College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Newsletter * Volume 17, Issue 1
Mission Statement for CHPA
The faculty of the College of Humanities and Public Affairs helps students to understand the nuances of social and
political structures, criminal justice, culturally-based ethical and interpersonal behavior, religious systems, and economic processes within a global, historical, and contemporary context. CHPA presents the concepts contained in
the University’s Public Affairs mission and applies them to real-world problems and situations so that our students
will be better prepared to become citizens and leaders.
Focus on
Dean’s Corner: Dean Victor H. Matthews
Spring 2014
After what seems like an endless winter, we look forward to
spring, new growth and the celebration of student and faculty achievements over the course of this academic year. Just browsing through
the pages of this latest issue of the CHPA Newsletter provides evidence
of the wide array of projects, presentations, and activities that have
engaged us over the last several months. From the Model UN Conference to the initiation of a new internship program for Religious Studies majors with KSMU radio to field work in West Africa and with the
homeless in the Springfield area, our students are learning to make a
difference, and in the process come to exemplify the Public Affairs mission of the University. Sometimes it makes my head spin to see students and faculty traveling all over
the world and dealing with issues in our own backyard, taking their skills and energies
into the field to evaluate and to participate in the various aspects of other cultures and
in the vast diversity that is all around us. Of course, I am also pleased to be able to report on the achievements of our alumni and their many contributions (including some
new scholarship funds). It is that mix of past, current, and future students that keeps
the educational process fresh and exciting. Finally, please remember that spring brings
with it the Public Affairs Conference. I hope you will have the opportunity to attend
some of the sessions or at least look through the Public Affairs Conference website and
see how we live our mission. As always, let me encourage you to take a journey
through this issue and share my enthusiasm for what we are accomplishing.
Then, please take the time to contact us ([email protected]) and tell us
about what you have been doing and the ways in which your time at Missouri
State made an impact on your life.
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Inside This Issue:
Spring 2014 Page 2
Page:
Dean’s Corner ........................................................................................................................... 1
CHPA Public Affairs
- Ethical Leadership ......................................................................................................... 3
- Community Engagement .............................................................................................. 6
- Cultural Competence ..................................................................................................... 7
College News
Center for Archaeological Research ............................................................................... 9
Criminology & Criminal Justice ...................................................................................10
Defense & Strategic Studies...........................................................................................11
Economics........................................................................................................................12
History ..............................................................................................................................14
Military Science/ROTC..................................................................................................15
Philosophy .......................................................................................................................17
Political Science ...............................................................................................................18
Religious Studies..............................................................................................................21
Sociology & Anthropology............................................................................................24
CHPA Faculty and Staff ........................................................................................................27
CHPA Giving...........................................................................................................................28
Missouri State University’s
Public Affairs Conference
April 8-11, 2014
The theme of this year’s Public Affairs Conference is “Global Perspective: Why It Matters.”
According to Provost Fellow Dr. Kevin Evans, Associate Professor of Geography, Geology and Planning, in the 21st century, developing a global
perspective is no longer merely an option; it is a cultural imperative that involves examining our experiences, our knowledge, and our learning in the light of the people and cultures of an increasingly interconnected world. The purpose of
the theme, Global Perspective: Why It Matters, will be to encourage members of the Missouri State University community to develop awareness, skills, and values that will equip them to work collaboratively, across nations and cultures,
toward a more just and sustainable future.
For information on the conference, schedule, speakers, artists, and presenters, see
http://publicaffairs.missouristate.edu/conference/?utm_source=president&utm_medium=massemail&utm_campaign=pac2014
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Farewell to a
Fallen Comrade
Spring 2014 Page 3
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Ethical Leadership
LTC Troy S. Wisdom, Military Science Department/ROTC
When I first arrived to the University as the current Professor of Military Leadership, I was told that MG (R) Fred Marty wanted to sit down with
me. I had heard he was living in the area and wasn’t sure what to expect.
Following the brief meeting in my office, I realized I had an ally and
friend to assist in making this program the best in the country. Fred continued his support in any way possible. He was a sounding board for me when I
thought I had a great idea or when I needed his assistance in getting approval
to make the building project a reality. He always had a smile as long as he knew
you were giving your all. At least that was my impression. He gave presentations to the cadets on leadership and gave surprise visits when we were conducting physical training at 06:15 in the morning.
On our first meeting we realized we were both SIG EPS or members/
Alumni of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and I guess that made us brothers.
He has a place in all our hearts and his efforts have made this program one to
Maj. Gen. Fred F. Marty
be rivaled by any university in the country.
Marty, Fred’s wife, told me that Fred really wanted to see the new
ROTC building and tower become a reality and we thank him and Marty for requesting that, in lieu of flowers and
gifts, contributions be directed to: MSU Foundation - Army ROTC Building Fund, 300 S. Jefferson, Springfield, Mo.
65806; or online at https://ws.missouristate.edu/giving/pledge2.aspx?major=CHPA&sub=MS. We have received over
$78,000 in donations for the new ROTC building fund and they keep coming in. A huge thank you to all who have
donated in honor of Fred Marty and to this necessary project.
[Editor’s note]
Maj. Gen. Fred F. Marty, Ret., Army, of Springfield, MO passed away at home on November 20, 2013, after a long
illness. Maj. Gen. Marty was born January 12, 1942 in St. Louis and attended Missouri State University where he earned a
Bachelor of Science in Education and served in the Army ROTC detachment. He was designated a Distinguished Military
Graduate and entered Army active duty in June 1963. Maj. Gen. Marty served extensively in command and troop leadership
assignments in combined arms units located throughout the world. During his 30 years of distinguished service, Maj. Gen.
Marty received numerous awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal, the Army’s highest peacetime award.
In 1993, Maj. Gen. Marty began his second career in public service as Vice President for Administrative Services
at Missouri State University, later becoming Chancellor of the West Plains Campus. He later became MSU’s Associate Vice
President for Administrative Services. He was chosen as Outstanding Alumnus of MSU in 1989 and, in 2013, he was inducted into the MSU Wall of Fame. He retired from MSU in 2010 and served as Springfield’s Deputy City Manager until his
retirement in late October, 2013. Maj. Gen. Marty is survived by his wife, Marty Marty; two sons, Patrick (Trisha) Marty of
Williamsport, PA, and Michael (Emily) Marty of Darien, CT, both of whom served as Army field artillery officers; a brother,
retired Col. Thomas J. Marty of Woodbridge, VA; and five grandchildren.
Full obituary, published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch November 24, 2014, may be found here:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/stltoday/obituary.aspx?n=fred-f-marty&pid=168150565#sthash.21N9mWmT.dpuf
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Page 4
Ethical Leadership
Dr. William C. Meadows Involved in
Helping Native American Code Talkers
Receive Congressional Gold Medals
In 2004 Dr. Meadows testified before
the Senate Committee
Hearing on the Contributions of Native
American Code Talkers
in the United States
Mr. Edmund Harjo, Semi- Armed Forces in Washnole Code talker in WW II, ington, D.C. After four
Age 96, with the Seminole
years of legislation and
Nation Code Talker Gold
lobbying, the Code
Medal
Talkers Recognition Act
of 2008 (Public Law
110-240; 122 Stat. 4774-4777) was signed into law Robin Roberts (Meskwaki), Andrea Page (Hunkpapa
on October 15, 2008. Meadows’ book and articles
Lakota), Don Loudner (Cheyenne River Lakota), and
on Native American Code Talking were provided to Dr. William C. Meadows at the National Museum of
Congress members in the House and Senate to gar- the American Indian reception
ner support for the act. This law directs the striking
and awarding of one Congressional Gold Medal per tribe and one Silver Medal to each surviving individual
code or their family of all Native Americans identified as having used their native language in United States
Armed Forces service during World War I and II. This act awards tribes that were not covered in the Honoring the Navajo Code Talkers Act of 2000.
To date, a total of 261 individuals from thirty-three tribes in eleven states have been identified as having
members that served as native language communicators or code talkers. On November 20, 2013, members of
the 113th United States Congress
held a Congressional Gold Medal
Ceremony for these tribal nations
and individuals. Dr. Meadows attended the Gold and Silver Medal
ceremonies at the U.S. Capitol
and the National Museum of the
American Indians to document
the event for an upcoming article.
He is currently working with
other tribes who had code talkers
Tribal representatives called forward to receive the Congressional
to help them receive congressional
Gold Medal for their respective tribe, U.S. Capitol, Emancipation Hall,
recognition.
Nov. 20, 2013
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Page 5
Ethical Leadership
Announcing Holden
Family Scholarship in
Public Affairs
The Political Science department is pleased
to announce the establishment of the Lee and
Wanda Holden Scholarship in Public Affairs. The
scholarship has been endowed by a generous gift
from alumni Governor Robert Holden, the Honorable Calvin Holden, Steven Holden, and Cynthia Holden Hartman.
The scholarship, named in honor of the
donors’ parents and valued at $1,000, will be given
annually to a student enrolled at Missouri State
University in the College of Humanities and Public
Affairs as a major in history or political science. Recipients must exhibit potential for a career in public
service and recognize the responsibility to give back;
qualities consistent with the legacy of Dr. David
Heinlein, who was dedicated to public affairs long
before it became the official mission of the University, and the legacy of Dr. Alice Bartee, who served
as a model and mentor for students interested in
serving the public good. Preference will be given
to students with financial need who are from Birch
Governor Robert Holden and his wife Lori with Denny
Tree or Mountain View, MO. Application informa- and Mary Pilant at the unveiling of Governor Holden’s
tion can be found on the University’s scholarship
official state portrait
page.
CHPA Students Receive Women of Distinction Award
Three students in the College of Humanities and Public Affairs were announced as the 2014 MSU
Women of Distinction Award winners: graduate student Margaret Petersen (Master of Global Studies); undergraduate students Elizabeth Haughey (Individualized BA, History/Anthropology/Spanish), and Samantha
C. Nichols (BA, Religious Studies).
According to the award notification, “Out of 54 nominations, we received 30 excellent applications
and rejoiced in the extraordinary talent and dedication they showcased, even as we struggled to select the
three top applicants among the graduate and undergraduate students.”
The award winners and their nominators celebrated at a reception on Friday, 21 March, in the Kentwood Crystal Room. Kris Callen, President of the Springfield Public School Board and one of Springfield’s
Women of Distinction, addressed the honorees and applicants, after which the awards were presented to this
year’s winers.
The other winners are: graduate students Alison Bos (AG-MNAS), Kristin Keilty (MBA), and undergraduate Debra Horn (BS-Accounting).
Congratulations to the winners!
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Community-Based
Research Assistantship
Program Begins with
Analysis of Homeless
Count Data
Spring 2014 Page 6
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Community Engagement
By Christina Ryder, Instructor of Sociology, Sociology Research
Coordinator Department of Sociology & Anthropology
On January 24, 2014 staff and volunteers with the Community Partnership of the Ozark’s Continuum of Care Committee
in Springfield conducted the bi-annual count of Springfield’s
homeless population. The report, compiled from the data collected, is sent to various state and federal agencies and is part of the
Annual Assessment of the Homeless population count provided
to members of Congress. This report assists in assessing the need
for shelters and other related services to homeless individuals in
the Ozarks and across the nation.
Adam Bryson (shown, at left), a senior and Sociology major,
in collaboration with Dr. Tim Knapp (below left, at right) and
Christina Ryder (below left, at left), faculty in the Sociology and
Anthropology Department, are compiling the results from the
count and providing the report to the Community Partnership
of the Ozark’s Continuum of Care for submission to state and
federal agencies. Adam was awarded this opportunity as part of the
Sociology Department’s Community-Based Research Assistantship
program, which provides students with the opportunity to apply their
research skills in a relevant and hands-on way that also makes a difference for the community. There are several other research projects that
will be conducted later this semester through this program and with
other students that have demonstrated academic ability and a commitment to the Public Affairs mission of the College and University. This
program also provides students with valuable resume additions that
can assist in obtaining employment or when applying to graduate school. This program occurs each semester through
the Sociology Department. Interested Sociology students maycontact Christina Ryder at [email protected] for
more information or to request an application.
Brett Garland Awarded $30,000 to
Research a Missouri Youth Program
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration
awarded the St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) $818,165 under the
“Face Forward” grant program, which is aimed at helping juvenile offenders obtain employment and access important support services. As part of the grant, SLATE is funding
Dr. Brett Garland (shown, at right), Associate Professor in Criminology, to analyze whether
educational and vocational services administered to the participating St. Louis youth result
in positive attitudinal and behavioral changes including reductions in reoffending.
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Page 7
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PuCultural Competence
Applied Anthropology in
Bluefields, Jamaica
by Andrea Gregory (Anthropology Graduate Student) and Dr. F.
Scott Worman (Assistant Professor of Anthropology)
In January, Missouri State University Anthropology students traveled to Bluefields, Jamaica with Anthropology Professor, Dr. Bill Wedenoja, and MSU senior, Ashley Riley, to work
on archaeology and development projects. For thirteen years, Dr.
Wedenoja has taken MSU students to work with the Bluefields
Peoples’ Community Association (BPCA) on study away programs,
archaeological field schools, and graduate research projects. AlAndrea Gregory, Ashley Riley, and Dr. F.
though it is a sleepy fishing village today, Bluefields has a fascinating
Scott Worman look at sediments exposed
history that includes a pre-contact Taino village and important port
along a stream bank near a pre-contact
facilities for early Spanish settlers, pirates, and eventually the British.
Taino village site
It is also the birthplace of reggae star Peter
Tosh. We hope to work with the BPCA to
build sustainable tourism around this rich
heritage.
After meeting with the BPCA
and community members, we conducted
a preliminary survey of the site of the
MSU Bluefields Archaeology Field School
planned for January 2015. We worked
with Dr. Roderick Ebanks, former Director of the Jamaica National Heritage
Trust, to create a system to track and store
artifacts, build the necessary shelving at
the BPCA center, and organize previously
recovered artifacts for curation. Dr. Wedenoja and Ms. Riley worked with Wolde
Kristos, Director of the BPCA, to plan
MSU’s 2014 Jamaica International Immersion Trip, a collaborative effort between
MSU’s Anthropology Department and the
MSU team with members of the BPCA (Bluefields Peoples’ ComCenter for Leadership and Volunteerism.
munity Association)
Continued on next page...
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
...Bluefields, continued
Spring 2014 Page 8
Cultural Competence
A group of eight students with a variety of majors will install a freshwater pump for Bluefields basic school while learning about renewable energy resources, local culture, and meaningful service to the community. Ms. Riley explains why
the community consultation was important, “I was able to learn more about the community first-hand to ensure this
volunteer project will have a positive impact!”
The trip was not all work and no fun. Our group spent a day doing a reconnaissance survey in the Black
River area, examining archaeological sites for possible research and preservation. We also attended the Maroon festival
January 6th in Accompong where we witnessed traditional rituals celebrating the peace treaty the Maroons signed with
England in 1739. The treaty formally recognized the escaped slave communities as an independent nation. In addition
to the traditional practices, we watched several reggae groups perform at the celebration. Unfortunately, the fun was
cut short by heavy rainstorms.
Overall the trip was full of fun, good people, and good food; we became culinary experts in jerk chicken and
other local Jamaican foods. The full enrollment in the immersion trip and excitement among students about the upcoming field school show that trips like this one are not only productive but a great way to involve students in the planning stages of projects. We look forward to continuing the partnership between MSU and the Bluefields community.
the Bluefields community.
Students Visit
St. Louis Buddhist Temple
Dr. Stephen Berkwitz (back row, far right), and
some of his students in his “Religions of China and
Japan” class (REL 357), visited the Fo Guang Shan St.
Louis Buddhist Center in St. Louis, MO in early February; shown here with Venerable Miaohan (front center), of
the temple.
Women’s History Month
Events
The theme of this year’s Women’s History Month (March,
2014), is “Celebrating Women of Character, Courage, and Commitment,” honoring the extraordinary and often unrecognized determination and tenacity of women. Several events on the MSU campus
celebrated women’s history through film festivals, film screenings,
special guest speakers, and a reception for this year’s “Women of Distinction” award student winners (see story, page 5).
Keynote speaker this year was Dr. Alice Dreger, Professor of
Clinical Medical Humanities and Bioethics at Northwestern
Continued on next page...
Dr. Alice Dreger
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Page 9
Cultural Competence
...Women’s History, continued
University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, speaking on “When Research Meets Politics: Controversies over
Fetal Hormonal Engineering Aimed at Female Sex ‘Normalization,’” on Wednesday, 26 March, in Meyer
Library. Dr. Dreger discussed the issue of physicians/researchers secretly deploying a steroid treatment in the
first trimester of pregnancy to prevent females with a specific genetic condition from being born with bodies
and brains that are intersex or male-typical; a federal study sought to determine whether the treatments might
lower the “risk” of tomboyish and lesbianism in the “treated” population. This talk traced the history and
engaged the question of how we should think about the meeting of resarch and politics.
Center for Archaeological Research News
Investigations at Van Meter State Park
In the fall of 2013, Jack Ray conducted
archaeological investigations in the Pinnacles
area of Van Meter State Park located along the
Missouri River bluff line in Saline County,
Missouri. The work was funded through a
partnership between the Saline County Historic Preservation Commission, Missouri State
Parks, the State Historic Preservation Office,
and the Center for Archaeological Research at
Missouri State University.
The purpose of this project was to: (1)
conduct an intensive systematic survey to locate, inventory, and document archaeological
sites within the previously unsurveyed Pinnacles area, (2) to educate the public with respect
to these unique resources and the need for
their preservation; and (3) to provide Missouri
State Parks with a better basis for the preservation, management, and interpretation of
Jack Ray excavating a layer of chert flakes in a prehistoric
the cultural resources within Van Meter State
quarry pit
Park. A focus of the study was to document and
evaluate the extent of prehistoric Indian quarrying for high-quality chert located along the base of the steep ridge slopes of the Pinnacles.
The first phase of the project involved a survey of 320 acres. Twenty-seven sites were found and recorded. The
second phase of the project tested a bench-like structure believed to be a prehistoric quarry pit. This testing confirmed
that the bench-like structures located along the steep, lower slopes of the Pinnacles are indeed prehistoric quarry features. The work at Van Meter State Park also indicated that quarry activity was not limited to a late prehistoric occupation of the area, but that quarrying probably began approximately 2,000 years ago and continued into early historic
times, when the Osage and Missouria Indians lived in the area.
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Page 10
Criminology & Criminal Justice News
Sigma Mu Sigma
Takes Second Place
in National
Criminal Justice
Quiz Bowl
Competition
by Ivy Yarckow-Brown, MS, Senior
Instructor in Criminology; Alpha Phi Sigma
Advisor, Sigma Mu Sigma Coordinator
From left to right: Ryan Evans, Emily Rader, Dylan Pelletier, R.
Gretchen Smith, Elizabeth Schoeneck, and Jamie Thayer; Dr.
Patti Salinas (Interim Criminology and Criminal Justice Department Head)
Four officers and one member of
Sigma Mu Sigma, the Missouri State University chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma, the National
Criminal Justice Honor Society, attended
the Annual Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) meeting and Alpha Phi Sigma conference in Philadelphia
in February 2014. They were R. Gretchen Smith, Jamie Thayer, Elizabeth Schoeneck, Emily Rader, and Ryan Evans.
While in attendance, they participated in numerous Alpha Phi Sigma events, including a Criminal Justice Quiz Bowl
competition, where they competed against twenty different student organizations from around the country and placed
second - only missing first place by three points. Additionally, the Sigma Mu Sigma officers and member were able to
attend several panel presentations at the ACJS meeting, tour a penitentiary, and ride along with the Philadelphia Police
Department. Their faculty adviser is Ivy Yarckow-Brown.
Alpha Phi Sigma – Sigma Mu Sigma Hosts A.L.I.C.E. Training
On Monday, February 17, 2014, Sigma
A.L.I.C.E. TRAINING
Mu Sigma (the Missouri State University Chapter
of Alpha Phi Sigma – the National Criminal Justice
AAlert
Honor Society) hosted an A.L.I.C.E. Workshop in
LLockdown
Strong Hall. A.L.I.C.E. stands for Alert Lockdown
IInform
Inform Counter Evacuate, and is a training that
CCounter
addresses incidents of active shooters. Over 50
EEvacuate
students and faculty members attended the training to learn about measures that could be used
during such a situation. The morning portion of the workshop included two
hours of history, background, research and other information about shooting
situations, and the afternoon portion included a series of live action simulation drills for the students to participate in.
Sigma Mu Sigma is planning to offer this workshop again on Friday,
May 9, 2014. If you are interested in attending, please e-mail the Public Relations Officer Liza Schoeneck at
[email protected].
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Page 11
Criminology & Criminal Justice News
6th Annual Missouri State
University Criminology and
Criminal Justice Conference
Save the Date: The 6th Annual Missouri
State University Criminology and Criminal Justice
Conference will be held on Wednesday, April 2, 2014
and Thursday, April 3, 2014, “Seeking Knowledge,
Finding Solutions . . . For the Victims,” in Plaster
Student Union. The conference this year will focus more on victims, especially those related to cases of sexual
assault and child abuse. Keynote speakers include Michael Bourke, Chief of the Behavioral Analysis Unit for
the United States Marshal, and Connilee Christie, a forensic interview trainer. For more information, please
see and like the facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/msucrimconference, or contact the conference
coordinator, Ivy Yarckow-Brown at [email protected].
Connilee Christie (above, left), is a Forensic Interviewer with the Children’s Advocacy Center. Michael
Bourke (above, right), is the chief psychologist for the U.S. Marshals Service Behavioral Analysis Unit (photo:
U.S. Marshals Service).
Defense and Strategic Studies News
New DSS Publications
DSS student Jared McKinney (at left),
who has an internship at the Johns Hopkins
Applied Research Lab, has published his third
professional article in a year, entitled, “Syria’s
Forgotten Refugees,” in The American Spectator, Jan. 30, 2014.
Keith B. Payne, Department Head of
Defense and Strategic Studies, co-authored a
piece in the Feb. 11, 2014 issue of The Wall
Street Journal, entitled “The Nuclear Treaty
Russia Won’t Stop Violating.” In addition,
a new monograph is being published as the
international journal Comparative Strategy, by
Mr. Payne and James Schlesinger (the former
Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Energy),
et. al., Minimum Deterrence: Examining the
Evidence, Comparative Strategy, Special Issue
(March 2014).
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Page 12
Economics News
Economics Professors Study,
Present on Light Pollution
Dr. Terrel Gallaway (at right),
Professor of Economics, and Dr. David
Mitchell (at right, below), Associate Professor of Economics and Director of both
the Bureau of Economic Research and the
Center for Economic Education, traveled
to Berlin, Germany in October of 2013 to present
research on light pollution at the first annual Artificial
Light At Night international conference (ALAN). Dr.
Gallaway was an invited plenary speaker and spoke on
“Pleiades and Prairie Chickens: Dark Sky Preservation
in the Central United States;” Dr. Mitchell presented
research on “People, Places, or Things? Determinants
of Light Pollution in the Western United States”.
Light pollution is obtrusive and excessive light
that can disturb and interfere with nocturnal animals.
It can also diminish the view of the night sky that has
economic value to people, i.e., people are willing to
pay to preserve their view of the night sky. Drs. Gallaway and Mitchell received a grant from the National
Park Service to estimate the economic impact that
dark night skies have on the Colorado Plateau to study
the theory that dark night skies will attract tourists
who will spend money in hotels, gas stations, restaurants, and on shopping. There is also growing evidence that light pollution interferes with the production of certain hormones in humans and that this hormonal imbalance
could contribute to obesity, depression, high blood
pressure, and possibly some cancers—the most prominent example being breast cancer.
Maroon Minute Features
Economic Professors
Drs. Reed Olson, Terrel Gallaway, and David
Mitchell (shown, at right, left to right), Economics
Department, were highlighted in a recent video from
MSU’s Office of University Communications, spotlighting their work on light pollution.
The link to the video is here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRD2679DwRI&list=UUIuFVDoogw9ujgLbpTCM3sQ&feature=c4-overview.
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Page 13
Economics News
3rd Annual Center for Economic
Education Conference
The 3rd Annual Center
for Economic Education
Conference, in cooperation
with the Missouri Council on
Economic Education, held
in June 2013, focused on Missouri’s implementation of the
Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare) and its impact on
insurance companies, health care providers, and businesses
in Missouri. Speakers included an attorney with Husch
Blackwell from St. Louis, a speaker from the Missouri
Department of Insurance and the CFO from a local hospital. This was followed up by a roundtable of local
business leaders discussing the steps, barriers, and
successes that they have faced in setting up their
businesses to be in compliance with the ACA.
Mr. Mike English (at left, above), President
of the Missouri Council on Economic Education,
was one of the speakers at the conference (at lower
left, conference attendees).
Economics Students Awarded Scholarships
by Dr. Ardeshir J. Dalal, Professor, Head of Economics Department
This year the Economics Department was again able to
award all seven of its scholarships for majors. The list of scholarships
and the winners are:
Scott & Gayla Moore Economics Scholarship—Bethany Brown;
Robert Hardie Memorial Scholarship—Bohan Chen; Dale & Lynn
Wasson Award for Excellence in Economics—Skyler Gamm; Larry
& Carol Cox Economics Scholarship—Hannah Hughes; Economics Alumni Scholarship—Michael Rieger; J. David Lages Memorial
Scholarship—Brittany Street; John M. Carnahan III Scholarship—
Benjamin Svoboda.
Next year, thanks to the generosity of Robert and Lynette
Foster, we will have an additional scholarship to award—the Foster
Scholarship!
Congratulations to the winners and our grateful thanks to all
our donors and to the many well-wishers who have made financial
contributions to our scholarship and general funds.
From left, Dr. Victor Matthews, Dean
of the College of Humanities and
Public Affairs; Mr. Rich Young, J. C.
and Sara Edna Young Scholarship
donor; and Dr. Terrel Gallaway, Professor of Economics
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Page 14
History News
Dr. Edward Gutting Presents
at CHPA Reserach Forum
Dr. Edward Gutting, Instructor in History, presented at
the February 5th CHPA Research Forum in Strong Hall on “Goddess and Family: Social and Imperial
Change in Augustan Rome.”
Dr. Gutting explained how
Augustus’ shift from Republican to
Imperial government changed the
way Romans viewed family. The recentering of Roman society around
the imperial family required new
ways of thinking about women’s
roles, particularly in regard to public
Above, Dr. Edward Gutting,
life. Vergil’s presentation of Venus,
Instructor of History
the oldest ancestor of the imperial family, serves as a test case for
tracing the evolution of some of these new ideas about gender. Dr. Gutting focused on how Vergil shapes
an imperial and maternal Venus from Greek epic traditions, such as those found in the Homeric Hymn to
Aphrodite, which characterize the goddess’ sexuality as a dangerous thing that needs to be controlled through
humiliation.
Ozarks History Scholar and MSU Alumnus Offered
Position at Williams Baptist College
Missouri State University Department of History alumnus, Mr.
Blake Perkins (M.A., 2010), has just accepted a tenure-track position at
Williams Baptist College in Arkansas. Blake will be finishing his Ph.D. at
West Virginia University in May.
Currently an Adjunst Professor of History at Williams, Mr. Perkins
(shown, at left), is currently writing his dissertation, “Dynamics of Defiance:
Government Power and Rural Resistance of the Arkansas Ozarks,” and his
articles on Ozarks history have appeared in the Arkansas Historical Quarterly,
the Missouri Historical Review, and Big Muddy: A Journal of the Mississippi
River Valley. A native of the Ozarks foothills in western Lawrence County,
Arkansas, Perkins graduated from Lyon College in 2008 and earned a Master’s degree in history from Missouri State University.
Congratulations, Blake!
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Page 15
Military Science/ROTC News
Military Science Department Commissions Five Officers
From left, LTC Troy S. Wisdom, Military Science Department Head; 2LT Isaac LeBlanc; 2LT
Justin Andrew Spreadborough; 2LT Ariel Elizabeth Clabaugh; 2LT Herbert Wolf; 2LT Logan
Ryan Brake; MSU alumna Major General Karen Dyson
While ice and snow prevented some from travelling, spirits were still high on commencement day December
13, 2013 as five cadets received their commissions as Second Lieutenants in the United States Army. The day was
made more special by our guest speaker, Bear Battalion alumna Major General Karen Dyson.
• 2LT Isaac LeBlanc – Drury University; Hometown: Mount Pleasant, IA; B.A., International Political Science;
Awards & Honors: Kappa Alpha Order Fraternity, President. Lieutenant LeBlanc will serve in the National
Guard and branched Military Police.
• 2LT Justin Andrew Spreadborough - MSU; Hometown: Springfield, MO; B.S., Computer Science, Minor in
Military Science. Lieutenant Spreadborough assessed into the National Guard and branched Ordnance.
• 2LT Ariel Elizabeth Clabaugh - MSU; Hometown: United States Army. B.S., Psychology, Minor in Military Science; Awards & Honors: German Armed Forces Badge of Military Proficiency- Gold, Ranger Challenge, Pershing
Rifles.. Lieutenant Clabaugh assessed reserve component and branched Military Police.
• 2LT Herbert Wolf - MSU; Hometown: St. Louis, MO; B.S., Administrative Management; Awards & Honors:
National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Missouri Commendation Ribbon. Lieutenant Wolf accessed into the National Guard and
branched Military Intelligence.
• 2LT Logan Ryan Brake - MSU; Hometown: Girard, KS; B.S., Administrative Management, Minor in Military
Science; Awards & Honors: Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, Alumni Chair; Catholic Campus Ministries; Phi Sigma
Upsilon; ROTC 2012 Homecoming Chair. Lieutenant Brake assessed into the National Guard and branched
Military Police.
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Page 16
Military Science/ROTC News
Military Science
Spring Events
LTC Troy S. Wisdom,
Military Science Department/ROTC
The next couple of months are very
busy as we approach the end of the semester. In addition to usual field training exercises, May Day participation, Awards Day, and
Commissioning we have
two exciting events – one
each in April and May.
Warrior Challenge
Sunday, April 6 is the
2nd annual Springfield Urban-Warrior Challenge. An
estimated 600+ urban warriors will “Never See the City
the Same” as they navigate natural and created obstacles
throughout downtown and central Springfield. This
year’s SUC will be based out of Hammon’s Field, home
of the Springfield Cardinals. Those wishing to register or
volunteer can visit www.EmbraceTheSUC.com. Proceeds
benefit the National Military
Family Association and the future military men and women
of your MSU Army ROTC.
Springfield Cardinal ROTC Night
Join the MSU Army ROTC and the Springfield Cardinals for ROTC Night at the Ballpark on Friday, May 2,
2014. The night will be capped by Friday night fireworks!
Tickets are $10 each and proceeds benefit the future military men and women of your MSU Army ROTC.
Call the department office for tickets or email
[email protected].
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Page 17
Philosophy News
Dr. Pam Sailors Presents
on “The Hunger Games and
Sport Culture”
In February, Dr. Pam Sailors, Philosophy Professor and
CHPA Associate Dean, presented a paper, “‘Why do we have a
winner?’: The Hunger Games and Sport Culture,” co-authored with
Charlene Weaving (St. Francis Xavier University), at the 35th Annual Southwest Popular Culture and American Culture Associations
Conference, “Popular and American Culture Studies: Yesterday,
Today, and Tomorrow,” in Albuquerque, New Mexico. On April
19, she will present her paper, “Personal Foul: A Moral Evaluation
of Football,” at the Pacific Division Meeting of the American Philosophical Association in San Diego, California.
Dr. Pam Sailors, Associate Dean of
the College of Humanities and Public
Affairs, and Professor of Philosophy
Workshop for Critical Inquiry Examines the “Death of Man”
Dr. Michael Behrent, Appalachian State
University
The Workshop for Critical Inquiry continues its tradition
of bringing nationally-known Philosophy scholars to Missouri
State University in February with guest speaker Dr. Michael Behrent, Appalachian State
University. Dr. Behrent’s
talk focused on “The
Death of Man,” where
he examined the origins
of some key ideas in the
work of Postmodernist philosopher Michael
Foucault and Foucault’s
concept of the human,
and his announcement
of the “Death of Man.”
For more information on the Workshop
for Critical Inquiry,
please contact Dr. Ralph
Shain, Philosophy,
Dr. Ralph Shain, Associate Professor
[email protected]. of Philosophy
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Page 18
Political Science News
MPA Students Selected as
Local Government Management
Fellowship Finalists
Congratulations to Alex Jermeland (shown,
at left), and Camille Reid (at right), who have
been named finalists for the 2014 Local Government Management Fellowship program that is
sponsored by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).
Camille is a graduate assistant in the MSU
Graduate College office and has been a management intern with the City of Ellisville, MO and a Community Resilience Intern with the American Red CrossGreater Ozarks Chapter.
For more information about the fellowship program, please go the ICMA
webpage.
Dr. Ashley Leinweber Attends
African Studies Conference
Dr. Ashley Leinweber (at right), attended the African Studies Association Annual Conference that was held in Baltimore, MD in November.
In the photo, right, Dr. Leinweberis holding a book that she has written
a chapter for. Entitled The Power of Gender, The Gender of Power: Women’s
Labor, Rights, and Responsibilities in Africa, the book is available from Africa
World Press.
Jefferson City Interns, Old and New,
Gather for Dinner
2014 legislative interns, including PLS majors Charles Puyear, Harold Norman, Daniel
Meany, and Zachary Griffith, with Dr. Siscoe.
The annual Jefferson City intern and intern alumni dinner was held at Madison’s on February 18th. Current Missouri
State interns had a chance to mingle with former interns, many
of whom work in and around the Capitol. Special guests included
Springfield-area State representative Charlie Norr, MSU Board of
Governor, Carrie Tergin, MSU Special Assistant to the President,
Kent Thomas, MSU Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Dee
Siscoe, MSU Legal Counsel Ryan DeBoef, and Candice Wolf from
the MSU Alumni Association. Special thanks to the Director of
the Career Center, Jack Hunter, for organizing the dinner and his
Extra Special Assistant, Dominiece Hoelyfield, who livened up the
evening with an awards ceremony.
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Page 19
Political Science News
Students Attend Midwest
Model UN Conference
in St. Louis
Representing Syria and Croatia, undergraduate
and graduate students from Missouri State participated
in the 2014 Midwest Model UN conference. According
to the organizers, “the conference designed to furnish
a structure and forum for students to work with the
most pressing international issues from a perspective outside of the classroom, and thus broaden their
awareness of the world of politics. Representing
the role of another nation’s delegation to the United
Nations, students further realize the difficulties and
complexities of international relations.” This venue
provides Missouri State students an opportunity to
truly experience the public affairs mission.
Special recognition goes out to two MSU Model
UN Students who won awards in St. Louis. The delegate from Syria, Ian Tate, won Honorable Mention
for Best Delegate in the General Assembly Second
Committee. The delegate from Croatia, Emma
Hackett, won Honorable Mention for Best Delegate
MSU students, above, the delegate from Croatia,
in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) PleEmma Hackett; at top, Ian Tate, the delegate from
nary.
Syria
For more information about the Midwest Model
Below and below right, Midwest Model UN Conference attendees
UN, visit their website at http://mmun.org/.
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Page 20
Political Science News
Political Science Professor Travels
to Shanghai and Taipei
On November 22, 2013,
Dr. Dennis Hickey, Distinguished
Professor and Director of the Graduate Program in Global Studies,
journeyed to Shanghai and Taipei.
While in Taiwan, he met with highranking officials at the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and attended a
seminar featuring a keynote address
by President Ma Ying-jeou. He also
visited the Taiwan Foundation for
Democracy (TFD) which had provided him with an external grant in
2013 to conduct research on Taipei’s
efforts to peacefully resolve the ongoing quarrels in the East China Sea.
Above, Dr. Dennis Hickey (at right), with Dr. Alan Peng, a grant
officer, in front of the TFD’s “welcome sign”
4th Edition of Healthcare Politics and
Policy in America To Be Published
Dr. Kant Patel (at left, below), Professor Emeritus of Political Science, and Dr. Mark Rushefsky (at left, above), Professor of Political
Science and Director of the Master of Public Administration Program,
announce the 4th edition of their book, Healthcare Politics and Policy in
America, to be published by M.E. Sharpe and due out this April.
According to the publisher, this book provides a comprehensive examination of the ways that health policy has been shaped by the political, socioeconomic, and ideological environment of the United States.
The book addresses the key problems of healthcare cost, access, and quality through
analyses of Medicare, Medicaid, the Veterans Health Administration, and other programs,
and the ethical and cost implications of advances in healthcare technology. This fully
updated fourth edition gives expanded attention to the fiscal and financial impact of high
healthcare costs and the struggle for healthcare reform, culminating in the passage of the
Affordable Care Act, with preliminary discussion of implementation issues associated with
the Affordable Care Act as well as attempts to defund and repeal it.
https://www.mesharpe.com/mall/resultsa.asp?Title=Healthcare+Politics+and+Policy+in+America%2C+Fourth+Edition
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Page 21
Religious Studies News
Religious Studies Major Serves Students, Community
Religious Studies major Samantha Nichols (at left, in the KSMU studio), a recent winner
of MSU’s 2014 Women of Distinction Awards (see
story, page 5), explains that her focus is serving the
community, and this semester she takes advantage
of several opportunities to use her education to
impact MSU students and the Springfield area.
As an intern for the department of Religious Studies and KSMU Ozarks Public Radio, she researches, writes, and broadcasts news about religion in
the Oarks and global religious news as it affects the
local communities:
http://ksmu.org/author/samantha-nichols
Ms. Nichols is also a Pastoral Intern this
semester at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ and
is a Peer Minister with the United Ministries in
Higher Education, as well as developing two new
student organizations: LINKED, Missouri State’s
interfaith dialogue and service club (Facebook
page: https://www.facebook.com/LinkedMSU), and the MSU Pre-Seminary club.
As an assistant to Ms. Lora Hobbs, Senior Instructor at MSU, Ms. Nichols assisted in organizing the Stomp
Out Hunger campaign (see page 22) and volunteered at Meals-A-Million.
She explains how her Religious Studies classes prepare her for community service:
My education opens doors for me and empowers me to open doors for others. As a religious studies major,
I am constantly developing an even greater appreciation for perspectives other than my own. I have had the opportunity to learn about women and religion, the intersection between faith and sexuality, and how the rhetoric
we use to discuss religion has the power to create divisions or unity.
I believe that an education is most useful when applied outside of the classroom. I recently founded an
interfaith service and dialogue organization at Missouri State, drawing from my foundation in religious studies.
We are truly an innovative presence on campus. We are working to persuade the university to accommodate all
religious traditions and not schedule public events in conflict with holidays such as Yom Kippur. We are planning an interfaith trivia night to raise money for an Islamic center that was burned to the ground. We engage in
dialogue at every meeting, learning more about ourselves and others.
This experience and others are shaping me as a leader. Attending a Youth Organizing and Policy Institute
for Planned Parenthood offered me valuable organizational skills and insights into a core struggle for women in
our society. I have applied those skills by phone banking and writing a Voice of the Day article for the Springfield
News Leader to educate our community about reproductive justice and Medicaid expansion. I am blessed to have
a leadership role at my church where I serve as a pastoral intern, working with children and teaching them that
God’s love is inclusive, something that we should emulate and express toward others. I am a peer minister for
United Ministries in Higher Education, where I get to develop different programs that demonstrate the diversity
within religion and reach out to other progressive believers. Interning for KSMU has exposed me to so many different people and provided an opportunity to develop stories and conduct interviews on my own. I am involved
in many organizations and all have enhanced my ability to make society more inviting and inclusive.
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Page 22
Religious Studies News
Stomp Out Hunger
a Huge Success!
The Fall 2013 Stomp Out Hunger shoe drive was a huge success, thanks
to the MSU Office of Public Affairs, Religious Studies Senior Instructor, Ms. Lora
Hobbs and her assistant and Religious
Studies major, Samantha Nichols; hundreds of MSU students, staff, and faculty;
and volunteers from the other Springfieldarea universities, schools, organizations,
and businesses!
Stomp Out Hunger began as a
MSU President Clif Smart and volunteers at the Fall 2013 Stomp
way to aid a local organization, Sole Food, Out Hunger event
who along with Shoeman Water Projects,
turns unwanted shoes into food for the hungry by collecting shoes and selling them to local businesses in developing
countries and using the funds to purchase food packaged by Friends Against Hunger to feed those in need.
A video of the project, with guest speaker and MSU President, Clif Smart, can be seen at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vpk7xfYfkV0.
Feel left out? No worries! We’ll be hosting another Stomp Out Hunger in Fall 2014.
And for other ways to develop your passion for giving back and to learn more about public affairs at Missouri
State, see http://publicaffairs.missouristate.edu/
Springfield Race and Faith Collaborative
The inaugural quarter of the Springfield Race and Faith Collaborative, an initiative of the Council of Churches of the Ozarks,
in the fall offered MSU’s Religious Studies major and intern,
Stacy Street, many opportunities to work with area clergy and
non-profits to organize events for the community, including the
Unity March to the Square commemorating Dr. Martin Luther
King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
This spring, the Collaborative continues its mission to
advance the conversation about race in Springfield and our new
Religious Studies intern, Dizzy Hill, is working with area clergy
and organizations and utilizing social media to identify and cultivate relationships in the community.
Documentary filmmaker Mr. Patrick Mureithi
The Collaborative’s first spring event featured Mr. Patrick
Mr. Mureithi’s work may be found here:
Mureithi, documentary filmmaker and artist-in-residence at
http://josiahfilms.com/
Drury University, who conducted interviews with local citizens.
The story by Religious Studies major and KSMU intern, Samantha Nichols, describing the collaborative’s second quarter opening may be found here:
http://ksmu.org/article/greater-springfield-race-and-faith-collaborative-kicks-its-second-quarter-77676
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Page 23
Religious Studies News
Religious Studies Scholars
Travel the World
Religious Studies students and faculty share their recent world travels.
Two of Missouri State University’s Religious Studies majors are participating in
Study Away opportunities this semester: Emma Donovan and Bailey Wiles, both
B.A. double majors in Religious Studies and Global Studies. Laura Pearson, a
Religious Studies and French alumna, updates us on her work in the Peace Corps
in Cameroon. And Religious Studies Professor and Department Head, Stephen
C. Berkwitz, recently presented at a conference in Spain.
Ms. Donovan (shown, at left, with new friend Amie
Lam), continues her year-long study away, this semester in Nicaragua with UAM Global Nicaragua, following her fall semester travels in Bulgaria and
Europe. Ms. Donovan relates that her favorite activities so far have been making new friends and
practicing yoga on the beach this winter (yes, while we here in Springfield were shoveling snow!).
Ms. Wiles (at right, below), is spending her fall semester in Chambéry, France, in the
French Alps. Besides immersing herself in French language and culture, she plans to visit Plum
Village, the monastery of Thich Nhat Hahn, for a week-long retreat this month.
Ms. Pearson (at right, above), served the Peace Corps in Cameroon for over two years
and decided to continue her work in a new position:
As a member of the inaugural training class to PC Cameroon’s Youth
Development program, I’ve been riding the waves of the trial-and-error method, the adjusting of project goals, and the ever annoying reality that we may
never fully figure out exactly how best to help the youth of Cameroon. That
being said, I’ve been given an incredible opportunity to be the guinea pig for
a potentially great position: Peace Corps volunteer serving as the Technical
Assistant to UNICEF Cameroon’s Education program.
This position will have me based in Bertoua, working in the UNICEF
office between trips into the countryside visiting existing UNICEF Education
projects in the field. My primary duties will be in monitoring and evaluating these projects and making suggestions on how to strengthen UNICEF’s
impact in these communities. The job
description sounds perfect for what I was
hoping for, and I couldn’t be more excited
to start.
Stephen C. Berkwitz (at left), Professor and Head of Religious Studies,
presented a paper “Bodies of Praise: Strong Men and Erotic Women in Sinhala Buddhist Poetry” at a conference held March 10-14 in Santo Domingo de la Calzada,
Spain. The conference was titled “Body Trouble: Religious Boundaries for Sex,
Gender, and Corporeality” and was sponsored by the Kate Hamburger Kolleg of
Ruhr-University Bochum. Berkwitz’s paper examined the ways that male and female
bodies could be used to fashion a heroic image of a Buddhist king. In addition to
the papers presented by an international group of scholars, the conference participants learned about the history and institutions of the pilgrimage to Santiago de
Compostela, the route for which runs through the historic site of the meeting.
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Page 24
Sociology & Anthropology News
Anthropology
Fieldwork in
West Africa
Margaret Buckner, Professor of Anthropology, set off in December 2013 along with two
Anthropology students for Caio, Guinea Bissau
(West Africa). Dr. Buckner, who has been doing
fieldwork in the village since 1991, spent a month
there working on ongoing projects, including
medicinal plants, Manjako language, and filming,
Mr. Miles Pearson, graduate student in Applied
Anthropology, focused on teaching local people an Anthropology student Lexi Amos threshes along with the
village women
orthography for writing Manjako, the local language, which is largely
unwritten. Ms. Lexi Amos, senior Anthropology major, researched
both food production and child language development. Mr. Pearson
and Ms. Amos stayed in Caio on their own until mid-February, by
which time their language skills had much improved, by necessity!
Daily activities took up most of their time--drawing water from
the well, washing clothes by hand, keeping the house free of dust and
critters, and taking copious field notes. Ms. Amos often accompanied women to the rice fields to harvest and thresh rice (photo above).
Mr. Pearson took advantage of a few hours of electricity
(from a local generator) to hold Manjako literacy classes
each evening under the light bulb on the front porch (at left,
below).
There was also plenty of time for fun. Christmas and
New Year’s, both known locally as ufeshta (“fiesta”, from
Portuguese “festa”), were full of gift giving, good food, and
music throughout the day and into the night. One of the
trio’s fondest memories was of a party on the front porch for
Buckner’s “age set” (at left, above). The women attempted to
teach the students Manjako dance moves, and the students
gave it their best shot--which observers found very entertaining.
Mr. Pearson will be writing up the results of his Manjako
literacy project in the form of a practicum report for his ApAbove, Miles Pearson, graduate student in Anplied Anthropology masters. Both students plan to present
thropology, teaches a crowd of eager students
their research at the Mid America Alliance for African StudAt top, Anthropology Professor, Dr. Margaret
Buckner, converses with her age-set mates
ies conference at the University of Kansas in October.
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Page 25
Sociology & Anthropology News
What Can I Do With a
Degree in Anthropology?
by Dr. Bill Wedenoja,
Acting Head of Sociology
and Anthropology, Professor and Coordinator of
Anthropology
I am often asked the
question, What Kind
of Job Can I Get with
a Degree in Anthropology? But I think it is
worthwhile to slightly
Above, Jaimie Trussell (BA 1998)
rephrase the question as
What Can I Do with a Degree in Anthropology? There is no simple answer to this question, other than “a lot” or even “amazing things”.
Above, Christopher
For example, one of our graduates, Jaimie (Greene ) Trussell (BA 1998) also com- Koenig (BS 2003)
pleted an MA in Communications from Missouri State. She worked as Regional Director
of Admissions for Drury University, then Scholarship Coordinator and later Director of Development for CNAS at
Missouri State, before becoming Major Donor Director for Convoy of Hope. Jaimie is responsible for working with
potential mega-donors, which includes taking them on site visits to Convoy operations in eleven countries.
Christopher Koenig (BS 2003) worked as an archaeologist and historic preservation specialist at the Missouri
Department of Transportation and received an MA in Historic Preservation from Goucher College. This year he was
hired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as Lab Manager at the Veterans Curation Program in St. Louis, where he
is responsible for artifact rehabilitation. The VCP is a special facility; its mission is “to provide wounded veterans with
tangible work skills and experience through the rehabilitation and preservation of archaeological collections owned or
administered by the US Army Corps of EngiBelow, Frank Burkybile (BS 2008)
neers.”
Frank Burkybile (BS 2008) served as
an AmeriCorps volunteer with Habitat for
Humanity in Florida and California, took
an MPH in epidemiology and public health
from the University of Alabama Birmingham,
and is now Presidential Management Fellow
and Public Health Analyst at the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. He works in
the Global HIV/AIDS division of the Center
for Global Health at CDC, serving on the
Special Response Team, and recently finished
an assignment as Deputy Country Director
for the CDC office in Swaziland.
Continued on next page...
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Page 26
Sociology & Anthropology News
...Anthropology Degree, continued
Jodi Millard (BS 2008) received an MLS from the University of Missouri in 2010 and
is currently a master’s student in Applied Anthropology at Missouri State. She recently applied
for two virtual internships with the Department of State and was offered both in a national
competition. Jodi will be working with the United States Agency for International Development
USAID for the next nine months doing research on emerging technologies in online education
for the Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment.
I am looking forward to hearing from more alumni!
Right, Jodi Millard (BS 2008)
Sociology Students,
Professors, Engage
with Local Health
Department
Sociology student, Kristy Coffin, is working this
semester with Dr. Lisa Hall, Assistant Professor of
Sociology, and Dr. Tim Knapp, Professor of Sociology,
doing data analysis and writing for a report that will be
submitted to the Springfield-Greene County Health
Above, Kristy Coffin, Sociology student
Department in May. The report is from a phone survey
about chronic illnesses, obesity, and health insurance
that students of Drs. Hall and Knapp conducted last September through November.
Recently, Dr. Hall presented at the February CHPA Research Forum on “MSU’s Public Sociology Program
and Springfield-Greene County Health Department.”
The Springfield-Greene County Public Health Department (Health Dept.) has chosen to be assessed by a
CDC-developed program called “Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships” (MAPP). MAPP is
known for its commitment to health equity and social justice and focus on social structures. The Health Dept. has
also utilized these principles in two recent projects with
MSU’s Public Sociology Program: the Greene County
Health Attitudes and Behavior Survey and the Health
Advocate-Community Development Evaluation. Processes and results of these two ongoing projects will be shared
in the Faculty Forum.
Dr. Hall’s teaching and research focus on public
health issues, community health and health care policy,
and gender issues.
Dr. Knapp is involved in community-engaged research, social inequality, public sociology, and the impacts
of economic restructuring, as well as the scholarship of
teaching and learning.
Above, Dr. Tim Knapp (left) and Dr. Lisa Hall (right)
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Page 27
CHPA Faculty & Staff
Congratulations to CHPA Faculty!
Congratulations to the faculty members in the College of Humanities and Public
Affairs on their promition and/or tenure! Shown, clockwise from top right:
• Andrew Johnson (PHI) – promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
• David E.A. Johnson (PLS) – promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
• David Mitchell (ECO) -- promotion to Full Professor
• Sharmistha Self (ECO) – promotion to Full Professor
• Paula Rector (CRM) – promotion to Senior Instructor
• John Strong (REL) – promotion to Full Professor
• Ralph Shain (PHI) – promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
Professor Mark Rushefsky Retires
Mark Rushefsky (shown, at left), Professor of Political Science and Director
of the MPA program, will be retiring after the Spring 2014 semester. Dr. Rushefsky
came to Missouri State in 1985, after ten years of teaching at Ferrum College and the
University of Florida and four years in the Air Force
So, what are Mark’s retirement plans? He and his wife, Cindy, will be staying
in Springfield to spend time with friends, as well as with their daughter, her husband
and, especially, their three young grandchildren, who live nearby.
Mark will also continue doing a little bit of teaching at Missouri State, including a graduate seminar in the fall and with the Executive Master of Health Administration program.
Mark and Cindy plan to do some traveling. He and his co-author, Kant
Patel (Professor Emeritus, PLS), have another book project that will commence after his retirement.
Mark is considering doing some volunteer work. He is an (inactive) CASA, a court-appointed special advocate,
who works with kids in the foster care system. He was an active CASA from 2001-2011 and had to quit as he took on
additional responsibilities both inside and outside the University community. He is considering reentering active duty.
Cindy has suggested that he look into some city boards to serve on, something he has also done.
Finally, Mark is looking forward to retirement to spend time (whatever is left after all these other activities) on
improving his musical playing. His home office contains, besides the ubiquitous computer, a keyboard, three guitars, a
banjo, and an accordion.
Mark thinks that he will be able to keep busy during retirement.
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2014 Page 28
CHPA Giving
Would you like to contribute? Here’s how!
The size of scholarships at both the graduate and undergraduate
levels needs to be augmented, as does the outside speaker lecturer (Warren) and Bartee funds.  In addition, while Strong Hall houses the majority of
the college, the ROTC program is housed in the basement of Freudenberger.
They have recently begun a campaign to raise funds for a new building.
If you would like to send a donation to help the College of Humanities
and Public Affairs aid its undergraduate and graduate students or in other
ways enhance our educational mission, please print out this form and send it
to:
Missouri State University Foundation
901 South National Avenue
Springfield, MO 65897-0089
Name: _________________________________________________________________________________
Address, City, Zip:________________________________________________________________________
Phone: _________________ E-mail: ________________________________________________________
We / I would like to make a contribution of:
_____ $50
_____ $100
_____ $500
__________ Other (please specify amount)
Please specify where you would like your donation applied:
_____ Area of greatest need
_____ CHPA General Fund
_____ Alice Bartee Speaker’s Series
_____ CHPA Scholarship
_____ ROTC Building Fund
_____ Study Away Scholarship
Please make your check payable to: Missouri State Foundation
Or go online: www.missouristatefoundation.org
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Victor Matthews, Dean, College of Humanities and Public Affairs - 417.836.5529
[email protected]