The Crow’s Nest — March 5, 2026
Hafiz Pashayev, founding rector of ADA University, and Scott Jackman, Park University Board of Trustees chair.
Park, ADA University in Azerbaijan Sign Memorandum of Understanding
Park University and ADA University, a public higher education institution based in Baku, Azerbaijan, have signed a memorandum of understanding to provide ADA students a streamlined pathway to Park with a coordinated graduate program. The agreement, which is planned to launch at the start of the Fall 2026 semester, provides a 4+1 degree program, with the completion of a bachelor’s degree at ADA and subsequent completion of a Master of Business Administration degree in management at Park. ADA students accepted into this program are expected to have up to 12 transfer hours into Park’s MBA program. Read more about the partnership at park.edu/news/ada-university-mou.
Park University Student-Athletes Earn NAIA Academic Honors
On Feb. 24, the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) announced its 2026 NAIA Scholar-Athletes for winter sports. To qualify, students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, appear on the eligibility certificate for their sport and have attended their institution for at least one full year. A total of 19 Park University student-athletes, six from the Parkville (Mo.) Campus and 13 from the Gilbert (Ariz.) Campus, earned honors. The Gilbert Campus women’s basketball program led Park’s teams with 10 individuals being recognized, while the Gilbert Campus men’s basketball and Parkville Campus men’s and women’s basketball programs all added three each. Find a complete list of the honorees at naia.org/sports/ScholarAthleteAwards/2025-26/winter_scholar-athletes.
Drew Whipple Appointed Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services
Park University has appointed Drew Whipple as the associate vice president for enrollment services, effective March 4. In this role, Whipple oversees the University’s admissions and recruitment teams for the flagship Parkville (Mo.) Campus and its campus in Gilbert, Ariz., as well as Access to Education initiatives. Whipple will also serve as the primary relationship builder and strategic communicator for prospective students and families through the creation of exceptional visitor experiences that showcase Park University and converting interest into application and enrollment. In addition, he will manage enrollment-related data to guide planning and development of comprehensive plans in attracting a high-quality applicant pool and meet enrollment targets. Whipple previously served as associate vice president for enrollment management at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kan. since March 2019. Read more about Whipple at park.edu/news/whipple-appointed-avp.
Submit Nominations for Park University Alumni Awards
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Park University Alumni Awards. Park faculty, staff, alumni and community members are welcome to submit nominations of alumni who exemplify excellence, leadership and dedication to Park. Whether through professional achievement, community impact or service to the University, alumni continue to make a difference in meaningful ways. Award categories include: Distinguished Alumna/Alumnus Award; Torchlighter Award; Marlowe Sherwood Memorial Service Award; Park Promising Young Professional Award; Philanthropic Leadership Award; Park Proud Business Leadership Award; Tipton Award; and Athletics Wall of Honor. To nominate deserving candidates and to view award descriptions, visit advancing.park.edu/alumni/alumni-awards. The nomination deadline is Wednesday, April 1, with awards being presented at a ceremony during Homecoming Weekend on the flagship Parkville (Mo.) Campus on Friday, Sept. 18.
Parkville Campus Men’s Indoor Track and Field Team Wins Conference Title
The Park University Parkville (Mo.) Campus men’s indoor track and field team won its first-ever Heart of America Athletic Conference championship on Feb. 21 in Maryville, Mo. The Pirates ran away with the title with 174 points, besting second place MidAmerica Nazarene University by 62 points.
Park had six individual event winners: Alexander Caines, senior, 800-meter run, 1:53.85; Cody Hammond, freshman, mile run, 4:18.28; Palmer O’Connor, sophomore, 1000-meter run, 2:27.07; Caden Peters, sophomore, 5000-meter run, 14:54.97; Sam Thomas, senior, long jump, 7.41 meters (24 feet, 3.75 inches); and Cayden Walker, sophomore, 3000-meter run, 8:38.41. Hammond (left) was the Track Athlete of the Meet, earning 30 points for the Pirates. Along with his mile run win, Hammond also placed second in the 800-meter run, and third in both the 600-meter run and 1000-meter run. In addition, head coach Rikki Hacker (right) was named the conference Men’s Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year.
Park’s women’s squad, which finished fourth as a team in the HAAC meet, had one competitor win a conference title — sophomore Rosjai Curtis in the long jump, with a leap of 5.94 meters (19 feet, 6 inches).
In other athletics news, Symirah Gray (left), a freshman guard on the Gilbert (Ariz.) Campus women’s basketball team, was named the Freshman of the Year in the Great Southwest Athletic Conference on Feb. 25. Gray averaged 8.5 points and 2.1 rebound per game.
Moises Ortiz (right), sophomore middle blocker for the No. 3 nationally ranked Parkville (Mo.) Campus men’s volleyball team, was named NAIA Defensive Player of the Week on Feb. 17. In three matches the previous week, Ortiz recorded 4 solo blocks and assisted on 10 more, ending the week without a block error. In addition, he helped the Pirates offensively, recording 10 kills in 12 attacks for a .750 hitting percentage.
Park University Faculty Exhibiting Work in Campanella Gallery
Past and present Park University faculty from the Department of Art and Design are showcasing their work in an art exhibit through Friday, April 10, at the Campanella Gallery, located within Norrington Center on the University’s flagship Parkville (Mo.) Campus. Admission to this biennial exhibit is free and open to the public. A reception for the artists will be held on Friday, March 20, from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Gallery. Participating artists include: Dora Agbas, adjunct instructor of art/fibers, Donna Bachmann, professor emerita of art and founder of the Campanella Gallery; Abby Callaghan, adjunct instructor of art/ceramics; William Eickhorst, Ed.D., former adjunct instructor of fine/visual art; Matthew Krawcheck, adjunct instructor of art; Andrea Lee, Ph.D., associate professor of fine art and director of the Campanella Gallery; and Lynn Richardson, adjunct instructor of fine art. Read more about the exhibit at park.edu/news/2026-faculty-exhibit.
Park University’s Giving Day Set for April 8-9
Park University’s 2026 Giving Day will be held between noon (Central time) on Wednesday, April 8, and noon (Central time) on Thursday, April 9. Giving Day is an opportunity for the University community to show pride and gratitude for the impact Park has on each of us, in our communities and around the world. You can make a gift of any size to the area(s) you are passionate about. Whether you are an employee, student, alumna/alumnus, parent or friend of Park, you are part of this special community. This is your chance to make a difference in the lives of Park students. Every gift counts and every donor matters. Be on the lookout for additional information soon!
Faculty, Staff, Student News
Park University’s Board of Trustees approved promotion and/or tenure for the following faculty during its meeting on February 20, effective with the start of the 2026-27 academic year on Aug. 1.
• Camille Cook (left), promoted to associate professor of library instruction and outreach, and approved for tenure
• Bin (Crystal) Peng, Ph.D., promoted to professor of computer science
• Patty Ryberg, Ph.D. (right), promoted to professor of biology
Ali Mammadoff, an International Center for Music student pursuing a graduate certificate in music performance/piano, has had his album, “Whispers of the Soul,” which explores the rich inner landscapes of Johannes Brahms and Frederic Chopin, recently released by KNS Classical. This deeply introspective recording brings together two monumental pillars of Romantic piano literature: Brahms’ “Intermezzi, Op. 117,” and the complete “24 Preludes, Op. 28,” by Chopin.
Brandi Handley, assistant professor of English, presented an interactive program on “Writing Basics” for the Mid-Continent Public Library in Kansas City, Mo., on Feb. 4. Handley provided information on the fundamentals of storytelling, including how to engage readers with powerful sensory detail, compelling characters and vivid scenes.
Zhiyuan (Peter) Li, Ph.D., assistant professor of computer science, co-authored “Modeling a Shared Reality of Tractography Through Varied Structural Imaging” that was published on Feb. 16 in bioRxiv.
Greg Plumb, J.D., professor of criminal justice administration, was recently appointed as the training chair for the Heart of America Council of Scouting America. In this role, Plumb coordinates all training for youth and adults in the 19-county area that comprises the Council.
Park in the News
Triumfia Houmbie Fulks, ’14, and her company, codeAlgo Academy, was featured in a Startland News article on Feb. 3. The edtech startup platform, which rolled out to schools in September 2025, uses gamification to teach coding skills to students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
Dimitri Pettit, a senior at St. Patrick High School in North Platte, Neb., was highlighted in stories that aired on KNOP-TV in North Platte on Feb. 4 as he signed a letter-of-intent to be a student-athlete for Park University’s Parkville (Mo.) Campus men’s cross country and track and field teams. In late January, Pettit was announced as McAfee Scholarship awardee, which provides full tuition and fees for four years.
Susan Keim, Ph.D., associate professor of public administration, was interviewed for stories that aired on KMBZ-FM in Kansas City on Feb. 5 related to the risks and history of STAR bonds and how those bonds impact communities.
A feature story on Tessa Stoner, a recipient of the Presidential Honors Scholarship, the most prestigious Park University academic scholarship, was published in the Wyandotte (County, Kan.) News Daily on Feb. 5. Stoner, a senior at Turner High School in Kansas City, Kan., plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
Merideth Rose, ’06, MPA ’08, and a member of the Park University Board of Trustees, was featured in The Independent, Kansas City’s journal of note, in its Feb. 7 edition. Rose serves as president and chief executive officer of Cornerstones of Care, a nonprofit organization dedicated to behavioral and mental health.
Matt Harris, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, was interviewed for stories that aired on WDAF-TV in Kansas City on Feb. 10 related to a bench trial in Cole County, Mo., that may decide a redistricting battle in Missouri.
Harris participated in an extended question-and-answer interview related to redistricting and filing deadlines in Missouri that aired on KMBZ-FM in Kansas City on Feb. 26.
Dany Zheng, one of two recently announced recipients of Park University’s Presidential Honors Scholarship, was interviewed (along with her twin sister Daria) during halftime of a basketball game on KODY-AM in North Platte, Neb., on Feb. 12. Zheng talked about how she decided on attending Park (beginning Fall 2026) and her future plans.
A story about M.C. Richardson, ’78, who passed away on Feb. 5 and was the founder of the United Minority Media Association and a former Kansas City radio host, appeared on KCUR-FM’s website on Feb. 17.
Brittany Moser, director of digital learning, provided comments for a story that appeared in Fast Company on Feb. 19. The article was related to Synchrony, a social app exclusively for neurodivergent adults that she co-founded, which emphasizes inclusive features, thoughtful design and safe, welcoming community-building.
A story about Robert Pavlovic, ’04, appeared on the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department’s website on Feb. 23. Pavlovic, originally from Croatia, talked about his trek to Kansas City and how he ended up joining the KCPD, where he now is a community interaction officer at the North Patrol Division, as well as serving as a major in the Army Reserve.
Melissa Feris, ’02, was featured in a story that aired on KCTV in Kansas City on Feb. 26. Feris recently co-launched an interactive mural initiative that is targeting local businesses ahead of the World Cup. The program is designed to fill blank walls with images that will encourage social media sharing. Feris has been painting murals for 25 years and has completed more than 100 murals in the Kansas City area, including Parkville, Mo. (home to Park University’s flagship campus).
Carol Rossi-Zabielski, ’05, MBA ’09, was highlighted in the Kansas City Business Journal on Feb. 27 as part of its “20 to Know” series that focused on residential real estate. Rossi-Zabielski is a real estate agent for Compass Realty Group.
Jack MacLennan, senior director for strategic initiatives and communications, and special assistant to the president for governance (who also holds the title of associate professor of political science), was interviewed for stories that aired on KSHB-TV in Kansas City on Feb. 28 related to long-term economic impacts of the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.
The University of Michigan’s Center for Japanese Studies recently announced the Yuzuru J. Takeshita Nikkei Workers Memorial Project, a database and map of 401 formerly-incarcerated Japanese Americans who worked for the school in the 1940s. Takeshita was a 1951 Park University graduate and an esteemed educator, researcher and activist who, along with his family, was incarcerated in concentration camps during World War II. He passed away in 2016.
Upcoming Events
(All events are Central time and on the flagship Parkville [Mo.] Campus unless noted)
• Through April 10 — Art Exhibit: Faculty Biennial Showcase, Campanella Gallery (Norrington Center); Reception: March 20, 3-5 p.m., Campanella Gallery
• March 8 — Spring I Term Ends
• March 9-15 — Spring Recess
• March 16 — Spring II Term Classes Begin
• March 26 — Women Transforming Criminal Justice Event (Featured Speaker: Deputy Jony Paez), 10 a.m., Watson Literacy Center
• April 8-9 — Park University Giving Day
• April 15 — Dr. Doris A. Howell Leadership Awards, 6 p.m. David Theater (Alumni Hall)
• April 17 — International Center for Music Concert: ICM Orchestra with Guest Conductor Jason Seber, 7:30 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
• April 22 — Honors Convocation 6 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
• April 24 — International Center for Music Concert: Ben Sayevich Violin Studio Students / Daniel Veis Cello Studio Students / Chung-Hoon Peter Chun Viola Studio Students, 7:30 p.m., 1900 Building, Mission Woods, Kan.
• May 1 — International Center for Music Concert: Pianist Behzod Abduraimov, 7:30 p.m., 1900 Building, Mission Woods, Kan.
• May 2 — Gilbert (Ariz.) Campus Commencement Ceremony, 10:30 a.m. (Arizona time), Delta Hotels Phoenix/Mesa, Mesa, Ariz.
• May 8 — Ellen Finley Earhart Department of Nursing Pinning Ceremony, 2 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
• May 8 — Grad Walk, 3 p.m., Parkville Campus
• May 8 — International Sash Ceremony, 5 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
• May 9 — Kansas City Area Commencement Ceremony, 10 a.m., Cable Dahmer Arena, Independence, Mo.
• May 10 — Spring Semester / Spring II Term Ends
• May 11 — Maymester Begins
• May 24 — Maymester Ends
• May 25 — Memorial Day (all University offices nationwide closed)
To view a comprehensive schedule for all events, including athletics and student life, visit park.edu/calendars/park-events-calendar.