The Crow’s Nest Newsletter — July 8, 2024

The Crow's Nest - July 8, 2024

Park University's Board of Trustees Adds Three New Members

The governing body of Park University - its Board of Trustees- has elected three individuals to serve a three-year term on the board, effective July 1. Elected were Andrea Hendricks, Ed.D. (left), Merideth Rose (middle) and Kathrine Swanson, Ed.D. (right). Hendricks is the chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer at Authentico in Mission, Kan.; Rose is the president and chief executive officer at Cornerstones of Care in Kansas City, Mo.; and Swanson, is the president of the Metropolitan Community College Longview Campus in Lee's Summit, Mo. Read brief profiles on the trio at park.edu/news/new-bot-2024.

In addition, the Board of Trustees elected officers for the 2024-25 fiscal year - Chair: Terry Calaway, Ed.D. (right), retired higher education leader and president emeritus of Johnson County (Kan.) Community College; Vice Chair: Scott Jackman, president of the U.S. division and vice president of sales and marketing for Deveron, an agriculture technology company based in Toronto, Canada; Secretary: Mara Cohara, J.D., attorney and partner at Lathrop GPM, Kansas City, Mo.; Treasurer: Jeff Anthony, chief financial officer for McCarthy Automotive Group, Olathe, Kan.; and Immediate Past Chair: Vince Clark, vice president of business development and chief corporate affairs officer, Creative Planning LLC, Overland Park, Kan. The Board also re-elected Anthony and Gary Henry, vice president of U.S. commercial servicing, Global Services Group, American Express, each to a second three-year term.

Daniel Gerber Appointed as Director of Academic Retention Initiatives

Daniel Gerber has been appointed as the director of academic retention initiatives within the Office of Academic Affairs at Park University. Gerber began his duties on July 1. In the role, Gerber will drive implementation and measurement of initiatives on strategic goals related to student retention, graduation rates, career preparedness and overall student academic success. Gerber is also responsible for the development, implementation, coordination, supervision and evaluation of a robust student retention program with a specific focus on first-year students, first-generation students, and at-risk and underprepared undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, Gerber will oversee the University's Academic and Career Success Services team. Gerber previously served as the education director for WellSpring School of Allied Health in Kansas City, Mo., since 2020. Read more about Gerber at park.edu/news/daniel-gerber.

Shmukler Wins Concours Géza Anda Piano Competition

Ilya Shmukler, a graduate piano student in Park University's International Center for Music, was announced as the first prize winner of the 2024 Concours Géza Anda Piano Competition in Zurich, Switzerland, May 30 through June 8. Shmukler won 40,000 CHF (Swiss Franc), equivalent to nearly $44,600, and concert appearances and concert management from 2024-27.

Shmukler was also announced as the winner of four additional prizes: Géza Anda Audience Prize, which goes to the finalist whose personal and musical character makes the greatest impression on the concert audience, and includes a future concert performance; Musikkollegium Winterthur Mozart Prize, awarded to the semifinalist considered to have given the best interpretation during the semifinals, a Mozart concerto accompanied by the orchestra. The award includes a concert with the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich next season; Special Prize of the Hungarian Radio Arts Group; and the Junior Jury Award. Watch Shmukler's performance in the finals(begins approximately 2:19:00; announcement of prizes begins approximately 4:18:00).

In other ICM-related news, Sergey Belyavsky, who earned a graduate certificate in music performance/piano in 2023, and Tatiana Dorokhova, a graduate piano student, placed second and third, respectively, at the Santa Cecilia International Piano Competition that concluded on June 28 in Porto, Portugal. Belyavsky won 15,000 Euros (approximately $16,135), while Dorokhova won 10,000 Euros (approximately $10,756).

Trio of Former Park Student-Athletes Selected for Wall of Honor

Park University's Parkville (Mo.) Campus Department of Athleticshas announced its Wall of Honor Class of 2024. The three individuals will be officially recognized on Friday, Sept. 27, at 3 p.m. in Graham Memorial Chapel on the Parkville Campus. The unveiling of the Wall of Honor plaques will follow the ceremony at the 6th Street entrance to the Mabee Learning Center/Academic Underground. Honorees are:
• Thelma Broxey-Thomas, '93, women's track and field
• Rob Cordero, '14, MBA '16, men's volleyball
• Robert Palmer, '12, men's soccer
Read about the honorees at parkathletics.com/news/2024/6/6/PARK060624.aspx.

Faculty, Staff, Student News

Martha Linscott, Park University Parkville (Mo.) Campus men'sand women's golfhead coach, has qualified to compete in the 2024 U.S. Senior Women's Open, Aug. 1-4 at Fox Chapel Golf Club in Pittsburgh, Pa. Linscott earned a spot in the USSWO by shooting a four-over par 74 to finish in a tie for third in a qualifying event on July 1 at Diamond Oaks Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. This is the third straight year Linscott has qualified for the USSWO.

Emma Perry, senior nursingmajor and a member of the Parkville (Mo.) Campus women's basketballteam, was selected to participate in the American Red Cross Collegiate Leadership Program. Held in June in Washington, D.C., the two-week program provided training, mentoring and networking to develop skills, discover purpose and prepare for the future. Perry, who received a $2,000 scholarship as part of the program, will also organize ARC blood drives on the Parkville Campus.

Anthony Rex Gabbert, J.D., adjunct instructor of criminal justice administrationand management, was elected by the Missouri Court of Appeals as chief judge of the Western District, effective July 1. As chief judge, Gabbert serves as chief administrative officer of the court, with duties including presenting the court's budget to the legislature and approving all financial transactions involving the court.

Park in the News

Susan Keim, Ph.D., associate professor of public administration, was interviewed for stories that aired on KCTV in Kansas City on June 4-5related to Kansas lawmakers plans to lure the Kansas City Chiefs from Missouri to Kansas by issuing STAR bonds.

Keim was again interviewed by KCTV for stories that aired on June 19-20related to the perception that the 2019 economic border war truce between Kansas and Missouri may be over as the Kansas legislature offered unprecedented incentives to the Chiefs and Kansas City Royals.

A story about Griffith Houchin, a 2024 graduate of Rapid City (S.D.) Central High School signing a letter-of-intent to be on the track and field team for Park University's Gilbert (Ariz.) Campusaired on KNBN-TV in Rapid City on June 4.

Matt Harris, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, was interviewed for stories that aired on KMBZ-FM in Kansas City on June 11 related to lawmakers in Kansas returning for a special session on tax cuts and attempting to lure the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals across the state line.

Harris was again interviewed by KMBZ-FM for stories that aired on June 19 related to Missouri Gov. Mike Parson insisting that the Chiefs and Royals would remain on the Missouri side of the state line, despite the lack of a sense of urgency by the state.

Harris was interviewed by RTVI, a Russian-language television network based in New York City, on June 20 related to the dynamics between Fox News and the Republican Party, and on June 25 related to preparations for the presidential debateon June 27.

Harris was interviewed for stories that aired on KCTV in Kansas City on June 24related to the Supreme Court of the U.S. stepping in to decide if states have the right to restrict healthcare for transgender youth when it comes to transitioning.

Rebecca Hermosillo, '19, participated in a question-and-answer interview that appeared in the Sonoma Valley (Calif.) Sun on June 13. Hermosillo was elected as the Sonoma County (Calif.) 1st District Supervisor earlier this year and will take office in January 2025.

A story about a presentation on "Why did NATO's Post-Cold War Policy Toward Russia Fail?"on June 14 by Tom Kuehnel, sophomore political sciencemajor, appeared on the Command and General Staff College Foundation's websitethat same day. Kuehnel served as an intern this summer with the CGSCF's Simons Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

A story about Pearl Gordon, '11, and her husband, Antoine, being elected to lead Arkansas' largest veteran's organization appeared in the DeWitt (Ark.) Era-Enterprise on June 27. Pearl was elected as the 2024-25 state president of the American Legion Department of Arkansas Auxiliary, while Antoine was elected as state commander of the American Legion Department of Arkansas during the organization's state convention earlier in the month. This marks just the third time in the history of the ALDA that a husband-and-wife team was elected in the same year.

Upcoming Events

(All events are Central time and on the flagship Parkville [Mo.] Campus unless noted)
• July 18 -Barstow (Calif.) Community College CampusCommencement Ceremony, 7 p.m., BCC Performing Arts Center
• July 28 - Julymester / Summer Session Classes End
• August 3 -El Paso (Texas) Campus/ Fort Bliss (Texas) Campus/ Holloman Air Force Base (N.M.) CampusCommencement Ceremony, 2 p.m., Abundant Church, El Paso
• August 9 - Parkville (Mo.) Campus Move-In Day for Residential Students, 8 a.m., Copley Quad and Chesnut Hall
• August 10 - Parkville (Mo.) Campus New Student Orientation, 9 a.m., David Theater (Alumni Hall) and Copley-Thaw Hall
• August 12 - Fall Semester / Fall I Term Begins
• August 16 - Opening Convocation, Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel and Virtual, 11 a.m.
• August 16 - Parkville Campus Activities Fair, University Front Lawn, noon
• September 2 - Labor Day Holiday (all University offices closed nationwide; Parkville Daytime and Gilbert Daytime classes cancelled; Fall I term classes held as scheduled)

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

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