 2009 Excellence in Teaching Award as an outstanding Online course developer from the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Outstanding Department Chair and the Outstanding Board Member of the Greater Missouri Leadership Foundation awards. She has also received two grants from the National Endowment for the Arts for Park University's "The Big Read" program, including a $20,000 grant for this year's event. Wood also recently had a book she wrote accepted for publication.
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| Simona Cibotaru, left, with Hamid Al-Bayati, Ph.D., permanent representative of Iraq to the United Nations. |
Cibotaru participates in People to People Leadership Summit
Simona Cibotaru, a graduate assistant in the Office of International Affairs and Education, was recently selected as a teacher leader during the People to People Ambassador Programs' "Leadership Summit: Learning to Lead," June 12-20 in Boston. She led a group of 12 high school students from the U.S. and around the world. Cibotaru led the delegation's study groups during the program, as well as oversaw their community projects, and led discussions on leadership, diplomacy and conflict resolution. She also gave a presentation to the students on Park University's People to People International chapter and the opportunities for international students to study in the U.S.
This was the third Ambassador Program that Cibotaru was chosen to lead. In April, she led a group of middle school students at the World Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C., and in June 2008, she was a leader at the International Diplomacy Summit in New York City and Washington, D.C.
English department faculty present session, papers at Virginia Woolf conference
Faculty members of Park University's Department of English created and presented a panel session on "How Should One Read a City?: Intersections of Public and Private Mappings" at the 19th annual International Conference on Virginia Woolf, June 4-7 in New York City. The panel examined different views of reading and mapping in Woolf's London.
In addition, faculty also presented individual papers. They were: Lolly Ockerstrom, Ph.D., assistant professor of English, "'I shall fit a plug into the wall; and listen to the past': The City, Escape and Virginia Woolf's Wartime London"; Virginia Brackett, Ph.D., associate professor of English and director of the Honors Program, "Woolf's Aesthetics of Disorientation: Death in Flying over London"; and Jane Wood, Ph.D., then associate professor of English and department chair (current dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences), "Mapping the Interior: The City and Identity in the Travel Writing of Virginia Woolf and Jan Morris." The papers addressed the ways that Woolf interrogates herself, her city and her historical moment. The papers explored various works by Woolf, the intersections of public and private spaces in Woolf's texts, and the meaning and uses of escape and fantasy in the city through Woolf's private writings and in her published essays. The trio is pictured left to right in the adjacent photo with panel chair Stephen Funk, American Jewish University.
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| Erlan Burk |
Burk paper published in Journal for Computing Teachers
Erlan Burk, assistant professor and program coordinator of information and computer science, wrote a paper that was published in the spring issue of the Journal for Computing Teachers. The paper, "Analysis Techniques for an Online Class," covers the basics of using analysis for Online collaborative learning. Examples include techniques for "compare and contrast," "what-if" scenarios and process oriented interaction. The techniques have been used by Burk in the design of business, computer science, engineering and mathematics courses, and can be easily used for other disciplines. Concluding remarks of the paper include feedback from students in courses using these analysis techniques.
University's basketball media guide earns honor
The Park University men's and women's basketball media guide earned postseason accolades recently as it was named the seventh-best combined hoops publication in the NAIA, according to the NAIA-SIDA publications committee in conjunction with the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) convention in San Antonio, Texas. Park's 2008-09 basketball publication was written, edited and designed by the University's Sports Information Office, which includes Steve Wilson, sports information director, and Tyler Price, assistant sports information director. Last year's media guide also earned recognition, placing eighth. Read more about this year's honor at www.parkathletics.com/mbasketball/park_003025.shtml. View this media guide and other Pirate athletics publications at www.parkathletics.com/news/dept/media.shtml.
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| Adam Shupe |
Former Park catcher Shupe signs pro baseball contract
Former Park University baseball catcher Adam Shupe recently signed with the San Angelo (Texas) Colts of United League Baseball, an independent professional league. Shupe hit .423 for the Pirates in 2009, belting 11 home runs and driving in 56 runs, while compiling a .774 slugging percentage and a .542 on-base percentage. For more information, visit www.parkathletics.com/mbaseball/park_003030.shtml.
Businesses provide discounts, specials for faculty, staff, students
A reminder that a number of companies, national and local, are providing the Park University family with special discounts and promotional offers. Sprint Nextel, a Park University partner, offers a 15 percent discount for Park faculty, staff, alumni and their immediate families for Sprint and Nextel rate plans. The discount also applies to family plans and existing Sprint customers. For more information, visit www.nextel.com/parkuniversity. In addition, you can also get discounts through the MBS Mega Store, Dell, CDW-G and JourneyEd. For more information on these discounts for the Park community, visit www.park.edu/deals and click "Pirate Discounts."
There are some additional discount opportunities for those in the Kansas City area.
• H.M.S. Beagle, a store for amateur and professional scientists of all ages located in Parkville's English Landing, offers students, faculty and staff a 6 percent discount on all purchases when presenting your Park I.D. For more information, visit www.hms-beagle.com or call (816) 587-9998.
• The Deuce at The National Golf Club of Kansas City is offering its "Affinity Membership" to Park University faculty, staff and students. For just $50 per round, you get greens fee, cart, range balls and taxes. Benefits include golf privileges anytime Wednesday through Friday and Saturday-Sunday after noon, one day advance tee times, member pricing on golf merchandise, use of The Deuce's facilities for dining and special event, and discounted full golf memberships. In addition, golfers can purchase a prepaid tee package of 12 rounds for just $500, a $100 savings. For more information or to register, call The Deuce at (816) 505-0650 or visit www.thenationalgolfclub.com/golf_thedeuce.html.
• The Cupini's location at 6325 Lewis in Parkville, Mo. (near the intersection of Tom Watson Parkway/45 Highway and 9 Highway), is offering Park University faculty, staff and students a 10 percent discount on purchases when presenting your Park ID. Visit www.cupinis.com for more info.
Park In The News
Park University's commencement ceremonies at the Fort Bliss (Texas) Campus Center were highlighted in a story that appeared in The Monitor, the newspaper for the Fort Bliss community. The article was written by Cliff Ferby, campus center director. The article can be read at The Monitor's web site.
Green tip of the day
Your options are many when booking a hotel, but to stay true to your environmentalist self, consider choosing a property that's clearly devoted itself to being environmentally responsible. That could mean it's LEED-certified or energy-efficient. Does it have solar panels or water-saving devices? Is there a recycling program in place? It also helps if the hotel’s restaurant or room service uses local ingredients, or if discounts are offered for those who drive hybrids or take public transit. For more information and additional tips to lead a "green life," visit http://sierraclub.typepad.com/greenlife.
Upcoming Events
• Margaret Shelby Art Exhibit -- through July 10, Campanella Gallery
• Independence Day holiday -- July 3 (Parkville Campus closed)
• Parkville Community Band 4th of July Concert -- July 4, 7:30 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
• Julymester begins -- July 6
• Victoria Crowder Payne Art Exhibit -- July 14-August 21, Campanella Gallery (Reception: July 17, 6:30 p.m., Campanella Gallery)
• Summer session ends -- July 24
• Julymester ends -- July 31
• New Faculty Orientation -- August 10-11, Louise Morden Board Room
• Fall Faculty Conference -- August 12-13, College for Distance Learning Conference Center
• Residence Halls open (Parkville Campus) -- August 13, 10 a.m.
• Welcome Week (Parkville Campus) -- August 16-21
• Fall 2009 Semester, Fall I begin (KC area) -- August 17
Note: To view a comprehensive schedule for all events, including athletics, visit www.park.edu/calendar/parkville.html.
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