The Crow’s Nest Newsletter — August 8, 2024

The Crow's Nest - August 8, 2024

Park University Appoints New Dean of Students; Cook Promoted to Director of Library Services; MacLennan Appointed to New Roles

Molly Pierson has been appointed as the dean of students at Park University. Pierson began her duties on July 25. As the dean of students, Pierson will collaborate with Park students, faculty and staff to ensure that student experiences align with the University's vision, mission, core values and strategic plan priorities. She will work with teams across the University to positively impact the student experience and advance successful outcomes for Park students. Pierson will oversee residence life, student leadership and engagement, counseling, student conduct, crises and advocacy, new student and parent programs, and the Park Student Government Association. She will also advocate for initiatives related to student retention and co-curricular learning assessment. In addition Pierson will serve as the chief judicial officer for Park University students nationwide and serve as the deputy Title IX coordinator for students.

Pierson previously served as the assistant dean of students and director of residential living at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan., since 2021, supporting student conduct and on-campus housing. Read more about Pierson at park.edu/news/molly-pierson.

Camille Cook has been promoted to the role of director of library servicesat Park University. Cook began her new duties on Aug. 1. As director of library services, Cook will be responsible for the development and management of the University's McAfee Memorial Library, which includes oversight of Norrington Center (home of the library and Campanella Gallery). She will also serve as a faculty librarian in key areas of library services, such as collection and archives management, and digital services. Cook will continue her roles as an assistant professor of library services and director of first-year experience.

She began her career at Park University in 2020 as an instruction and outreach librarian, and assistant professor of library instruction and outreach. Read more about Cook at park.edu/news/camille-cook-promoted.

Jack MacLennan, Ph.D., has been appointed to the role of senior director for strategic initiatives and communications, and special assistant to the president for governance. MacLennan began his new duties on Aug. 1. In this position, MacLennan will support key stakeholders in the development, communication and implementation of plans for the future of Park University. As senior director for strategic initiatives and communications, MacLennan will lead the University's strategic communications efforts and support Park's strategic planning process. In his role as special assistant to the president for governance, MacLennan will work closely with faculty and staff leaders, serving as chair of the University Commission on Shared Governance. In addition, he will be the primary contact for Park's Vision 2025People and Culture Strategic Impact Group, which is addressing objectives of fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, communicating with clarity and transparency, and cultivating employee satisfaction and engagement.

MacLennan, who also holds the title of associate professor of political science, previously served the University as the graduate program director for the national security studies program for the past five years after joining Park in 2017. Read more about MacLennan at park.edu/news/jack-maclennan.

Parkville Campus Volleyball Teams, Players Earn Academic Honors

Park University's Parkville Campus women's volleyballand beach volleyballteams were both recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association on July 17 with the AVCA Team Academic Award. This is the 12th such award by the indoor volleyball team in program history and seventh in the last eight years; it's the third consecutive honor for the beach volleyball team. The award honors teams that maintain a year-long grade point average of 3.30 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

In addition, Parkville Campus men's volleyballplayer and May 2024 graduate Joao Friedrich was honored July 17 by the College Sports Communicators (formerly known as the College Sports Information Directors of America) on the NAIA Academic All-America At-Large Team for 2023-24.

Also, the Heart of America Athletic Conference announced that 66 Park University Parkville Campus student-athletes were recognized as 2023-24 Heart Scholar-Athletes on July 16. The Pirates' baseball program had 12 honorees, while women's volleyball and men's soccer added nine and eight honorees, respectively. Criteria for the award includes having a cumulative 3.4 grade point average or higher on a 4.0 scale, accumulated a minimum of 60 credit hours at the undergraduate and/or graduate level, completed at least five semesters and attended the nominating institution for at least two semesters. View the list of Park's honorees at parkathletics.com/news/2024/7/16/PARK071624.aspx.

Parkville, Gilbert Athletic Programs Earn Top NAIA Champions of Character Honor

Park University's Parkville (Mo.) Campusand Gilbert (Ariz.) Campusathletic departments were both recognized on July 31 as a 2023-24 NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star institution at the gold level. In fact, both the Pirates and the Buccaneers programs were among 106 NAIA programs across the country that earned a perfect 100 score.

The NAIA's Champions of Character program represents five core character values - respect, integrity, responsibility, servant leadership and sportsmanship. Institutions earn points based on character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition and character promotion, as well as exceptional student-athlete grade point averages and minimal to no ejections during competition through the course of the academic year.

Park University 2024 Golf Scramble Set for Oct. 14

The 2024 Park University Golf Scramble, a four-person tournament that benefits the University's Parkville Campus athleticsprograms, is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 14, at The National Golf Club of Kansas City. Golfers get on the course with a shotgun start at 10 a.m., with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Registration fees are $1,000 per four-person team, and a variety of sponsorship packages are available, ranging in price from $1,500 to $5,000. Entries include 18 holes of golf with a cart, box lunch on the course, driving range access prior to the event, on-course games and contests, refreshments and flight prizes. To register for the tournament or for more information, visit park.edu/golf. For questions about the tournament or sponsorship levels, contact Celeste Lupercio, director of corporate and foundation relations, at [email protected]/ (816) 584-6399.

Faculty, Staff, Student News

Two Park University Parkville (Mo.) Campus women's golfers- Kim Albertus (left) and Micaela Suhl (right), both freshmen, were named to the Women's Golf Coaches Association's 2023-34 All-American Scholar Team on July 1. The criteria to be selected includes having a 3.50 grade point average or higher and having played in at least 50 percent of the team's competitive rounds during the year. Read more at parkathletics.com/news/2024/8/6/WGOLF080624.aspx.

Debra Sheffer, Ph.D., associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and professor of history, has been appointed as the chair of the Society for Military History's Book Award Committee for 2024-25. The Society, with the assistance of the committee, recognizes scholarly research and publications in military history in six categories: American, non-American, edited and reference works, biography and memoirs, first book and trade press.

Yang Sun, Ph.D., dean of the College of Management, presented the keynote speech for the Five-Ring (Olympics) Management Summit of China held virtually on July 12. His speech, "Some Thoughts for Management Education in the Age of AI," summarized the evolvement of American management education over the last 30 years and identified a number of innovation opportunities for business schools in today's globally connected and technologically enriched business environment.

Park in the News

Ilya Shmukler, a graduate piano student in Park University's International Center for Music, was featured in The Kansas City Star on July 7. The article focused on Shmukler's journey from Moscow, Russia, to the University's flagship Parkville (Mo.) Campus.

Rob Duggan, MPA '21, was highlighted by the Gilbert (Ariz.) Chamber of Commerce on its website on July 9. Duggan, who serves as the chief of the Gilbert Fire and Rescue Department, was honored with the 2024 Gilbert Leadership Alumni Award in late June. The award recognizes individuals who represent the highest level of dedication to the program's values and to the community.

Matt Harris, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, was interviewed for stories that were published and aired July 13-15 in Kansas City following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13.
• KCTV, July 13
• WDAF-TV, July 13
• KMBC-TV, July 14
• KSHB-TV, July 14
• WDAF-TV, July 14
• Kansas City Star, July 15

In addition, Harris appeared live on KCUR-FM's (Kansas City NPR affiliate) "Up To Date" on July 15 for an 8-minute interview to discuss the political implications of the assassination attempt. That same afternoon, Harris appeared live on KMBZ-FM's (Kansas City) "Dana and Parks" for a similar 38-minute interview.

Harris was interviewed for a follow-up story that aired on July 16 on KSHB-TVrelated to concerns of political violence.

Harris was also interviewed by KCTV on July 17for a story related to calls for President Joe Biden to remove himself from the Democratic presidential ticket.

Upon the news of President Joe Biden announcing he was withdrawing from the presidential race, Harris was interviewed for stories that aired on KCTV, KMBC-TVand WDAF-TV on July 21, with soundbites from the KMBC-TV story airing on KMBZ-FM on July 22.

Harris was interviewed by KMBC-TV on July 23for a story related to political ads, specifically a controversial ad by Bill Eigel, who was running for Missouri governor.

On July 30, Harris was interviewed for stories that aired on KMBZ-FM related to the primary races for Missouri governor.

Lauren Montgomery Gist, '12, was honored by the Kansas City (Mo.) Police Department on July 15 with a Life-Saving Award. In February, Montgomery Gist, a detective in the KCPD's Domestic Violence Unit, and another officer heard screams, then saw two parents frantic over their baby who was choking. She took the baby and gave back blows until the baby started breathing again.

A story about Steve Wilson, '13 MPA, being promoted to the position of vice president of student engagement and intercollegiate athletics at William Woods University appeared in the Fulton (Mo.) Sun on July 18.

A story about Mike Stolte, '14, being appointed as the chief of the Maryville (Mo.) Police Department appeared in the Maryville Forum on July 22.

John Hamilton, Ph.D., professor emeritus of criminal justice administration, was interviewed by KSHB-TV in Kansas City on July 24 for a storyrelated to an Illinois deputy being indicted for a shooting death of a woman earlier in the month.

ECCO Select, an IT talent acquisition and advisory consulting company in Kansas City, Mo., led by Jeanette Prenger, '09, founder/chief executive officer, and a former chair of Park University's Board of Trustees, was ranked No. 6 on Ingram's (a Kansas City business magazine) list of top Kansas City area women-owned businesses, ranked by 2023 gross revenue, in the publication's June edition. ECCO Select also ranked No. 5 on Ingram's list of top Kansas City area minority-owned businesses, ranked by 2023 gross revenue.

Upcoming Events

(All events are Central time and on the flagship Parkville [Mo.] Campus unless noted)
• 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 Lunch and 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)
• September 6 -Camp Pendleton (Calif.) CampusCommencement Ceremony, noon, Pendleton Theater and Training Center
• September 6 - Ellen Finley Earhart Department of Nursing White Coat Ceremony, 2 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
• September 10-12 - Enrollment and Student Services Conference, Parkville Campus and Virtual
• September 12 - Dr. Jerzy Hauptmann Distinguished Guest Lecture: Dr. Donald Moynihan, noon, Virtual
• September 19 - International Talk Like A Pirate Day
• September 19 - Board of Trustees Meeting, Virtual
• September 26-29 -Homecoming and Parents Weekend, Parkville Campus
• September 26 - Paul H. Gault Service Award Ceremony, 1 p.m., David Theater (Alumni Hall)
• September 27 - Alumni Association Awards / Athletics Wall of Honor, 3 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
• September 27 - Wall of Honor Unveiling, 4:15 p.m., Inside 6th Street Entrance to Mabee Learning Center/Academic Underground

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

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.