Dr. Suzanne Walker-Pacheco helping two students in an Anthropology lab
University Awards First Public Affairs Professorship
Missouri State University today (May 1) awarded its first Public Affairs Professorship to Dr. Sandra Byrd, professor of accountancy. Missouri State Provost Belinda McCarthy presented the award during Byrd’s Principles of Accounting class this morning.
The endowed professorship was established to recognize faculty members who have excelled at enabling the university to carry out its public affairs mission.The Public Affairs Professorship includes a stipend from the Missouri State
University Foundation in the amount of $7,500 over and above the recipient’s base salary. One faculty member will receive the award each year. > Link to complete story
Message from Provost
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Kris Sutliff as Associate Provost for Student Development and Public Affairs, effective June 1. Due to the restructuring of academic affairs and student affairs, the office for student success is being reorganized to focus more on total student development from the point of enrollment through graduation.
Kris will work with faculty from the colleges and a broad team of staff from across campus, using the public affairs mission to both facilitate student development and shape student learning outcomes . > Link to complete story
Message to Faculty
As I hope you already know, this year’s New Student Convocation will take place on Sunday, August 24, from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. in Hammons Student Center. This is a very important event since it introduces our new students to various aspects of our campus culture. One of the more impressive features of the convocation is the faculty processional. A good turnout by the faculty sends a message to the students that we welcome them to the campus and care about their success.
Additional highlights of this year’s Convocation will include Jerry Hoover’s Bear Band, and brief remarks by President Nietzel, Provost McCarthy, SGA President Orlando Hodges and Dr. Mark Richter. Each new student and participating faculty member will receive a pin commemorating the next year’s Public Affairs sustainability theme. It’s an important event that will benefit from widespread faculty participation.
With this in mind, I encourage you to join your fellow faculty members by marching in this year’s Convocation. Regalia will be provided to you at no cost, or you may wear your own. If you are willing to participate, please return the form you received in April to the Dean of Students Office (PSU 405). If you have misplaced your form and need another copy, contact the Dean of Students Office (ext. 6-5527).
I hope to see you there.
John Catau, Associate Provost
Professional Development Events
- May 27 - Excel 2007 Level 1
- May 28 - Excel 2007 Level 2
- May 29 - Blackboard 6.1 Level 1
- May 29 - Blackboard 6.1 Level 2
- May 30 - Online Exams for Blackboard 6.1
All Professional Development Events
Dr. Miller's Final Lecture
Dr. Jim Miller Retires After 34 Years of Dedicated Service
After 34 years of dedicated service to Missouri State University, “Rockdoc” Dr. Jim Miller retires at the end of the current academic year.
His final lecture, “Using Trashed Fossils to Determine the Time of Meteorite Impact at the Weaubleau Structure, St. Clair County, Missouri,” was given Friday, May 9. The next day he led a field trip along with Kevin Evans to the meteorite impact structure near Weaubleau in St. Clair County. According to Dr. Miller, “For me, these long field trips were the best possible teaching experience—it doesn’t get any better than taking students in the field to teach them geology. . .I enjoyed almost every minute of it, and for students and faculty alike these trips became a highlight of the year.”
> Click Here “Reminiscing about 34 Years of Being a Rockdoc.”
Message From the Provost
Provost Communiqué
Dennis Kear Named College of Education Dean
Dr. Dennis J. Kear, a long-time faculty member and administrator at Wichita State University, has been named the new dean of the College of Education at Missouri State University.
He will assume the position on or before August 1, 2008, pending approval from the Missouri State Board of Governors.
> Click Here for complete news release
Book Promotes Ecological Preservation & Sustainability
Book on “Green Theatre” by Kurt Heinlein, Addresses A New Aspect of the Theatre World
Kurt Heinlein, assistant professor of Theatre and Dance at Missouri State University, recently published the book “Green Theatre: Promoting Ecological Preservation and Advancing the Sustainability of Human and Nature.”
The book addresses an aspect of the theatre world that has yet to be fully acknowledged. Examining how theatre production can be used to draw people’s attention to ecological change and environmental problems that are facing society is a focus of the book. By taking the concept of sustainability and setting it as the backdrop for theatre performance, Heinlein hopes to strike a chord with the audience’s inner connection with nature.
Throughout the 240 pages of “Green Theatre,” Heinlein discusses themes that have been successful in green theatre and how select green performers, such as the popular Las Vegas show the Blue Man Group, have been able to thrive. Heinlein hopes that his book will help some people realize that they can do more to help preserve the environment.