The Crow’s Nest — March 4, 2022

President Shane Smeed’s Statement of Support for the Ukrainian People

The following is a statement by Park University President Shane Smeed he shared on Feb. 25 in support of Ukraine and its people.

Park University is a part of the international community, which defines our perspective on the events unfolding in Europe. International students have attended Park since 1880, and as an institution, we make global citizenship a core part of our liberal arts mission and community stewardship. We stand with the Ukrainian people.

We stand with all our international students, regardless of where they call home. This semester, we proudly serve students from Ukraine, Russia and 57 other countries. We understand that this recent conflict has impacted individuals from Ukraine and Russia and students from other countries. And after nearly two years of turbulence in our communities and throughout the world, many of our students, faculty and staff are more unsettled this week. Read the entire statement at park.edu/news/smeed-statement-ukraine.

Gilbert Campus Teams to Have New Home at Bell Bank Park

Park University’s Gilbert (Ariz.) Campus athletics teams have a new place to call home as the University has signed a multiyear agreement with Legacy Sports USA. Bell Bank Park, a new 320-acre family sports and entertainment complex in Mesa, Ariz., will be the home for the Buccaneers men’s and women’s basketball, soccer and volleyball teams, as well as women’s beach volleyball and softball.

“The state-of-the-art facilities at Bell Bank Park will provide our teams and athletes one of the best experiences in all of NAIA and the Cal Pac (California Pacific Conference),” said Jeff Fore, Park-Gilbert director of athletics and women’s basketball head coach. “Our partnership with Legacy Sports USA and Bell Bank Park enhances our experience to focus on our championship goals and student success inside and outside the classroom.” Read more about the announcement at park.edu/news/bell-bank-park.

Premiere of Documentary Highlighting Park University’s Valor Medals Review Set for March 24

A documentary exploring the work of the Valor Medals Review Project by Park University’s George S. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War will debut on Thursday, March 24, at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Mo., at 6:30 p.m. Admission to the event is free and open to the public, but reservations are requested by visiting https://my.theworldwar.org/10720/10721 or via e-mail at gsrcentre@park.edu.

The 25-minute documentary, “More Than a Medal,” produced by Lame Deer Films in cooperation with the Robb Centre, interweaves the efforts of the researchers working against time, untold heroic stories of courage on the battlefields of France, on the seas and in the air, and the experience of modern-day descendants as they maintain cautious hope of recognition. You can watch a two-plus minute trailer of the film at youtube.com/watch?v=JU7apyz9FnA.

The event will open with remarks by the producers/directors of the film, Alex Goldstein and Clark Slater, from Lame Deer Films, and Park University’s Tim Westcott, Ph.D., director of the Robb Centre, associate professor of history and associate archivist, and Nathan Marticke, chief advancement officer. A question-and-answer session with Goldstein, Slater and Westcott will follow the premiere of the documentary. Read more about the event and VMR at park.edu/news/more-than-a-medal.

International Center for Music’s Stanislav and Friends Concert Set for March 19

Park University’s International Center for Music will host its annual Stanislav and Friends concert on Saturday, March 19, starting at 8 p.m. at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, Mo. The repertoire for the concert will include Maurice Ravel’s transcription of “Bolero” for four pianos, with ICM students Sergey Belyavsky, Michael Davidman, Kyoshiro Hirama and Anastasia Vortonya performing. The finale will feature the concert’s namesake, Stanislav Ioudenitch, ICM artistic director and associate professor of music/piano, performing Ravel’s “Concerto for the Left Hand” with the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra.

Discounted tickets for the concert are available. Park faculty and staff can get $10 Grand Tier level seats by using the code “PARKSTAS” or get 50 percent off all other seats by using the code “VIRTUOSO”. While students can get tickets in any section, the most affordable is in the Grand Tier level for $7.50 (plus Kauffman Center fee of $3). Students will have to present their Park student ID at the Kauffman Center’s will call when picking up tickets. Go to tickets.kauffmancenter.org/19264 to purchase tickets. For more information about the concert, including the full repertoire and list of musicians, visit icm.park.edu/icm-gala.

Registration Open for Student Research and Creative Arts Symposium

Park University’s annual Student Research and Creative Arts Symposium showcases the scholarly and creative work of students from all disciplines and campuses across the University. Undergraduate and graduate students are invited to submit course work or independent research or creative projects developed with a faculty member’s supervision, either single or collaboratively-authored that take the form of: posters presenting laboratory or other applied research findings; research papers and oral presentations (oral presentations limited to 10 minutes); visual art and graphic design installations; musical presentations; and virtual presentations (slide or video presentations uploaded to Symposium website).

This year’s Symposium will be held Monday-Tuesday, April 18-19. For more information or to register (deadline is Sunday, April 10), visit park.edu/academics/honors-academy/student-research-creative-arts-symposium or contact Patty Ryberg, Ph.D., director of the Honors Academy and associate professor of biology, at patricia.ryberg@park.edu.

J. Malcolm Good Lecture to Focus on Using Trigonometry in Electrical Engineering

Park University’s fifth annual J. Malcolm Good Mathematics Lecture on Wednesday, March 23, will feature a discussion on “Mathematics and Electrical Engineering Working Together — A Unified Theory of Modulation Using Trigonometry.” The lecture will begin at 2 p.m. in the Jenkin and Barbara David Theater inside Alumni Hall on the University’s Parkville Campus. Admission is free and open to the public.

The featured speaker will be Daniel Curtin, Ph.D., professor emeritus of mathematics at Northern Kentucky University. According to Curtin, fast and reliable communication over long distances is crucial to everyone. Usually, the information is modulated, forwarded through a medium and then demodulated at the receiving end. Historically, each type of modulation and demodulation required its own electronic methods. In recent years a system called I/Q, or quadrature, modulation allows most kinds of modulation to be handled in essentially the same way. This method makes use of trigonometrics with no knowledge of electronics assumed.

Faculty Center for Innovation Hosting Virtual Academic Conference

Park University’s Faculty Center for Innovation will host the Virtual Academic Conference for Park faculty and staff on Saturday, March 26, from 9 a.m. to noon (Central time). This year’s keynote speaker, Tracie Addy, Ph.D., is a renowned expert on diversity, equity and inclusion, and is the co-author of What Inclusive Instructors Do: Principles and Practices for Excellence in College Teaching. She is the director of the Center for the Integration of Teaching, Learning and Scholarship, and associate dean of teaching and learning, at Lafayette College.

Following Addy’s address, Park faculty and staff will present sessions on inclusive classrooms and reaching students through student services:
          •  Recognizing Privilege in the Classroom, Chelsea Platt, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociology
          •  Removing Barriers by Creating an Inclusive Syllabus, Stacy Yeager-Okosi, Ph.D., assistant professor of business analytics
          •  Partnering with Library Services for Student Success, Camille Abdel-Jawad, assistant professor of library instruction and outreach
          •  Meeting Students Where They Are: What Our Students Bring with Them to the Classroom, Amanda Bryant, director of student support

To register, visit form.jotform.com/211926807935161. For questions or more information, contact the FCI at innovate@park.edu.

Faculty, Staff, Student News

Park University’s Board of Trustees approved promotion and/or tenure for the following faculty during its meeting on Feb. 18, effective with the start of the 2022-23 academic year on Aug. 1:
          •  Alla Adams, Ph.D., promoted to associate professor of healthcare administration and approved for tenure.
          •  Lacey Finley, Ph.D., promoted to associate professor of management and approved for tenure.
        •  Andrea Lee, Ph.D., promoted to associate professor of fine arts and approved for tenure.
          •  Amy Mecklenburg-Faenger, Ph.D., promoted to professor of English
          •  Yongzhi (Joe) Wang, Ph.D., promoted to associate professor of computer science and approved for tenure.

Katie Ervin, Ed.D., associate vice president of strategic alliances, authored the article “The Secret of Employee Retention – Get to Know Your People!” that was published on Feb. 1 in Brainz. magazine. Ervin also authored “Who Do You Trust with Your Voice?” for the Forbes website on Feb. 24 as part of her membership on the publication’s Human Resources Council.

Jeanette Prenger, ’09, and a member of the Park University Board of Trustees (and immediate past chair), ascended to the role of chair of the Visit KC Board of Directors on Jan. 25 after having served as vice chair the past two years. Prenger is the president and founder of ECCO Select in Kansas City, Mo. Park is also represented on the Visit KC board by Bob Kendrick, ’85, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Teresa Loar, ’94, councilperson, City of Kansas City, Mo., and ex-officio member Gregg Givens, Park’s chief financial officer.

Kathy Howe, Ph.D., assistant professor of literacy education, co-authored the article “What Teachers (Really) Need to Know About the Science of Reading & Dyslexia” that was published in the 2020-21 edition of Reading in Virginia, a journal of the Virginia State Literacy Association. The article provides guidance for reading instruction within the response to intervention framework by examining two instructional plans taught in a reading methods course.

Park in the News

The Valor Medals Review, being conducted by Park University’s George S. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War, was featured in the February edition of VFW Magazine.

The Valor Medals Review was also featured on Kansas City PBS (KCPT-TV) on Feb. 17 with the premier of “Preserving Our Past: Kansas City Stories of Black History.” The story, originally published on the Flatland KC website in February 2021, starts at approximately 20:30.

Kena Wolf, chief enrollment management officer, was featured on the Salina (Kan.) Public Schools website on Jan. 21. Wolf is an alumna of Salina Central High School.

Stanislav Ioudenitch, associate professor of music/piano and artistic director of the Park University International Center for Music, was highlighted in a “Four Questions” feature in In Kansas City magazine on Feb. 1.

Ignacio (Nacho) Flores, ’18, a member of the Kansas City Comets of the Major Arena Soccer League, appeared in a 28-minute interview for MASLtv on Feb. 3 (interview is in Spanish).

Matt Harris, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science, was interviewed for a story that aired on KCTV in Kansas City on Feb. 10. The story was on the Kansas redistricting plan heading to court.

Harris was also interviewed for a story that aired on KMBZ-FM in Kansas City on Feb. 15 related to Missouri U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley endorsing Missouri U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler in her 2022 U.S. Senate bid.

In addition, Harris did an interview for a story that aired on KSHB-TV in Kansas City on Feb. 21 related to how the conflict in Ukraine could affect the economy in the U.S.

A story on Jeremiah Diaz, who has committed to play men’s soccer at Park University’s Gilbert (Ariz.) Campus starting in the Fall 2022 semester, appeared in the Marianas Variety on Feb. 17.

Adam Farm, esports head coach, was interviewed for stories that aired on KMBZ-FM in Kansas City on Feb. 18. The stories were about the surge of area high schools starting esports programs and what opportunities those students have in the future in the industry.

Lydia Burse, ’12, was featured in the Copperas Cove (Texas) Herald on Feb. 18 as part of a question-and-answer series on the importance of Black History Month. Burse is the 6th grade department chair at S.C. Lee Junior High School in Copperas Cove.

The Park University Parkville (Mo.) Campus men’s volleyball team was featured in a story that aired on KSHB-TV in Kansas City on Feb. 19. Mike Talamantes, director of volleyball and head coach, and middle blocker Felipe Chagas, were interviewed for the story.

Cedric Patterson, ’05, was highlighted on the Navy Office of Community Outreach website on Feb. 17 and in the Houston Chronicle on Feb. 20 as he was named Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire and Emergency Services Civilian Fire Officer of the Year. Patterson serves at CNRMA Fire and Emergency Services, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va., as the assistant fire chief responsible for overseeing and coordinating emergency services delivered across five military installations.

Debra Sheffer, Ph.D., professor of history, was interviewed for a story that aired on KSHB-TV in Kansas City on Feb. 22. The story focused on the Buffalo Soldiers and highlighted Cathay Williams, the only woman to serve in the U.S. Army as a Buffalo Soldier who was born in Independence, Mo., in 1844.

Stephen Linkous, ’95, appeared in stories in the Nashua, N.H., region on Feb. 22 as he was appointed superintendent of the Nashua School District effective in July.

Nada Meawad, ’21, who recently signed to play women’s volleyball in Switzerland with Volley Lugano, was featured in a story that appeared on the Hebdo Al-Ahram website on Feb. 23.

A story about James Simpson, MPA ’97, appeared in the Liberty (Mo.) Tribune Courier on Feb. 23. Simpson has announced that he will retire as the Liberty chief of police effective July 1. He has spent 37 years with the Liberty Police Department, the last 11 years as its chief.

Jack MacLennan, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science, was interviewed for a number of stories related to the conflict in Ukraine during the last week of February.
          •  On KSHB-TV in Kansas City on Feb. 23, MacLennan provided insight on what the local impact could be due to the conflict.
          •  On KMBC-TV in Kansas City on Feb. 23, MacLennan provided comments, focused on Emma Givens, a 2018 Park University graduate, who was a Peace Corps volunteer in Ukraine from 2018-20.
          •  On KMBZ-FM in Kansas City on Feb. 24, MacLennan participated in a 10-minute live interview during the “Dana and Parks” program.
          •  On BeFM (Busan English Broadcasting) in Busan, South Korea, on Feb. 27 (Feb. 28 in Busan), MacLennan participated in a 13-minute live interview for the “Morning Wave in Busan” program.
          •  On WDAF-TV in Kansas City on Feb. 28, MacLennan was interviewed for a story related to how the war was expected to push U.S. prices for food and energy higher.

Maria Ioudenitch, a former student in Park University’s Youth Conservatory for Music and daughter of Stanislav Ioudenitch, associate professor of music/piano and artistic director of the International Center for Music, was featured in a podcast interview posted on The Strad website on Feb. 24. The interview focused on her reflections from the past year after winning two international violin competitions.

Park University was ranked in the Feb. 3 edition of Diverse: Issues in Higher Education as part of the publication’s rankings of the top producers of African American graduates across the country:
          •  No. 5, Bachelor’s: Human Resources Management and Services
          •  No. 18, Bachelor’s: Management Information Systems and Services
          •  No. 32, Bachelor’s: Business Administration, Management and Operations
          •  No. 37, Master’s: Health Professions and Related Programs
          •  No. 47, Master’s: Business Administration, Management and Operations

Ingram’s, a Kansas City business magazine, ranked Park University No. 4 among all private colleges and universities in Missouri and Kansas, based on undergraduate full-time equivalency enrollment in Fall 2021.

Park also ranked on the following:
          •  No. 1 on OrganizationalPsychologyDegrees.com’s “Top 15 Industrial/Organizational Psychology Certificate Programs” list.
          •  No. 11 on ScholarshipWorld.uk’s list of the best criminal justice schools.
          •  No. 26 on OnlineMastersDegrees.org’s “Best Online Master’s Degrees in Adult Education for 2022” list.
          •  No. 32 on OnlineMastersDegrees.org’s “Top Online Master’s in Communications for 2022” list.

Upcoming Events

(All events are Central time)
          •  March 4 — International Center for Music Concert: ICM Orchestra, 7:30 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
          •  March 6 — Spring I Term Ends
          •  March 7-13 — Spring Recess
          •  March 7-April 22 — Faculty Art Exhibit, “Reset,” Campanella Gallery (Norrington Center)
          •  March 14 — Spring II Term Begins
          •  March 19 — International Center for Music Concert: Stanislav and Friends, 8 p.m., Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Kansas City, Mo.
          •  March 23 — J. Malcolm Good Mathematics Lecture, 2 p.m., David Theater (Alumni Hall)
          •  March 24 — George S. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War’s Premiere of “More Than a Medal” Documentary, 6:30 p.m., National World War I Museum and Memorial, Kansas City, Mo.
          •  April 8 — International Center for Music Concert: ICM Orchestra, 7:30 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
          •  April 13 — Dr. Doris A. Howell Leadership Awards, 5 p.m., David Theater (Alumni Hall); reception to follow in Norrington Center
          •  April 16 — International Center for Music Concert: Pianist Behzod Abduraimov, 7:30 p.m., 1900 Building, Mission Woods, Kan.
          •  April 18-19 — Student Research and Creative Arts Symposium, Parkville Campus and Virtual
          •  April 20 — Honors Convocation, 7 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
          •  April 22 — Presidential Inauguration for Shane Smeed, 2:30 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel and Virtual
          •  April 29 — International Center for Music Concert: ICM Violin Students with the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, 8 p.m., Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kansas City, Mo.
          •  April 30 — Gilbert (Ariz.) Campus Commencement, 1 p.m. (11 a.m. Arizona time), Paloma Community Church, Mesa, Ariz.

To view a comprehensive schedule for all events, including athletics and student life, visit park.edu/calendars/park-events-calendar.