Spring 2003
Vol. 7. No.3

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A Legacy of Commitment

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Barbara Dixon Named New President On behalf of the Truman State University Board of Governors, Board President Tom Jayne announced March 18 the appointment of Barbara B. Dixon as the 14th president of Truman State University. Dixon, currently the provost and vice president for academic affairs at State University of New York at Geneseo, will assume duties as president on July 1, 2003. "We are fortunate to have an opportunity to bring Dr. Dixon, an administrator from one of the other premier public liberal arts universities in the country, to Truman," Jayne said. "SUNY-Geneseo has made great strides in the public liberal arts arena, and we are happy to draw from that experience. Dr. Dixon has worked in an environment that has a mission and core values similar to Truman's, and she is known for her collaborative management style and her ability to bring divergent views to a consensus." Dixon has served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at the State University of New York at Geneseo, a public liberal arts university, since 1997. She previously spent 27 years at Central Michigan University where she was a faculty member, chair of the Academic Senate and associate dean and interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. She has both a B.M. and M.M. in applied piano from Michigan State University and a D.M.A. in piano performance, literature and pedagogy from the University of Colorado. The Board of Governors initiated an extensive nationwide search for a president in September 2002, following the announcement by Truman's current president, Jack Magruder, that he would retire effective June 30 of this year. The Presidential Search Committee, with the assistance of an external consultant, began the task of identifying presidential candidates who would continue Truman's tradition of excellence in education, as well as challenging the Truman community to strive for additional success. The Committee presented three finalists to the Board of Governors in January 2003 and all three candidates spent time on campus meeting with faculty, students, staff, alumni, community members and Board members. Information about the presidential search and the biographical information on Dixon are posted on the Truman web site at http://presidentialsearch.truman.edu. Forensics Program Captures Missouri State Championship Again Members of the Truman Forensic Union captured all three of the area state championships winning the overall, debate and individual events sections Feb. 14-15, at the Missouri Association of Forensic Activities State Championship Tournament. The tournament was hosted by Truman for the first time in several years and the Forensic Union managed to win its third consecutive overall championship without stepping a foot off campus. They also won the Missouri State Debate Sweepstakes Championship, and for the first time in more than a decade, the Missouri State Individual Events Championship. Perennial rival Southwest Baptist University took second in each of the three State Championship categories. Former Wal-Mart president Serves as First Profiles in Leadership Fellow Jack Shewmaker, an executive consultant recognized internationally for his retailing expertise, visited campus Nov. 21, 2002. Serving as the first Profiles in Leadership Fellow sponsored by the Truman State University Foundation, Shewmaker presented a public lecture on campus. Shewmaker retired as an officer of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. in 1988, after serving in numerous capacities including president and chief operating officer, and vice chairman and chief financial officer. He continues as a member of the board of directors of Wal-Mart. Presently, Shewmaker is involved as a consultant with companies in the United States and Australia. He has also consulted with companies in New Zealand, Africa, Asia and the United Kingdom. He is actively involved in cattle ranching and owns one of the largest cattle operations in Northwest Arkansas, breeding and showing registered Angus. The Jac's Ranch program has produced national champions and has gained considerable recognition around the world. Allen Fellowship Recipients awarded $10,000 In March University President Jack Magruder showed up unannounced in classrooms on campus to present the 2003 Walker and Doris Allen Fellowships for Faculty Excellence to three faculty members - Paul Crabb, professor of music; John Ishiyama, associate professor of political science; and Cole Woodcox, professor of English. Each of the three recipients received a $10,000 award for their outstanding contributions to the University. The Walker and Doris Allen Fellowships for Faculty Excellence are the result of the generosity of Walker and Doris Allen. This is the second year the fellowships have been awarded to Truman professors with outstanding performance in the areas of teaching, scholarship and institutional service. Paul Crabb John Ishiyama Cole Woodcox

Physics Students Receive Funding for Undergraduate Research Students in back row, left to right: Charles Weaver III, Amenyedu Adovor, Christopher Cook, James Lloyd. Front row: Kevin Haworth, Sarah Smith, Kibrom Tewolde. Far left: Mohammad Samiullah, faculty supervisor for the project. A group of Truman physics students have received a Sigma Pi Sigma Undergraduate Research Award of $2,000 from the Sigma Pi Sigma Trust Endowment Fund. They will build a scanning tunneling microscope (STM), which uses the quantum mechanical tunneling of electrons as a mechanism for mapping a surface and can produce atomic resolution. Seven members of the local Society of Physics Students chapter plan to construct the STM under the advisement of Mohammad Samiullah, associate professor of physics. The team members will construct all necessary components and then integrate the components to produce the finished STM. Board of Governors Approves Fee Increase and Elects New Officers The Truman Board of Governors approved an increase in enrollment fees of 8.3 percent for Missouri residents and 9.8 percent for non-Missouri residents for the 2003-2004 academic year. In-state enrollment fees for full-time students will be $4,600, a $356 increase per year. Out-of-state costs for full-time students will increase to $8,400, a $756 increase per year. The Board also approved continuing the $90 per semester Recreation Center fee, a $40 per semester Student Union fee, a $25 per semester student activity fee, a $2 per semester fee to support student government and a $1 per semester fee to support the Student Association of Missouri. The Board set the room and board fee for 2003-2004 at $5,072 for a two-person room at the December 2002 Board meeting. Sarah Burkemper ('92), Tom Jayne, and Michael Schwend ('83)('90) In other news, the Truman State University Board of Governors elected new officers. Tom Jayne, a partner in the law firm of Thompson Coburn in St. Louis, Mo., was elected president. Michael Schwend ('83)('90), the chief executive officer of Preferred Family Healthcare, Inc. of Kirksville, Mo., was elected vice president. Sarah Burkemper ('92), the public administrator for Lincoln County (Mo.) and a certified public accountant in Troy, Mo., was selected as secretary. Art Professor Receives Governor's Award Julia DeLancey, associate professor of art, received special recognition from Missouri Gov. Bob Holden during the 2002 Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching Luncheon. The event was held Dec. 4, 2002, at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City, Mo. DeLancey was among 65 faculty members, each representing a Missouri college or university, who were recognized for their commitment to excellent education for Missouri citizens. She was selected for her effective teaching and advising, service to the University, commitment to high standards of excellence and success in nurturing student achievement. Biology Professor Awarded Three Grants from NSF Jeffrey Osborn, assistant professor of biology, has been awarded three grants from the National Science Foundation for a total of $250,000 since June 2002. Osborn was awarded a $70,000 grant for a project titled "Pollen Developmental Evolution in the Basalmost Angiosperms - Nymphaeles and Amborella." The second grant was awarded to enhance undergraduate research opportunities at Truman through the acquisition of electron microscopy instrumentation. Funds from this grant will be used to purchase equipment including a digital image system for an existing transmission electron microscope (TEM), a digital image system for an existing scanning electron microscope (SEM), an ultramicrotome, a block trimmer, and a critical point dryer. This proposal brings together five faculty members who utilize electron microscopy in their research and teaching. The faculty members include George Shinn, professor of biology; Laura Fielden, assistant professor of biology; Diane Janick-Buckner, associate professor of biology; and Brent Buckner, associate professor of biology. Another grant titled "Increasing Diversity at the Annual Botanical Society of America Meeting" was awarded to Osborn along with Karen Renzaglia of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale for $59,955. Pictured from left to right are biology majors Patrick Hudson, Julie Strandquist and associate professor of biology Jeffrey Osborn visiting Kit and Ben Knotts' private gardens in Cocoa Beach, Fla., to collect flower buds of giant water lily Victoria for their research on pollen structure and development.

Math Instructor Named Missouri Professor of the Year Assistant professor of mathematics Tony Vazzana has been named the 2002 Missouri Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. This national recognition program, established in 1981, rewards outstanding professors for their dedication to teaching, commitment to students and innovative instructional methods. "It is a great privilege for me to teach at Truman and to have the opportunity to work with such bright students," Vazzana said. "The positive experiences that I have had in the classroom are a direct result of the enthusiasm students bring every day, and I feel that this award is a reflection of their ability and dedication." Students Intern in Missouri Capitol Pictured are student interns (front row, left to right): Wayne Yocum, Allison Bruns, Lisa Schroeder, Thoko Kachipande, Jacob Luecke, Meghana Patel and Matthew Crowell; (back row, left to right) Jason Gubbins, Gregg Christian, Kevin Selzer, Matt Kleinsorge, Diana Smith, Rachel Ohmer and President Jack Magruder. Erin McManis and Michele Buschart are not pictured. This spring semester, 14 Truman students began legislative internships at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, Mo., as part of the Missouri Government Internship Program. The internship provides an inside look at state government. While in Jefferson City, the interns are assigned to public officials based on compatibility and interests. The interns work with their legislator and his/her staff on a variety of jobs and tasks. Magruder Hall Update Construction continues on Magruder Hall, the University's science facility. In addition to modernizing the existing science building, a new section has been added that wraps around the building to create additional space. Plans for renovating and expanding the science facility were set in motion when Truman State University received a generous appropriation from the Missouri state legislature in the amount of $22 million - 90% of the total cost of the Magruder Hall project. The Truman State University Foundation initiated the Magruder Hall Campaign to raise the remaining funds. Once completed, the Magruder Hall project will bring all four of Truman's science disciplines - agriculture, biology, chemistry, and physics - under the same roof and will also create new space for advanced laboratories, as well as a classroom/demonstration center at the University Farm. Construction began in 2001, and the new science facility is expected to be ready for use by August 2004. Celebrating the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. In January, several events were held in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. The activities kicked off with the Ecumenical Service of Love and Peace on Jan. 19 at the First United Methodist Church in Kirksville, Mo. The service included reflective messages and performances on the teachings of Martin Luther King Jr. Unity VIII, a celebration through dance, song and words, took place the following day in Baldwin Auditorium. Performances were presented by the Unique Ensemble Gospel Choir, the High Street Dancers and Truman students. The Unity Luncheon was held Jan. 21, in the Student Union Building Georgian Room and featured a performance titled "Songs of Freedom: Voices from the Civil Rights Movement," an innovative celebration of the music that shaped the civil rights. The celebration concluded with the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium Jan. 23. The moderated symposium focused on insights and brief reflections from four panelists on King's speech, "Letter from the Birmingham Jail." The Unique Ensemble, Truman's gospel choir, shown performing in the local community. Director of Truman Presidential Library Addresses Graduates Michael J. Devine, director of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and president of the Truman Library Institute for National and International Affairs, delivered the commencement address to more than 300 graduates Dec. 21, 2002, in Pershing Arena. The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library is one of the nation's 10 federal presidential libraries in the National Archives and Records Administration system. Homecoming 2003 Mark your calendar for Oct. 17-19. Reunion Luncheons will honor the following: • Golden Alumni (1953 and earlier) • Class of 1963 • Class of 1973 • Class of 1978 • Class of 1983 • Class of 1993 • Class of 1998 For info on local hotels visit http://www.truman.edu/parents/hotels.stm. Watch for details in the summer issue of the Truman Review or call (800) 452-6678 or (660) 785 4133; e-mail alumni@truman.edu.