PARK UNIVERSITY E-NEWS
News from June 2009
UNIVERSITY NEWS
Droge named University's interim president and CEO
Michael H. Droge, Ph.D., was named interim president and chief executive officer of Park University on June 30 following the retirement of Beverley Byers-Pevitts, Ph.D., who served as Park president and CEO for eight years.
http://news.park.edu/pub/news_001336.shtml
Zaharopoulos tabbed as University's interim provost
Thimios Zaharopoulos, Ph.D., was 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 interim president.
http://news.park.edu/pub/news_001333.shtml
Bio: www.park.edu/executivestaff/#zaharopoulos
Wood appointed interim College of Liberal Arts and Sciences dean
Jane Wood, Ph.D., was 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. Wood previously served the University as an associate professor of English and department chair.
http://news.park.edu/pub/news_001333.shtml
Youngblood teaching peace journalism seminars in Uganda
Steve Youngblood, associate professor of communication arts, is teaching seminars in peace and development journalism in Uganda.
http://news.park.edu/pub/news_001331.shtml
Youngblood's trip blog: http://captain.park.edu/syoungblood/peace.htm
Recent graduate selected for position with United Nations
Olisa Cifligu, who graduated in May with a bachelor's degree in interior design, was appointed as the third secretary of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Albania to the United Nations.
http://news.park.edu/pub/news_001322.shtml
Board of Trustees announce faculty promotions, grant tenure
During its May 8 meeting, the Park University Board of Trustees announced that seven faculty members were promoted and 12 faculty members were granted tenure.
http://news.park.edu/pub/news_001328.shtml
Cibotaru participates in People to People Leadership Summit
Simona Cibotaru, a graduate assistant in the Office of International Affairs and Education, served as a teacher leader during the People to People Ambassador Programs' "Leadership Summit: Learning to Lead," June 12-20 in Boston, leading a group of high school students. 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.
http://news.park.edu/pub/news_001333.shtml
Barnes appointed to ASPA national post
Kay Barnes, distinguished professor of public leadership and founding director of Park University's Center for Leadership, was appointed to the National Council of the American Society for Public Administration. Barnes was selected for the position to fill the remainder of the unexpired term of Laurie DiPadova-Stocks, Ph.D., dean of the Hauptmann School for Public Affairs and professor of public administration.
http://news.park.edu/pub/news_001328.shtml
University hosts ISFTE pre-seminar meeting with Nigerian educator
Park University’s School for Education and the Office of International Affairs and Education co-hosted a pre-seminar meeting on the Parkville Campus with Modupe M. Osokoya, Ph.D., senior research fellow at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. The visit allowed University faculty and staff to provide Osokoya with information to promote Park to the International Society for Teacher Education. The University is bidding to host the ISFTE Seminar in 2012, the year of the School for Education's centennial.
http://news.park.edu/pub/news_001328.shtml
Brackett essay published for Woolf conference journal
A critical essay, "The Artist/Intellectual as Politician," written by Virginia Brackett, Ph.D., associate professor of English and director of the Honors Program, was published in Woolf Editing/Editing Woolf: Selected Papers from the Eighteenth Annual Conference on Virginia Woolf.
http://news.park.edu/pub/news_001330.shtml
M.P.A. grad wins Kansas City ASPA Fisher award
Merideth Parrish, M.P.A., '08, won the Stanley Fisher Memorial Award from the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration. The Fisher Award is given annually to outstanding graduate and undergraduate students in public administration attending academic institutions in the Kansas City area.
http://news.park.edu/pub/news_001330.shtml
Fontaine elected to Accessible Arts organization board
Sherry Fontaine, Ph.D., director of the Master of Heathcare Leadership program and associate professor of healthcare leadership, was elected to the board of directors for Accessible Arts, an organization dedicated to providing access to the arts for children with disabilities and those who care for them in social service programs, schools, mental health facilities, juvenile detention centers and community programs throughout the Kansas City area and the State of Kansas.
Agnew-Tally appointed to journal editorial board
Josephine Agnew-Tally, Ed.D., dean of the School for Education, was appointed to the editorial board of the Journal of the International Society for Teacher Education.
Burk paper published in Journal for Computing Teachers
Erlan Burk, assistant professor and program coordinator of information and computer science, had his paper, "Analysis Techniques for an Online Class," published in the spring issue of the Journal for Computing Teachers.
ALUMNI NEWS
Alumni encouraged to participate in Alumni Association programs
Graduates of Park University are reminded that they automatically become members of the University's Alumni Association. Members receive the Park University Magazine, notification of events, including the annual Alumni Weekend and Harvest Fest, invitations to regional receptions/reunions, access to the Online Alumni Directory and representation on the Alumni Council. Alumni are encouraged to participate in the many programs and committees available to Alumni Association members. To keep your membership in the Alumni Association active, you must keep your contact information up-to-date with the Office of Alumni Relations. For more information, visit www.parkalumni.org or e-mail alumnioffice@park.edu.
ATHLETICS
University's basketball media guide earns honor
The Park University men's and women's basketball media guide earned postseason accolades as it was selected the seventh-best combined hoops publication in the NAIA, according to the NAIA-SIDA publications committee. Park's 2008-09 basketball publication was written, edited and designed by the Park University Sports Information Office -- Steve Wilson, sports information director, and Tyler Price, assistant sports information director.
www.parkathletics.com/mbasketball/park_003025.shtml
Former Park catcher Shupe signs pro baseball contract
Park University baseball catcher Adam Shupe signed with the San Angelo (Texas) Colts of United League Baseball, an independent professional baseball league.
www.parkathletics.com/mbaseball/park_003030.shtml
IN THE NEWS
• Ryan Wagner, who graduated in May with a bachelor's degree in history, was honored by the Missouri Air National Guard's 139th Airlift Wing on June 7 in St. Joseph. Wagner, a staff sergeant, received the Air Medal for working under "extremely hazardous" conditions between December 2007 and January 2008 while flying at Bagram Air Force Base, Afghanistan. Read about Wagner in the St. Joseph News-Press.
• Park University's commencement ceremony at the Fort Bliss (Texas) Campus Center was 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.
• Jason Grill, adjunct professor of social science and the state representative of the 32nd District of Missouri, which includes Park University’s Parkville Campus and the surrounding area, was the featured cover interview in the April/May issue of Home in the Northland magazine.
UPCOMING EVENTS
View a comprehensive schedule for all events, including athletics, at www.park.edu/calendar/parkville.html.
