Central Methodist University
TALON Fall 2025
TT H HE E M MA AG GA AZ Z II N NE E F FO OR R E EA AG GL LE E A AL LU UM MN N II
The Campaign for Our Students and Our Future Dr. Roger Drake, President
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n recent decades, Central Methodist University has established a tradition of transformational change, making big improvements to our campus and our services in order to maintain our values and mission. Whether it’s ambitious new projects like implementing our Digital U initiative and building the Thogmorton Center for Allied Health, or renovations to historic buildings like Stedman and Classic Hall, we have made a habit of thinking strategically and acting on those strategies to achieve the best possible outcomes for our students. The new initiative we announced this fall, Eagle Pride: The Campaign for Central’s Future, is no exception. Every aspect of this campaign has been planned with the same goal in mind: fulfilling our promise to make sure every student we serve learns and grows to their full potential. That promise is something sacred to us, as Central has historically been a place where the balance between academic education and student life has provided a holistic experience that fulfills our mission of fostering lifelong learners prepared to engage with the world. The social and extracurricular experience we provide to our students is more important than ever, and in order to meet those needs for all our current and future students, we’ll be working on some big things in the years to come. In particular, this campaign will pave the way for our student-athletes at every level to have access to fields and facilities when they need it. By adding new facilities and improving our existing ones, we’ll be able to serve not just our varsity athletes, but also the many reserve athletes who call Central home, as well as students who want to play intramural sports or just have fun on their own campus. Student satisfaction is at the forefront of this campaign, and providing more convenient and quality spaces for them to compete and spend time is just the start. Alongside the improvements to our athletic facilities, we’re also embarking on a project to
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transform the most iconic building on our campus and one of the most historically significant spots in all of Howard County. The legendary T. Berry Smith Hall is named after arguably the greatest academic mind that has ever graced our campus, and it is time to update the building so that it may serve many more generations of academics to the best of their abilities and ours. Improving the entryway and adding an elevator to this iconic building while maintaining its historic architecture will create a better and far more accessible learning environment to all our students. The work on T. Berry will be the latest in a trend of upgrades to our campus that have significantly improved the lives of our students, faculty, and staff. From Stedman and Classic to Clingenpeel and Assembly Hall, every effort to bring our historic buildings up to the standards of the modern world has made our campus and our University better. Each project has made a difference in our ability to provide the best experience possible, and I’m confident that the plans we have for this campaign will continue that tradition. The landscape of higher education is changing rapidly – maybe more rapidly than it has ever changed before – and it is only nimble, forward-thinking institutions like CMU that will be able to act with the confidence and speed that the moment requires. This campaign positions us to have a great future despite that rapid change, to serve every Central student and meet their needs to their satisfaction. The plans are all in place. The only thing left to do is to come together as one Central community and get the job done.
CMU Senior Staff Dr. Roger D. Drake, President Dr. Rita Gulstad, Provost Brad Dixon ’07, Vice President for Student Life Chad Gaines, Vice President for Technology and Planning Dr. Melissa Mace, Vice President for Enrollment Management
Central Methodist University
TALON Fall 2025 Magazine
Homecoming 2025 ................................................................................... 4 Alumni Awards 2025.................................................................................. 10 Eagle Pride Campaign Launch..................................................................... 12
Dr. Bill Sheehan Jr. ’84, Executive Vice President
Softball Field Dedicated to Reardon Family.................................................. 22
Julee Sherman, Vice President for Finance and Administration
Fall Sports Wrap-Ups................................................................................. 24 2025 Athletic Auction................................................................................. 28
Talon Staff
Perry Receives President’s Medal................................................................ 30
Joe Waner Director of Marketing and Communications 660-248-6629 | jwaner@centralmethodist.edu
Welton Named 2025 Perry Fellow............................................................. 31
Emily Kesel, Editor Assistant Director for Marketing and Communications 660-248-6684 | ekesel@centralmethodist.edu
Staff, Faculty Recognized for Service............................................................ 33
Katie Bedsaul Media Content Coordinator 660-248-6391 | kbedsaul@centralmethodist.edu Rachel Moore Assistant Athletic Director / Director of Athletic Communication 660-248-6358 | rmoore@centralmethodist.edu
New Professors Join Faculty....................................................................... 32
Campus Updates....................................................................................... 34 Celebrating 30 Years of Dr. Inman’s Impact................................................. 38 Choirs Perform Throughout Semester........................................................ 39 UNITE Camp/Student Dinner with Bishop Farr.......................................... 40 Central Hosts MOAC Cabinet.................................................................... 41 2025 Academic Lecture Series................................................................... 42
Stasia Sherman Director of Alumni Engagement 660-248-6239 | ssherman@centralmethodist.edu
Ashby-Hodge Gallery Update..................................................................... 43
Alissa Watkins Director of Annual Giving 660-248-6683 | awatkins@centralmethodist.edu
Alumni News & Notes............................................................................... 48
In Memoriam............................................................................................. 44
Alumni Social Photos.................................................................................. 50
Upcoming CMU Events:
Harrison Hall of Fame............................................................. January 17 Alumni MMEA Social.............................................................. January 28 Giving Day...................................................................................March 25 Spring Commencement................................................................. May 9 Luejten Golf Tournament............................................................June 13 Eagles Athletic Auction................................................................ July 17
On The Cover: T. Berry Smith Hall towers over the Central Methodist University campus and a banner displaying the logo of the Eagle Pride campaign.
Visit www.centralalumnievents.com for more information
Our Mission CMU fosters a diverse and caring community, empowering students to become lifelong learners, committed to academic excellence, prepared to engage in a complex world.
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Homecoming Homecoming
2025
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CMU Homecoming Week https://www.flickr.com/ photos/centralmethodist/ albums/72177720329660245
CMU Homecoming Parade https://www.flickr.com/ photos/centralmethodist/ albums/72177720329803471
CMU Homecoming Weekend https://www.flickr.com/ photos/centralmethodist/ albums/72177720329834394
CMU Homecoming Photobooth https://www.flickr.com/ photos/centralmethodist/ albums/72177720329853714
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Central honored its longest-serving professors and professors emeriti with the opportunity to be grand marshals in the 2025 Homecoming Parade. Pictured clockwise from bottom left are Dr. Richard Bradley, Prof. John Flanders, Coach Jeff Sherman ’83, Dr. Rita Gulstad, Dr. Linda Lembke, Dr. Dana Elliott, Dr. Paul Porneluzi, Dr. James “Tiger” Gordon, Prof. Sally Hackman, Dr. Joe Geist, Dr. Wade Welton, Dr. O.A. Robinson, and Coach Larry Anderson ’67. Not pictured are Coach Pat Reardon ’90 and Dr. Shirley Peterson.
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Below: Homecoming 2025 royalty included, from left, Danny Eckhoff, Trinity Thompkins, Cameron Mejean, Dylan Holt, Rachel Haskell, Lauren Hill, Ryan Fouts, Evelyn Ponce (queen), Gimena Dezeo, Isaiah Foy (king), Trevor Mueller (prince), Davis Conway, Haylie Cloud (princess), Keira Driskell, and Addison Howell. Arlo Beeler and Charlotte Sherman were the Little Prince and Princess.
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Hall of Sponsors
On Friday afternoon of Homecoming weekend, Central celebrated the new Hall of Sponsors scholarships for the year. These scholarships are named and endowed to ensure the legacies of Dr. Roger and Dr. Linda Lembke, the Hughes/ Sebold family, Todd and Lynn Miner, Dr. Kendal Clark, Rev. Robert and Falba Core, Colonel William Sheehan, Richard and Karen Parker, and the Dodge Family.
Bill Chott ’91 Improv Class
Central alumnus and 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Bill Chott ’91 gave an improv class for CMU students and others interested while on campus at Homecoming. Chott, an actor and comedian known for roles in The Ringer and Wizards of Waverly Place, also owns an improv school.
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Eagle Pride Campaign Launch
The CMU Board of Trustees and other staff surprised guests at the Homecoming Kick-off event by announcing the launch of the Eagle Pride campaign on Friday evening. Board president Nancy Peacock ’82 and other trustees celebrated the occasion with a toast. Find out more about the Campaign for Central’s Future starting on page 12.
Susan Stegeman ’84, Nancy Yuelkenbeck ’78, and Clayton Smith ’70
Chris Stegeman and Susan Hardy Mills ’83 with Terry ’83 and Elaine Henderson ’83
Dr. Linda Lembke and Janet Jacobs ’77
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Bill Chott ’91, Marvin Manring ’85, Kristofferson Culmer ’06, Geofrey Bilabaye ’15, Chris Ebright ’11, and Dr. Shayna Burchett ’13
Alumni Awards Banquet Held at Homecoming By Emily Kesel
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he Central Methodist University Alumni Board of Directors and Office of Alumni and Advancement once again celebrated the 2025 Alumni Awards Brunch as part of this year’s Homecoming activities on October 19. Held in the Inman Student Center, the event celebrated seven graduates as recipients of the Distinguished and Young Alumni Awards. A Service Award was also given posthumously to 1970 graduate Jeff Hogenmiller. Hogenmiller, who passed away last September at the age of 76, was known for giving back to Central in profound ways that left a lasting impact. After graduating, he went on to a long career in business, working for multiple Fortune 100 companies as an executive and leader in human resources. Before retiring in 2002, Hogenmiller served as divisional vice president of human resources for Abbott Laboratories in Libertyville, Ill. All the while, he continued to serve Central as a fundraising volunteer and member of the President’s Council and board of trustees. He is survived by his wife, Linda, and sons, Marcus and Nathan. This year’s Distinguished Alumni Award recipients included Mavin Manring ’85, Beverly Davis Garner ’88, Bill Chott ’91, and Kristofferson Culmer ’06. Young Alumni Award winners this fall included Chris Ebright ’11, Dr. Shayna Burchett ’13, and Geofrey Bilabaye ’15.
Distinguished Alumni Award MARVIN MANRING ’85
Marvin Manring ’85 taught band and choir for 37 years. He currently serves as a historian for the Missouri Music Educators Association and as an adjudicator and rules interpreter for the Missouri State High School Activities Association. In Stockton, he is a 32-year member of
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the Lions Club and serves on governing boards for the Cedar County Memorial Hospital and the Stockton Community Foundation. He and his wife, Mary Anne (Watters ‘86), have two children, Liz and Lucas (‘12), and two grandchildren.
BILL CHOTT ’91
Bill Chott ’91 is an actor and comedian with more than 30 credits to his name in television and films, including a role in the 2005 comedy The Ringer, which led him to working with the Special Olympics and other charitable organizations. Chott has earned numerous awards for his work in the community, including the inaugural Missouri Legends Award. He also works as in improv coach and founded The Improv Trick in 2004. Chott appeared on the Disney Channel this year in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, reprising his longtime role as Mr. Laritate.
KRISTOFFERSON CULMER ’06
Kristofferson Culmer ’06 is an assistant teaching professor for the University of Missouri’s Department of Engineering and Information Technology. Born and raised in the Bahamas, Culmer also serves as the director of the Autonomous Systems Lab, leading experiential learning focused on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Among his advocacy and service commitments, Culmer is currently a member of the Missouri DESE Computer Science Advisory Council and the National Association of Graduate Professional Students.
BEVERLY DAVIS GARNER ’88
Beverly Davis Garner ’88 was also selected as a Distinguished Alumni Award winner but will be honored at next year’s Alumni Awards Brunch.
Middle: Brandon ’19 and Amanda Rose, Geofrey Bilabaye ’15, and Dakarayi Chabaya ’15 Bottom: Doug Burchett, Matt Burchett, Amaya Burchett, Shayna Burchett ’13 holding Oliver Burchett, Deanne Koyles, and Ken Koyles
Young Alumni Award
Top: Jonathan Holem ’07, Drew Markel, Matt McCurdy, Kristofferson Culmer ’06, Cory North, Julie Parrish ’05, Zach Niemeier ’09, and Sean Pridgeon ’08 Middle left: Brenda Cowart ’75 and Rick Cowart ’75 Middle right: Linda Blair ’86 and Julie Parrish ’05 Bottom: Chris ’11, RJ, Emma, and Christy Ebright
CHRIS EBRIGHT ’11
GEOFREY BILABAYE ’15
Chris Ebright ’11 is the general manager at N.H. Scheppers Distributing company and the head baseball coach at Blair Oaks High School. Ebright is also active in the Jefferson City community as well as around the state, serving on the boards for the Missouri Beer Wholesalers Association and the Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he serves as a member of the Westside Business Association, United Way Fund Allocation Committee, and the JC Knights of Columbus.
DR. SHAYNA BURCHETT ’13
Dr. Shayna Burchett ’13 is an accociaate professor of chemistry at Central Methodist University, where she teaches courses ranging from organic chemistry to thermodynamics and physical chemistry. Burchett is an active member of the Missouri Academy of Science, for which she has served as chemistry chair, vice president, president, and currently senior division co-director. She lives in Fayette with her husband, Matt, and four children, two of whom currently attend CMU.
Geofrey Bilabaye ’15, originally of Tanzania, is an assistant prosecuting attorney for Ingham County, Michigan. A graduate of the Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, he was also recently commissioned as a first lieutenant and a judge advocate in the United States Army. Bilabaye was an SGA president and Selecman Award winner in his time at Central.
Want to nominate a fellow alum? Scan the QR code or visit https://shorturl.at/EGol2
Nominations due February 1, 2026
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Announcing...
The campaign for Central’s future
CMU Launches Eagle Pride Campaign, Raising $30 million
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A
EAGLE PRIDE: THE CAMPAIGN FOR CENTRAL’S FUTURE Campaign Breakdown
STUDENT SUCCESS People & Programs $5 Million Endowment Support $3 Million Central Annual Fund $3 Million
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT Football, Soccer,
and Track Facilities $11.5 Million Baseball & Softball Complex $3 Million
CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION T. Berry Smith Hall Renovation $4 Million Campus Enhancements $500,000
LEARN MORE ABOUT EAGLE PRIDE: THE CAMPAIGN FOR CENTRAL’S FUTURE To contribute or learn more, visit: centralmethodist.edu/ alumni/eagle-pride/ index.html
t the Homecoming Kickoff Celebration on Friday, October 17, Central Methodist University officials announced the launch of Eagle Pride: The Campaign for Central’s Future, a fundraising effort focused on three areas of investment. The $30 million campaign will work to fund projects under the banners of Student Success, Athletic Achievement, and Campus Beautification, all in an effort to enhance the campus environment for all students. “Central has worked hard to stay ahead of the rapidly changing landscape of higher education over the past several decades, and we’ve seen a lot of changes come from that effort,” said Dr. Roger Drake, president of the University. “One thing that has never and will never change is our commitment to student success. Through this new campaign, we’re continuing that effort to serve students in a more excellent way, meeting the needs of these students where they are.” The silent phase of the campaign has been ongoing since 2022, and in that time Central has already raised more than half its goal of $30 million. “The Eagle Pride campaign is a strategic investment in Central’s future,” said Chad Gaines, vice president for technology and planning. “It aligns new infrastructure, enhanced student experiences, and our mission to position the University for long-term success. A modern campus environment helps us recruit and retain students, deepen community engagement, and serve our region with excellence.” Dr. Nancy Peacock ’82, chair of the board of trustees, raised a toast with her fellow board members and guests at the event, celebrating the launch and inviting everyone in attendance to pitch in with “the hard work of fundraising” as the campaign continues. “Eagle Pride is a $30 million campaign that will allow CMU to provide first-rate spaces and experiences to our students for years to come,” she said. “This is a bold time for CMU. The future is bright for our University.” See the following pages for more information on each aspect of the fundraising effort and find out how to contribute to the campaign.
Central has already raised more than half its goal of $30 million.
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NEW HEIGHTS
FOR T. BERRY SMITH HALL Through the Eagle Pride campaign, one of the county’s most recognizable buildings will be receiving some critical upgrades. A goal of $4 million has been set for the renovation of T. Berry Smith Hall, which has stood tall on campus since 1895. Numerous projects are planned for the renovation, including the addition of an elevator to ensure ADA compliance, renovation of the main floor and lobby and addition of study areas, replacement of the roof, and structural maintenance and repairs to the iconic building. “The most important piece of the campaign is what we’re going to do with T. Berry Smith Hall,” said Dr. Drake. “We’re going to make it accessible in a way that’s consistent with the historic architecture of the building, which is an iconic one for Central.” One of the most notable structures in all of Howard County, “T. Berry,” as it is colloquially known, is named for one of the greatest academic minds ever to teach at Central. Dr. T. Berry Smith was a professor of physics and chemistry at Central College for 40 years (1886-1926), but he was also known for publishing works of both poetry and history. This legacy of holistic learning lives on through the students and faculty that spend every day in the building gracing his name, and with the renovations planned, every Central student regardless of physical ability will have the opportunity to carry on that legacy.
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THE PLANS • • • •
Addition of an elevator to reach ADA compliance
Renovation of the main floor and lobby, adding welcome and study areas
Replacement of the roof
Structural maintenance and repairs to the 130-year-old building
ENHANCING
CAMPUS GATEWAYS AND CURB APPEAL THE PLANS •
•
• Central will also seek to raise $500,000 for the enhancement of its curb appeal and campus gateways, to upgrade the University’s first impression on visitors and leave a lasting impact. The beautification project will focus on improving sidewalks, constructing new gateways, adding landscaping features, upgrading signage, and improving parking facilities. Designated as a National Historic District, CMU boasts a charming campus of brick and stone buildings nestled among majestic shade trees. The campaign will aim to enhance the University’s first impression on visitors, alumni, and the community. Beautiful brick gateways and lush landscaping are planned at key intersections and entrances, ensuring that CMU stands out as a welcoming, distinguished place of learning. Additionally, upgrading campus
signage and establishing uniform branding will help visitors navigate with ease, creating an even more inviting atmosphere. These efforts also include ensuring that parking areas are efficient and accessible. The enhancements will make a significant difference in how the campus is perceived by prospective students, parents, alumni, and community members. The upgraded gateways will create a sense of arrival, showcasing CMU’s commitment to preserving its history while embracing the future. With better signage and parking, Central hopes to ensure that everyone feels welcome, and visitors have a seamless experience exploring all that Central Methodist has to offer. By investing in curb appeal, CMU is not just enhancing aesthetics but also strengthening the sense of pride and belonging that the campus fosters.
•
•
Improving sidewalks and parking along Church Street Constructing brick gateways at the main campus entrances to showcase historic charm Adding landscaping features such as trees, flowers, and greenery at key entry points Upgrading campus signage to enhance wayfinding and align with CMU’s brand identity Improving parking facilities to ensure accessibility and a smoother flow of traffic around campus Fall 2025 | The Talon 15
GIVING TODAY,
PREPARING FOR TOMORROW The most directly impactful portions of the campaign to the effort of meeting students’ needs are the three goals under the Student Success area. Campaign organizers are looking to raise a total of $11 million in this area for endowment support, the Central Annual Fund, and specific programs geared toward retention and technological advancements. The Pay It Forward initiative is one such program already contributing to student retention. Through generous gifts by donors, academically successful students with outstanding balances have been able to reduce or eliminate their debt, allowing them to continue focusing on their studies. The campaign hopes to see this initiative grow further and to create new programs to invest in students’ futures. Contributions to the Annual Fund and the endowment will also be crucial in allowing Central to strengthen its present and its future. Increased giving to the Annual Fund helps the University respond to its most pressing needs, while endowment giving supports Central’s ability to maintain longterm financial stability. All of this ensures that CMU can continue enhancing student experiences and advancing its mission for generations to come.
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SPECIAL PROJECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES • •
Obtainment of funds to recruit and retain top educators Investments in the College of Graduate and Extended
Studies and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to
expand graduate offerings and enhance interdisciplinary •
learning
Enhancement of technology to support cutting-edge teaching and learning resources
STUDENTS WHO HAVE ALREADY BENEFITTED FROM THE PAY IT FORWARD PROGRAM SHARED THEIR GRATITUDE TO THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED:
“Please know that I will always remember your kindness and generosity, and I hope I can pay it forward one day. Like you, I hope to make a difference in another CMU student’s life.” – V.N. “Your support means a lot not only to me, but to my family as well, and has alleviated a significant amount of financial stress. Thanks to your generosity, I can focus more on my studies and extracurricular activities without worrying about the financial burden. . . Your support is helping me move closer to my goal of becoming an architectural engineer in my near future.” – E.P. “CMU gave me a sense of home in a way I cannot even begin to describe. . . Everyone that I’ve met on this campus, whether it be faculty, the student body, or even a simple passerby, has been nothing but gracious, patient, understanding, and kind. . . From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping me continue here in a place I love.” – M.B.
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ROOM TO GROW
The largest portion of the campaign for Central’s future involves upgrades and additions to the current athletic facilities, with the goals of elevating experiences for both varsity and reserve student-athletes and enhancing the game day experience for Eagle fans. “I believe athletics plays an integral role in the development of our students, our community and our institutional identity. The Eagle Pride campaign is exciting because it brings that belief into action,” said Gaines, who also serves as the vice president for athletics. “As we compete in the Heart of America Athletic Conference and the NAIA, our student-athletes increasingly evaluate the full experience – competition, academics, community, and facilities – and we are committed to ‘rising above’ by offering the very best.”
THE PLANS
Gaines emphasized that the plans in place to enhance the athletic facilities will help improve Eagle student-athletes’ training, preparation, and recovery, as well as supporting their overall growth as students and citizens. The campaign seeks $11.5 million for enhancements to the football, soccer, and track & field facilities that will benefit the varsity and reserve athletes for each of those sports, as well as the fans and community at large. Special projects under this goal include a purpose-built soccer facility at Alexander Field, a clubhouse for football and track athletes at Davis Field, and expanded spaces to support reserve athletes, intramural sports programs, and the marching band.
• A dedicated soccer facility at Alexander Field • A new clubhouse for football and track & field, featuring an athletic training area to support athletes • A specialized facility to accommodate reserve athletes • Expanded space to support growing intramural sports programs • A reserved area tailored for marching band practice 18 The Talon | Fall 2025
Top of page: Renderings of the fan seating at the dedicated soccer facility also show the press box and locker rooms that will be part of the field construction. Above: Conceptual plans for a field competition area at Anderson Sports Complex show space for fan parking, as well as special track & field events. This is where jumps and pole vault competitions will be held, as well as throwing events, including shotput, discus, javelin, and hammer throws.
Above: Conceptual artwork of the new south end zone locker rooms at Davis Field. Below: Designs for the new facilities at Alexander Field include the dedicated soccer field, where the Eagle soccer teams will play games. Next to the soccer field will be a practice field, where varsity and reserve soccer and football teams will practice. The CMU marching band and intramural sports will also make use of the practice field.
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SOARING HIGH, AIMING HIGHER An additional $3 million is being sought to upgrade the facilities at Estes Baseball Field and the Cox Softball Complex. In recent years, the CMU baseball and softball teams have been two of the most successful athletic programs on campus. Both teams have finished their seasons in the NAIA National Championship Tournament several years in a row, with players and coaches earning awards at the conference and national levels. And, if on-field success was not enough, the teams are also among the rosters with the highest team GPAs on campus. These achievements coincided with the installation of artificial turf fields in 2022, signaling a promising future for the Eagles. With ongoing enhancements to the facilities at Estes Baseball Field and Cox Softball Complex, the administration anticipates even greater accomplishments ahead. Work has already begun on updated clubhouses for CMU teams and visitors, which will also benefit Fayette High School teams and other organizations utilizing the fields. Also in the plans are enhancements to hitting and pitching practice facilities, scoreboards and broadcasting systems, and bleachers and concession stands for CMU fans.
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Work was already underway this fall on the clubhouses at Estes Field. Lockers and flooring, seen at right, were installed in the home team’s clubhouse and completed in December. These dedicated facilities will give the Eagles a spacious and welcoming place to prepare for and unwind from games at their home field.
THE PLANS
CMU softball players reveal the new “Reardon Family Field” lettering on the turf at Cox Softball Complex at the field’s dedication.
CMU student-athletes, as well as the Fayette community, stand to benefit substantially from a number of upgrades to the facilities, including: • Upgraded clubhouses with locker rooms for CMU teams, Fayette High School teams, visiting teams, and umpires • Premium outdoor hitting facilities • State-of-the-art pitching facilities Additional improvements will make the game day experience even better for Eagle fans, families, and staff: • Jumbo scoreboard and state-ofthe-art PA system • Improved broadcasting ability for streaming and radio • Bleacher expansion and safety netting • Improved concession stands and restrooms
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Softball Field Named for Reardon Family By Emily Kesel and Rachel Moore
Pat ’90 and Leslie ’91 Reardon and Melody and Gene Reardon
“It is very humbling and surreal to have the honor of having a field named for my entire family. I have been the head coach, but my family has been the backbone of the success of this program, through their sacrifices, commitments, support, love, playing, recruiting, and coaching.” - Pat Reardon ’90
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his summer, the board of trustees for Central Methodist University approved a proposal to honor one of the most successful and influential coaching families not only at CMU but in all of the NAIA, with the naming of the field at Cox Softball Complex. Reardon Family Field was officially dedicated over Homecoming Weekend, with an event on October 18 that brought many family members, friends, and past players to pay tribute to the coaches. At the recommendation of President Roger Drake, the board approved the name change that reflects the many seasons of dedication and success on the softball field by head coach Pat Reardon ’90 and his father and assistant coach, Gene Reardon. “This is an incredible honor and wonderful tribute to the Reardon family, who are most deserving of it,” said Jeff Sherman ’83, director of athletics. “The continued and consistent success, accompanied with the ability to attract many outstanding, talented, and brilliant students to Central, has secured their legacy for generations to come. We are very thankful to Pat and Gene Reardon for everything they do for CMU.” Pat thanked the board of trustees, along with Drake, Sherman, and vice presidents Bill Sheehan ’84 and Chad Gaines, for making the honor possible. “To think that I arrived on the CMC campus almost 40 years ago not knowing what was in store for me and now to know that the Reardon name will be permanently placed on the softball field is amazing,” he said. “It is very humbling and surreal to have the honor of having a field named for my entire family. I have been the head coach, but my family has been the backbone of the success of this program, through their sacrifices, commitments, support, love,
playing, recruiting, and coaching.” He went on to acknowledge the dedication of all his family and the former coaches, players, and supporters who have been part of his career, as well as the late Dr. James Luetjen and former president Joe Howell, who entrusted him with the job as a 24-year-old and recent graduate of Central. This year, Pat enters his 34th season as the head coach of the Eagles softball team with a career record of 1,028-581-2 and as the third-winningest active coach in the NAIA. He is also the winningest coach in conference history, reaching the milestone in April 2015 after a win over Evangel. Reardon secured his 1,000th career victory in March with a 5-2 win over Williams Baptist in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. With the win, he became just the fourth coach in NAIA softball history to reach 1,000 career victories. A 13-time Heart of America Athlete Conference Softball Coach of the Year honoree, Reardon has guided Central Methodist to 40-plus wins in seven of the last nine seasons. For their efforts, he and his staff have been named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association NAIA Midwest Region Coaching Staff of the Year eight times. Since taking over the program in 1993, Reardon has led the team to 11 Heart Regular Season Championships, eight Heart Tournament Championships, and five trips to the NAIA World Series (2012, 2015, 2023, 2024 & 2025). He has coached 47 All-Americans and numerous Heart All-Conference selections. Additionally, Reardon’s teams are among the best in the country academically, routinely being recognized by the National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association as an AllAcademic Team. For his efforts as a coach, Reardon was inducted into the Central
Methodist Hairston Hall of Fame in 2012. Central Methodist has been home to Reardon since 1986, when he arrived on campus as a student and soccer player. He earned four letters as a member of the soccer program and also earned three letters competing in baseball. On the pitch, Reardon earned All-Conference and All-District honors. Today, he still holds the program record for career goals scored with 39. Upon graduating with a degree in business administration in 1990, Reardon entered the coaching realm, spending 12 seasons as the head women’s soccer coach at Central Methodist while also beginning his historic tenure as head softball coach. He also spent one season coaching both men’s and women’s tennis, as well as one season coaching men’s soccer in the early 1990s. Alongside his son, Gene Reardon enters his 21st season as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator in 2025-26. Gene was recognized in 2015 and 2019 as the Assistant Coach of the Year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). He was inducted into the Central Methodist Hairston Hall of Fame in 2021-22. Gene is a retired senior executive of the Department of Defense (DOD), where, as the Auditor General of the Army, he led an organization of more than 800 auditors. He also served as the Acting Principal Deputy Inspector General for the DOD. Coach Gene is a graduate of Washburn University, where he earned an accounting degree and lettered four years in baseball. In his senior year, he received All-American honors for baseball. He has a master’s in public administration from the University of Oklahoma and is a licensed CPA in the state of Virginia.
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Sports Wrap-up
Volleyball
The Central Methodist volleyball program capped off another successful season under seventh-year head coach Coleman Lee. CMU finished with an impressive 23-8 overall record, including a 13-5 mark in the Heart of America Athletic Conference and a berth in the conference tournament. Central was ranked as high as No. 25 in the NAIA Volleyball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll and competed with several opponents featured in the national rankings over the course of the season, including Park, Columbia College, Benedictine, Grand View, MidAmerica Nazarene, and No. 19 Missouri Baptist. Several Eagles earned Heart of America All-Conference honors, highlighted by first-team selection Joana Milho, second-team honorees Luciana Araujo and Martina Gonzato, and third-team picks Hailey Dreier and Summer Hake. It marks the eighth consecutive season that Central Methodist has placed at least five players on all-conference teams. Milho added another milestone to her career on October 29 against Columbia College, reaching 1,000 career kills, becoming just the fourth known player in program history to achieve the mark. Hake received additional recognition when she was named Heart of America Women’s Volleyball Defender of the Week on November 3 by the conference office. In addition to their success on the court, the Eagles also excelled academically, with nine members of the squad earning Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors and the trio of Milho, Dreier, and Hake earning CSC Academic AllDistrict honors from College Sports Communicators. The Eagles concluded their season with a 3-1 loss to Park in the Heart Tournament Quarterfinals on November 8.
Book on 1975 Baseball Team Released
The historic season of the 1975 Central Methodist Eagles has been immortalized in a new book by DeWayne Mason, available now on Amazon. Baseball’s Greatest Miracle tells the story of Coach Steve Phipps and the Eagle baseball team’s historic comeback for a conference title. Find out more at the QR code and look for a story in the upcoming Talon.
24 The Talon | Fall 2025
Joana Milho
Sports Wrap-up
Men’s Soccer
The Central Methodist men’s soccer team, led by Coach Adam Galla ‘11, went 8-6-5 this season. They finished with a 5-4-4 record in arguably the toughest men’s soccer conference in
Pelayo Suarez
NAIA, the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Their season ended in the quarterfinal round of the Heart Conference Tournament. The Eagles produced a 6-0-2 streak in the middle of the season, including three top-25 wins and a tie against the No. 5 team in the nation, William Penn. During this streak, sophomore defender Rimon Beyene earned NAIA National Defensive Player of the Week honors after anchoring the defense in two top-25 upsets, and junior Pelayo Suarez was named Heart Offensive Player of the Week after the team’s upset win over No. 13 Grand View. At the end of the season, sophomore Giulian Medaglia and senior Koen Schimmel earned Heart Second Team All-Conference honors. Additionally, the program earned 13 NAIA Scholar-Athlete recognitions, and Beyene, Giulian Medaglia, Niccolo Cabras, Antoine Hurel, Vincent Stegmiller, and Aidan Pinto were named CSC Academic All-District selections by College Sports Communicators.
Mariana Barreto
Women’s Soccer
The CMU women’s soccer team, led by Coach Dan Schmidlin, made its ninth consecutive trip to the NAIA National Tournament and won its seventh Heart of America Athletic Conference regular season title in the last nine years. The team’s season concluded in the second round of the NAIA National Tournament with a 16-3-2 overall record. After finishing conference play with an impressive 12-0-1 record, Schmidlin was named the Heart Coach of the Year for the fifth time in his career, and the Eagles took home three of the top conference awards along with seven All-Conference spots. Junior Mariana Barreto was named both Heart Co-Player of the Year and Heart Offensive Player of the Year, and transfer Rieke Protze was tabbed Newcomer of the Year. Barreto and Protze were joined on the Heart First Team by Amber Bennett, Nerea Munoz, and Jenna Brouwer. Sara Garcia and Luisa Schaupp earned Second-Team honors. One of the biggest highlights of the season was Schmidlin’s 300th career win as a soccer coach at CMU and his 250th as head coach of the women’s team. The milestone occurred during the conference tournament, when the Eagles defeated Benedictine 4-2 in the semifinals on November 8 at Davis Field. Academically, the program produced 14 NAIA Scholar Athletes, the most of any fall program at CMU. Additionally, Irene Ruiz, Protze, Barreto, Maja Henriksen, Munoz, and Schaupp each earned CSC Academic All-
District honors from College Sports Communicators.
Fall 2025 | The Talon 25
Sports Wrap-up
Football
Caleb Justice
The Central Methodist football program finished the 2025 season with a 3-8 overall record and a 2-4 mark in Heart South Division play. After a rough 38-6 home loss to William Penn in early September, things turned around when CMU picked up a much-needed road win at St. Ambrose by a score of 38-20 on September 13. It was the program’s first road victory since 2023. The Eagles picked up an additional win in September with a 52-24 road win over William Woods. CMU closed the season with a strong 34-21 victory over Missouri Valley College on November 15 on Senior Day. During the season, Caleb Justice was named the Heart Special Teams Player of the Week twice,
while Derrick Kelley Jr. and Ashton Fowler each took home Heart Defensive Player of the Week honors during the season. Eight Eagles earned Heart South Division All-Conference honors, including Treyvion Hourel Jr. (first team defense), Dawan Lomax (second team offense), Quentin Jackson (second team offense), Justice (second team defense), Fowler (second team defense), Zyon Slade (honorable mention), Jonathin Castillo (honorable mention), and Clint Chamley (honorable mention).
Men’s and Women’s Cross Country The men’s and women’s cross country teams took part in four meets during the regular season in preparation for the Heart of America Conference Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in early November. The women’s best regular-season finish came with a third-place standing at the Great River Open in late August in Canton, Mo. Central saw two of its runners finish in the top 10 of the 4K, led by junior Lili-Rose Breheret, who crossed the line in a time of 15:06.48 to finish sixth. Ali Gutierrez placed eighth with a time of 15:30.16. At the conference meet, the men posted an 11th-place finish in the team standings. Dimitrios Gkantatsios was Central’s highest finisher, placing 46th with a time of 26:20.3. Randy Rojas Mendez followed, crossing the finish line in 26:48.3 for a 61st place standing. For the women, the Eagles finished 10th in the team standings. Gutierrez placed 36th in the 6K with a time of 23:23.8, CMU’s highest placer.
26 The Talon | Fall 2025
Lili-Rose Breheret
Mark Harbison ’76, Eric ’98 and Brandy Lembke ’99
MAKE A
DIFFERENCE
Make a planned gift to Central: · Leave a gift in your will or living trust to Central Methodist University. · Make Central Methodist University a beneficiary of a retirement plan or life insurance policy. · Recommend grants from your donor advised fund. · Give appreciated assets, such as stock.
When you inform Central of your intentions, you join a growing group of alumni and friends as part of Central’s Heritage Society.
sstegeman@centralmethodist.edu 573-690-2008
centralmethodist.myplannedgift.org/
Fall 2025 | The Talon 27
2025 Athletic Auction
28 The Talon | Fall 2025
T
he Central Methodist University department of athletics hosted the 9th annual Eagle Athletics Auction on Friday, July 18, inside Puckett Fieldhouse. The auction, which saw more than 250 supporters in attendance, raised a record-high $185,000, with all proceeds benefiting CMU student-athletes. Approximately 160 silent auction items and several big-ticket live items were featured, including a Red River Gorge Tour with the Drakes, a Chiefs jersey autographed by three-time Super Bowl Champion Patrick Mahomes, and a private gallery tour with Dr. Joe Geist. The night began with a celebration of the 2024-25 athletics season with a highlight video from the year. Guests also heard from several student-athletes across many sports who expressed their appreciation for the support and what it means to be an Eagle athlete at Central Methodist. The highlight of the evening included a surprise $50,000 donation to upgrade the scoreboards in Puckett Field House. The live auction was hosted by Dick Hutchison ‘83 and Dick Hutchison Auction and Real Estate LLC. Next year’s auction is slated for Friday, July 17. Opposite page Top: Judy and Roger Drake, Jay Jacobs, Tad Perry ’65 Middle: Ted House ’81. Nancy Peacock ’82 and Carolyn Perry ’66. Tristan Boyce. Bottom: Jim and Kay Marchbank. Barb Heikoff ’82, Joe Geist, and Tyler Pierson. This page, top: Jim ’87 and Cheryl Mather Middle: Elaine Henderson ’83, Susan Hardy Mills ’83. Rev. Angel Garcia, Youth and College-Age Ministry Coordinator, Missouri Conference of The United Methodist Church. Bottom: Kenny Anderson and Tevin Riddle. Below: Kirk Meyer ’83 and Larry Karnes III ’13
Fall 2025 | The Talon 29
Perry Receives President’s Medal
Former Board Chair Awarded for Service By Emily Kesel
O
n Friday, October 17, Central Methodist University celebrated one of its most influential alumni and board members as Dr. Robert “Tad” Perry ’65 was awarded the President’s Medal by Dr. Roger Drake. At the luncheon kicking off Homecoming Weekend, Perry was surprised with the award by the University president in front of his family, friends, and fellow board of trustees members. Given at the discretion of the president, the medal is awarded to individuals who have contributed significantly of their time, talent, or treasure to enhance the University and whose contributions have made an impact on the campus, students, faculty, and staff. “Central Methodist simply has no better friend than Tad Perry,” said Drake. “He loves this place. He bleeds green. He’s willing to work tirelessly on its behalf. He and [his wife] Carolyn ’66 participate in every venture, in every project, in every endeavor with Central and Fayette. Every time they are asked, they answer the call.” Indeed, Perry’s influence as the former chair of the board of trustees – a role he held from 2014 to 2021 – can be seen and felt across campus. Under his leadership, the Campaign for the Heart of Central raised $20 million for the construction of the Thogmorton Center for Allied Health and the renovation of Stedman Hall, among other key
30 The Talon | Fall 2025
projects. Perry was also at the helm when Central launched Digital U, the technology initiative that helped the University continue to thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has continued to serve on the board following his chairmanship. Tad and Carolyn are also the namesakes of the Perry Fellow Award, which honors one outstanding member of the CMU faculty every year and awards them with a stipend in recognition of their commitment to teaching and mentoring Central’s students. The couple resides in South Dakota, where Perry spent 15 years as CEO for the South Dakota Board of Regents after a 43-year career in higher education. Perry said he was “stunned” to receive the award at the luncheon, which was attended by previous President’s Medal recipients J.B. Waggoner ’91 and Whitney Kerr, as well as Barbara Alexander who represented her husband Fred Alexander, the 2021 recipient of the award. “Central is just a great place, and our job is to make it continue to be a great place for what’s coming ahead,” said Perry. “Thank you for letting me be part of this institution, and thank you for bestowing such an honor on me. I’m speechless.”
Tad ’65 and Caroyln Perry ’66 with 2025 Perry Fellow Award winner and athletic training professor Wade Welton
Welton Named 2025 Perry Fellow By Emily Kesel
W
hen Dr. Wade Welton was set to be announced as the 2025 Perry Fellow Award winner, it wasn’t a sure thing that he would be in attendance to learn about it at the September faculty meeting. As a professor for a program in the College of Graduate and Extended Studies (CGES), he doesn’t attend every faculty meeting held for the Fayette campus, so his fellow athletic training faculty – with advance knowledge of his award – tricked him into showing up. “They told me I needed to come speak on what we were doing with the new Watermark system, so I came over. It was a complete surprise,” Welton said of being announced as the latest to win the prestigious faculty fellowship. “It means a lot. If you look at all of those past winners, those are people that have made a difference. I think in my case, it’s a testimony as to what we’ve been able to accomplish as a program.” That program, athletic training, has certainly accomplished great things over Welton’s 33 years at Central. He came onto the staff in 1992 as the first full-time athletic trainer, then his journey continued down the teaching path despite his plans to move on from the job. Welton says he jokes about having a five-year plan: to stay and establish himself as a healthcare provider and then move on after five years. Instead, he’s stayed
and helped grow the program from a minor to a major, to eventually a nationally accredited program that now gives students a master’s level education and certification. While Welton’s plans and the program structure changed over the years, some of the things that make Central so unique are what has kept him coming back year after year – support from the board and senior staff, stateof-the-art facilities catering to students and faculty, and camaraderie between the staff. “I think that’s what resonated with me when I started looking outside at other opportunities,” he said. “We’ve had better staffing and really good administrative support. That’s not always the case. The grass isn’t always greener in those areas, and that’s probably what’s kept me here for so many years.” The staff camaraderie has especially been key in recent years, as Welton and the rest of the athletic training faculty – Dr. Kristan Erdmann and Dr. James Moore – have taken on “team teaching,” in which all three professors teach together in each class. “It resonates with students because everybody has a little different learning style,” Welton said. “We have different teaching styles, and so if one isn’t connecting, someone else can come in and talk about it, especially when we’re doing the flipped classroom where we’re focused more on case studies, problem
solving, labs, and hands-on applications.” The ability to take an outside-the-box approach to teaching like that comes in part from working now on the CGES side of the University with athletic training being a graduate-level program. But Welton and the AT faculty still take part in the extracurricular work that tends to make a Central education special. Outside of the classroom, the students and faculty stay connected not only through working with the Eagle athletic programs but also through events such as the Missouri Student Leadership and Educators Conference and the athletic training student organization. They travel together for clinicals and conferences, competitions and championships, all of which double as both learning and networking opportunities. “It’s always been normal for us to be with our students outside the classroom,” said Welton. “It’s good for our students to see us in action as healthcare providers because then it resonates with what we’re teaching in class.” The experiences inside and outside the classroom that Welton and the faculty have provided over the past few decades have indeed led Central graduates to impressive careers. Welton reported that seven CMU grads from the athletic training program are currently working for teams in Major League Baseball, while numerous others have gone on to careers at the high school and college levels. He’s also taught several students who now work in industrial settings, “taking the concept of sports medicine into the workplace.” “We’ve had a lot of really great students, and that’s what makes our program,” said Welton. “When they graduate and go on to brag on the program while they do really good things, our program looks good.” While it is Welton’s name alone that will go down on the 2025 Perry Fellow Award, he believes it’s the whole athletic training program that is being awarded, a culmination of decades of hard work and success. Indeed, he rarely spoke about himself in relation to the award, focusing instead on the “we” of the AT faculty as a whole. “Well, I think that’s our approach: it’s a team,” he concluded. “Even our students would say that athletic training is more about the team than just an individual person.” The Carolyn and Tad Perry Fellow Award goes annually to a faculty member who has demonstrated a genuine commitment to student experiences, growth, and achievement, beyond normal teaching and mentoring engagement.
Fall 2025 | The Talon 31
New professors joining the CMU faculty this year included, from left, Mason Crawford, Tim Koneval, Emily Luebbering, Chuck Moore ’91, Candy Marshall ’94, and Joseph Ozias.
Professors Added to CMU Faculty
A
s Central Methodist University welcomed both new and returning students to campus for the fall semester, new members of the faculty also came on board for the start of classes on August 18. Central brought in several new professors on a full-time basis, including multiple alumni. New to the faculty this year were alumni Candy Marshall ’94 and Chuck Moore ’91, as well as Mason Crawford, Tim Koneval, Emily Luebbering, and Joseph Ozias. A longtime teacher and guidance counselor at the high school level, 1994 Central graduate Candy Marshall stepped into the role of visiting assistant professor of psychology. She is teaching classes in developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, and health psychology, some of which take place in the T. Berry Hall classroom next door to where she met her husband (Alan Marshall ’91) in a philosophy class. Marshall says she is delighted to be teaching at her alma mater, where aside from her studies, she was involved as a member of the marching band, cheer team, Delta Pi Omega sorority, and an editor for the Ragout. She is happy to be to helping CMU students have the same well-rounded experience that she had. “Teaching is the only profession I have ever considered. I always knew I wanted to teach, and I cannot imagine doing anything else,” she said. “Teaching at CMU is literally my dream job! Walking around campus as a faculty member feels surreal and brings back so many great memories. I am so excited to be ‘home’ and can’t wait to meet my students.” Also returning to his alma mater as a member of the faculty is Chuck Moore, who was named as the new director of bands in May. In addition to his directing duties, Moore is teaching marching, concert, and jazz band in the fall, as well as acting as the faculty advisor for the student NAfME (National Association for Music Education) organization at CMU. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity of teaching and inspiring students,” he said at the start of the semester. “I am also excited to share the rich history and tradition of the Central band with current and future students.” Mason Crawford joined the faculty as an assistant professor of nursing and taught multiple courses for the program this semester. Crawford has been a practicing nurse for 15 years, working in bedside care, leadership, and quality improvement. He says he’s excited to
32 The Talon | Fall 2025
help his students connect classroom learning to real-world nursing. “Over the years, I’ve discovered how much I enjoy mentoring others and helping new nurses grow in both skill and confidence,” said Crawford. “That passion is what led me to the classroom, where I can help shape the next generation of nurses before they step into practice.” Joining the faculty as an associate professor of biology this fall was Tim Koneval, who teaches courses in biodiversity and animal behavior. A lifelong lover of the outdoors and wildlife, Koneval also has curatorial responsibilities for the Stephens Museum of Natural History, located on the first floor of Stedman Hall. “I have loved the outdoors and plants and animals for as long as I can remember, so biology was a natural fit for me,” he said. “[As a professor] I always enjoy getting to know the students, and as far as CMU specifically goes, I am looking forward to seeing what resources are available at the museum and nature areas.” Emily Luebbering began working with Central as an adjunct last fall but has since joined the faculty as a full-time professor in the occupational therapy assistant (OTA) program. She says her interest in OTA began while she was taking a health professions class and had the opportunity to shadow an occupational therapist. She’s looking forward to continuing to learn alongside her students. “I’m excited to see my returning students and get to know the incoming students to our OTA program,” said Lueberring. “I’m hoping to continue to learn more and more through teaching a variety of students and to better my teaching skills, as I am new to the profession.” Rounding out the new faculty for the semester is Joseph Ozias, who stepped into the role of assistant professor of English. Ozias, who says he was set on the professorial path by his own teachers at Ohio Dominican University, is teaching courses in literature and composition. “I am excited about many things this semester, but first and foremost I am looking forward to entering this community,” he said in August. “In the years since obtaining my bachelor’s degree, I have been longing for, and even sometimes chasing, the kind of campus experience I had as an undergrad: one in which you were surrounded by a smaller, tight-knit, and welcoming community. I can already tell that Central Methodist University is exactly that.”
FACULTY, STAFF AWARDS PRESENTED AT ANNUAL MEETING
T
he faculty and staff at Central Methodist University began the new academic year with a meeting on August 14, during which many individuals were recognized with awards and for their milestone years of service. Members of the senior staff gave updates and encouragement to the staff and faculty before recognition was given to the winners of the Omicron Delta Kappa awards. Voted on by Central students at the end of the spring semester, three faculty members and two staff members were named this year’s Gold Chalk Award winners. Among the faculty, Maryann Rustemeyer ’86 (associate professor of English and mathematics, director of the Center for Learning and Teaching), Dr. Terese Zidon (assistant professor of biology), and Jesse Bronson (assistant professor of criminal justice) were the awardees, while Savannah Beaman ’16 (director of residential life and retention) and Teresa Argent (assistant director of the Center for Learning and Teaching) were the staff award winners. Faculty and staff members who have reached milestone years of service to the University were also recognized, including:
40 YEARS
Julee Sherman - Vice President for Finance and Administration
35 YEARS
Maryann Rustemeyer ’86 - Associate Professor of English and Mathematics, Director of the Center for Learning and Teaching
30 YEARS
Chad Gaines - Vice President for Technology and Planning and Athletics
25 YEARS
Dr. John Porter - Professor of English
20 YEARS
Angela Cornelius - Nursing Professor David Gorton - St. Louis Site Coordinator
15 YEARS
Shelley Monnig - Business Services Special Project Coordinator Dr. Bill Sheehan ’84 - Executive Vice President Jeff Williams - Park Hills Regional Dean Jerri Carter ’98 - Graduate Operations Coordinator Dr. Kavita Hatwalkar - Professor of English Amy Royston ’13 - Coordinator of Gift Processing
10 YEARS
Brad Dixon ’07 - Vice President for Student Life Dr. Andrea Garner - Associate Professor of Nursing Jeff Koonce - Lake of the Ozarks Site Coordinator Dr. Ryan Woldruff - Associate Professor of English Diane Tigner - St. Louis Director of Student Success Dr. Jessica Brao - Associate Professor of Clinical Counseling, Director of MSCC program Pat Simpson - Maintenance Matt Sherman ’10 - Head Men’s Basketball Coach Levi Mueller - Housekeeping Amanda Colvin - CGES Admissions Coordinator Christine Carnes - Course Review Specialist Jane Bethel - Administrative Assistant Michael Hughes ’89 - Assistant Professor of Nursing Lynette Beeler - Administrative Assistant
5 YEARS
Trudy Steins - Regional Admission Representative Destiny Minor ’18 - Assistant Registrar Shayna Burchett ’13 - Associate Professor of Chemistry Tim Hickam - Housekeeping Katie Wooldridge - Counseling Center Director Barbara Cook - Assistant Professor of Nursing Rebecca Decker - Housekeeping Stasia Sherman - Director of Alumni Engagement Rachel Moore - Assistant Athletic Director, Director of Athletic Communication Alaina Mayfield - Assistant Professor of Education Josh Nickell - PTA Director of Clinical Education Boyd Railton - Maintenance Supervisor Rhonda Senor - CGES Billing Specialist Kenny Anderson - Head Cross Country/Track & Field Coach
Fall 2025 | The Talon 33
Campus Update
Foam party on move-in
Ecology class at Besgrove-Hodge Students
in
the
ecology
and
environmental science classes spent
Our newest Eagles kicked off their first night at college
time at the Besgrove-Hodge Wildlife
with the annual foam and glow party in the fall.
Sanctuary this fall, collecting data while the fields were still in bloom.
OTA & PTA backpack awareness
Central’s OTA and PTA programs hosted “Backpack Awareness” at Clark Middle
Chapel services livestreamed
School this semester, where CMU students and faculty taught younger students about
Central’s Tuesday morning Chapel services have been available
how their backpack weight affected their
to view on YouTube via livestream this semester, bringing the
bodies and how they can manage pain
experience of the Center for Faith and Service to everyone
caused by it. They also gave advice about
on campus and off. Services will continue to be streamed in spring.
34 The Talon | Fall 2025
youtube.com/@cmu_cfs
body posture and ways to make healthy adjustments.
Golf teams meet alumnus
James W. (JW) Devine ’73 spoke with the Central golf teams on September 15 about his years on the golf team. As a token of his appreciation to Central, he gave each player a sleeve of customized CMU golf balls.
Small business management
The small business management class took a trip to Fireside Bakes and Brews for class on September 4 to hear from the owner, Nichole Atkins.
The
students
heard
about the successes, setbacks, and experiences from the small business owner who operates right next to campus.
Criminal Justice trip to prison Central justice
Methodist’s
corrections
criminal
class
and
Pi Lambda Alpha toured the Missouri State Penitentiary this fall, and at the end of October, they toured a working facility for a hands-on experience of how the field of criminal justice has changed.
Fall 2025 | The Talon 35
Chicago
The Little Theatre kicked off its season with Chicago this semester, performing the “Roaring Twenties” musical from October 8 through 12. Dr. Mark Kelty was the show’s director.
The Velveteen Rabbit
The Central Methodist University Little Theatre performed The Velveteen Rabbit in front of local elementary students in November before hosting public
performances
November
15
and
on 16.
Arielle Prince ’25 served as the director for the performances.
36 The Talon | Fall 2025
Campus Update
SGA pumpkin painting
Students competed in pumpkin painting and decorating this fall. Designs were voted on by the student body, and the winning decorators received Amazon gift cards from the Student Government Association.
Food donation for break
Thanks to generous donations from the campus and local community, the office of global engagement was able to collect enough food for more than 90 students who stayed on campus over Thanksgiving break.
Turkey bowling
Students, faculty, and staff members at CMU enjoyed the annual Turkey Bowling event
just
before
Thanksgiving break, on November 19.
Fall 2025 | The Talon 37
Left: Chad Gaines, Dr. Rita Gulstad, Dr. Marianne and David Inman, with Julee Sherman pose for a photo at the celebration of Dr. Inman’s legacy 30 years after her arrival as Central’s president. Right: A captive audience enjoys a CMU Chorale performance.
30 Years of Inman Legacy Celebrated
T
he legacy of Dr. Marianne Inman, former Central Methodist University president, was celebrated this fall, as board members, alumni, friends, and other guests attended an event in her honor on November 19. Held at The Wesleyan in Georgetown, Texas, where Dr. Inman and her husband, David, reside, the CMU Chorale Singers gave a performance under the direction of Dr. Thomas Clark. Several speakers also shared memories of the Inman family’s legacy at Central and in Fayette.
“
“The 18 years that David and I spent at Central were unquestionably the high point of my life. And I give thanks daily for the forces that aligned some 30 years ago that led us to that place”
“ “
”
– Dr. Marianne Inman
“Marianne was not only our president at Central. Marianne transformed Central into a beacon for higher education throughout the state of Missouri and its environs.”
”“ ”
– Virginia Bergsten ’59
“Just know that your legacy lives on in every student, every building, every life that you’ve touched through your presidency.” – Dr. Robert ‘Tad’ Perry ’66
38 The Talon | Fall 2025
“
“In countless ways, as president of Central Methodist University, Marianne bore our burdens. She would be the first to say that she had great support . . . and I am confident that even in the hardest times she never thought of her work as a burden.”
”
– Janet Jacobs ’77
“Marianne poured her mind and, most importantly, her spirit into the institution that makes Central Methodist University today the wonderful place that it has become.”
”
– Earl Bates ’61
Choirs Spread Fire & Light in Fall Performances By Emily Kesel – Photos by Grace O’Neal
U
nder the leadership of Dr. Thomas Clark, director of choral activities, the Central Methodist University choirs performed on several different stages this semester, including at the event celebrating Dr. Marianne Inman and the 100th anniversary of the Missouri United Methodist Church in Columbia. The Conservatory Singers and the Chorale presented Fire & Light: Reflections on the Power of Fire and the Enduring Promise of Light first on September 28 at Linn Memorial United Methodist Church. Selections by the Conservatory Singers included Lloyd Pfautch’s Consecrate the Place and Day, Ryan Main’s Dies Irae, Moreten Lauridsen’s Sure on This Shining Night, and Frode Fjellheim’s Eatnemen Vuelie (Song of the Earth). The Chorale’s performance included Katerina Gimon’s Fire, Ola Gjeilo’s Northern Lights, Dolly Parton’s Light of a Clear Blue Morning, Craig Courtney’s Let There Be Light, and Elaine Hagenberg’s Splendor.
The choirs traveled to Columbia on October 20 for a special concert commemorating 100 years of the Missouri United Methodist Church, joining the Chancel Choir there in a performance of Grace by Mark Hayes in addition to their own program. Clark and the Chorale then made their way to Texas in November for a unique version of the fall choir tour. The choir took part in the legacy celebration in honor of the 30th anniversary of Dr. Inman’s induction as Central’s president. Several selections from the Fire & Light program were performed in front of Dr. Inman and her husband, David, along with many other current and former board of trustees members, alumni, friends, and family. Clark described the rest of the Texas trip as “unforgettable,” as the Chorale experienced many new places and made countless memories as a group. The students attended a professional production of Beauty and the Beast and gave two pop-up performances for audiences at Our
Lady’s Chapel at the University of the Incarnate Word and Mission San José. A particular highlight was the “once-in-a-lifetime” experience of holding a full choral performance inside Natural Bridge Caverns, where the Chorale presented a complete program in an underground chamber. Clark thanked CMU alumnus Dr. Charles Fisher ’83, who hosted the choir throughout its visit to San Antonio and treated the group to Texas barbecue at the Blue Bonnet Palace. “This semester has been filled with remarkable music-making, but what stands out most is the sense of community that has formed among our singers,” said Clark. “From historic missions to a full underground performance at Natural Bridge Caverns, the Chorale demonstrated not only artistic excellence but also genuine joy in making music together. It’s been a semester of growth, laughter, and unforgettable moments, the kind that remind us why we do what we do.”
Fall 2025 | The Talon 39
Students Attend Dinner with Bishop, Methodist Leaders
U
Central Hosts UNITE Camp for Third Year
C
entral Methodist University once again played host to hundreds of young students over the summer, as the Missouri Annual Conference’s UNITE youth conference was held over two weeks in July. Expanded to a second week for the first time ever, the event brought United Methodist middle and high schoolers to campus to participate in worship and learning through dozens of engaging activities. This year’s conference theme was “Encounter,” which encouraged students to remember that encounters with God can happen anywhere. Co-directors Angel Garcia and Jessica Sachs saw the event as a success, as students participated and helped lead at every stage of the conference. Central staff, faculty, and students participated as well, leading elective classes, giving campus tours, and doing everything possible to make the campus welcoming to the students and the conference. Next year’s youth conference, with a theme of “In Tension,” is scheduled for July 11-15 and 20-24 of 2026.
40 The Talon | Fall 2025
nited Methodist scholars attending Central Methodist University were invited this fall to partake in a dinner and discussion with Bishop Robert Farr and other church leadership on September 17. Farr, who serves on the board of trustees for CMU, was joined by CMU President Roger Drake and several staff members from the Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church and the Saint Paul School of Theology. All the guests participated in discussions with students in attendance, strengthening the Grace O’Neal and Bishop Robert Farr connections between Central students and United Methodist leadership. Rev. Angel Garcia, youth and college-age ministry coordinator for the Conference, led the discussion as emcee and encouraged students to treat the Conference as a resource for their academic and professional Rev. Mona Candea Brandon Prince Jr. careers. Bishop Farr echoed the Jenne also introduced senior biology major sentiment and emphasized the desire to build Mechelle Vermillion, who shared a reflection on relationships through events like the dinner. her ecological research project in Puerto Rico, “[We want you] to know that we are walking which she will conduct through the Missouri beside you and supporting you, and we are International Conference. Vermillion’s mission to interested in who you are,” Farr told the students, Puerto Rico will provide useful research and work who have all received scholarships through the on micro-fragmentation tanks to help with coral Dollars for Scholars program put on by the Church. restoration. “We are interested in you being in our Church “We are eager to see how you will enrich in any way that works best for you and makes a and transform our world,” Jenne told Walker, difference to the world.” Vermillion, and the other students gathered, “and I After a dinner provided by the Fresh Ideas staff, encourage you to reflect not only on your gifts, but visitors heard from Rev. Kim Jenne, the director of also on that deeper sense of calling that might be connectional ministries for the Missouri Annual stirring inside you.” Conference. Jenne took time to remind the students Students in attendance also heard from Rev. that “vocation is more than just what you do.” Mona Candea, associate director of next generation “You’re not here just to pick up a degree, a piece ministries for the Conference, and Courtney of paper, but to discover the unique person that Lemke, admissions recruiter for Saint Paul’s. Both God is calling you to be,” she said. “It is our hope encouraged the scholars to explore their passions and prayer in the Missouri Annual Conference that and potential to find the place for them and to reach your time here at Central Methodist is the beginning out if they needed any help in getting there. of that journey, the beginning of discovering who The evening concluded with open discussions you are.” amongst the tables, and bags of swag items were Jenne then introduced one of the students given to the Central students in appreciation of who is on that same journey, Tyrell “T.J.” Walker, their attendance and scholarship, but it was the who interned at the Conference over the summer conversation and connections forged that truly and worked at New Awakening Church in St. made the night special. Louis. Walker, a business administration major To learn more about Saint Paul’s School of at Central, also joined the Missouri Conference’s Theology, visit https://www.spst.edu/, and to Brian Valentine and other interns on a pilgrimage connect with the Missouri Conference, visit https:// in Spain. www.moumethodist.org/.
Rev. Jon Thompson, CMU student Mooreblessing Danda
Bishop Robert Farr, Rev. Nate Berneking Bottom row: Rev. Adrienne Denson Ewell, Sophia Burks ’25, Rev. Dr. Mi Hyeon Lee, Rev. Mary Rodgers, Bishop Robert Farr. Second row: Mechelle Vermillion ‘26, Rev. Kim Jenne, Rev. Jon. Thompson, Rev. Nate Berneking. Third row: Rev. Melissa Dodd, Rev. Mona Candea, Rev. Robin Bell, Rev. Dr. Lucas Endicott, Eddie Erwin. Fourth row: Rev. Mark Sheets, Rev. Catherine Turner, and Rev. Bill O’Neal.
Missouri Conference Cabinet Visits Central Methodist Campus
C
entral Methodist University welcomed the Missouri Conference Cabinet to Fayette this fall, as the group held its November session on campus on Thursday, November 21. The day fostered a deeper connection between the two organizations and highlighted the cabinet’s ongoing commitment to higher education in the state. “Central Methodist University is a vital part of our mission field,” said Bishop Robert Farr. “Our partnership is about more than dollars. It’s about investing in students and strengthening connections that bless the communities we serve in Missouri and beyond.” Rev. Bill O’Neal, major gift officer for CMU and pastor of the Linn Memorial United Methodist Church, organized a day full of activities for the visiting cabinet members to provide a look at campus life. The cabinet began the visit by having
lunch with students and staff in the Inman Student Center, then visited the Central Museum of History before going on a campus tour led by Sofia Burks ’24, graduate assistant for the Center of Faith and Service. Visiting members also enjoyed a tour of the exhibit at the Ashby-Hodge Gallery of American Art and spent time in a marine biology class with Professor Greg Thurmon ’77, as well as in the nursing simulation lab with Professor Barbara Cook. Wrapping up on-campus activities, the group met with a number of international students for a global connection panel. The cabinet’s visit to Fayette ended with dinner at Lafayette on the Square, where members reflected about the day over a Thanksgiving meal. Central Methodist and the Missouri Conference Cabinet remain committed to their shared mission of education as a ministry of transformation.
Rev. Catherine Turner
Ashley S. Kambizi , Oshin Shrestha, and Noble Yiga
Fall 2025 | The Talon 41
CMU ACADEMIC LECTURES 2025-26 By Emily Kesel
C
entral Methodist University hosted two of its annual academic lectures this fall, welcoming guest speakers for the Gaddis Lecture and the Geist-Yancey Lecture in October and November, respectively. Remaining lectures on the calendar will take place in the spring semester. Read on for more information on the speakers and their topics of discussion and find out more online at https://www.centralmethodist. edu/alumni/lectures.html. Merril E. Gaddis Memorial Lecture Central graduate Lauran Janssen ’12 was this year’s speaker for the Gaddis Lecture, held on October 8. Janssen, project management lead at Woodruff Communications, gave a talk titled, “Project Manage My Life: The Importance of Prioritizing.” Janssen majored in communication and minored in marketing and business. While at CMU she was involved in Sigma Pi Alpha, spirit squad, Greek council, newspaper, and radio. As a senior, she was the 2012 recipient of the Communication Department Student Media Award. Janssen currently lives in Columbia with her husband, Chris – a 2009 graduate of CMU & 2018 Gaddis Lecture speaker – and their two daughters, Evelyn and Elaina.
42 The Talon | Fall 2025
Geist-Yancey Lecture on the Arts The fourth annual Geist-Yancey Lecture was given by Dr. Henry Adams on November 6. The professor and author spoke on Missouri artist Thomas Hart Benton in a lecture titled, “Hillbilly Rube or Renaissance Man? Conflicting Views of Thomas Hart Benton.” Adams is a leading scholar on Benton, with four books published about the artist and a multitude of other writings to his name. He also worked with filmmaker Ken Burns to produce a documentary about Benton for PBS. Adams currently serves as Ruth Coulter Heede Professor of Art History at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Harold W. Sunoo World Peace Lecture The 2026 Dr. Harold W. Sunoo World Peace Lecture will take place on Wednesday, February 4, as Central welcomes Dr. Ambereen Sleemi to campus. Sleemi is a surgeon and the executive director for International Medical Response, an international health non-profit committed to partnerships that increase health capacity globally. Gil and Ruth Fleer Lecture Series Dr. Scott Paeth is slated as the speaker for the 2026 Gil and Ruth Fleer Lecture. Paeth, a professor
of religious studies and peace, justice, and conflict studies at DePaul University, will speak on “Public Theology and Democratic Pluralism” on March 25. Dr. Thomas A. Perry Faith & Science Lecture Rounding out the lecture series for the year will be Dr. Mark Y.A. Davies as the Perry lecturer for 2026. Davies is the Wimberly Professor of Social and Ecological Ethics and director of the World House Institute for Social and Ecological Responsibility at Oklahoma City University. His lecture will take place on April 21.
Left: Portrait of Thomas Hart Benton, oil painting by Vincent Campanella Right: Artworks in the sculpture garden outside Classic Hall are wrapped in the style of international artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude.
Benton Works Highlight Fall at Ashby-Hodge
T
he work and life of Missouri artist Thomas Hart Benton were central to the offerings at the AshbyHodge Gallery of American Art this fall, as the main exhibit for the semester featured works by Benton and his students, and the fourth Geist-Yancey Lecture on the arts was given by Benton scholar Henry Adams on November 6. Benton’s own art was on display in the Bingham Gallery from August 31 to November 20. A painter and muralist known for being a leader of the Regionalist movement, Benton’s work is strongly tied to the American Midwest. His commissioned mural for the Missouri State Capitol, titled A Social History of Missouri, is considered one of his greatest works. Alongside Benton’s own work, the show featured a room full of his students’ work in the Yancey Gallery. Nine artists who studied under Benton had works on display, including Fayette native Roger Medearis, Robert MacDonald Graham Jr., Jackson Lee Nesbitt, Charles Pollock, Earl Bennett, William Kautzman, Duard Marshall, Daniel Celentano, and William McKim. The show was the first of its kind at the Ashby-Hodge Gallery since 1999, when Benton and his students were last featured together. In November, author and professor Henry Adams visited the CMU campus and the Missouri capitol as part of his trip to give the Geisty-Yancey Lecture. Adams delivered a talk titled “Hillbilly Rube or Renaissance Man? Conflicting Views of Thomas Hart Benton” in front of a crowd in the Inman Lecture Hall. Adams is a graduate of Harvard College
and received his M.A. and PhD. from Yale, The story of the show begins decades where he received the Frances Blanshard back, when the already well-known artist Prize for the best doctoral dissertation in art couple answered the call for creative pitches history. He is the author of more than 450 for public art displays in Kansas City. Along publications exploring American art from the with scores of volunteer workers, Christo and 17th century to the present day, including Jeanne-Claude covered more than two miles four books about Thomas Hart Benton. of walkways and paths in Loose Park with In addition to the Benton aspect of the nylon fabric in the fall of 1978. The duo – who show, the fall exhibit also featured recent passed away in 2020 and 2009, respectively works by former University of Missouri art – were known for their large-scale outdoor department chair Larry Kantner. Kantner’s projects in which monuments and natural work has been exhibited internationally landmarks were wrapped in fabric. and in numerous regional and local exhibits A portion of the fabric from the Wrapped across the United States, including a previous Walk Ways project in Loose Park eventually show at the Ashby-Hodge Gallery in 1997. made its way to Dr. Joe Geist and the AshbyKantner’s style has Hodge Gallery, and earlier changed quite a bit since this year the registrar and the ’97 show. Where co-founder of the Gallery his earlier work focused reached out to Fisher to on painting singular offer her the relic. What figures “expressed in a followed was a moment of very painterly style,” his what Fisher calls “ecstatic newer art incorporates a inspiration,” and the variety of media, usually plans for the show soon in a small space. The work began. included in the fall show Alongside Geist and exhibits Kantner’s passion Gallery curator Tyler through his collages, Pierson, Fisher eventually Faces, Collage, Mixed Media, drawings, paintings, worked out a plan Larry Kantner and mixed media. It also to honor Christo and showcases his interest in the phenomenon of Jeanne-Claude’s work with the wrapping pareidolia, or finding patterns in chaos. of the sculptures outside Classic Hall. The Finally, the Gallery worked with Fayette project coincided with the celebration of resident Patricia Fisher to present a unique both Christo’s and Jeanne-Claude’s 90th art show in honor of international artists birthdays and was one of numerous exhibits Christo and Jeanne-Claude. The sculptures this year celebrating alongside the Christo outside Classic Hall were artistically wrapped and Jeanne-Claude Foundation. and on display on campus from November 10 through 24.
Fall 2025 | The Talon 43
In Memoriam
Dr. John Jefferson Carter
J
ohn Jefferson Carter, beloved husband, father, grandfather, professor, and mentor, passed away on August 17, 2025, at the age of 70. Carter was born on April 28, 1955, in Wheaton, Missouri, to Donna Clark and John Carter. He graduated from Missouri Military Academy in 1973 and went on to earn his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Missouri– Columbia in 1977. He received his M.A. in Political Science from the University of Central Missouri (then CMSU) in 1978 and his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Missouri–Columbia in 1981. Carter met the love of his life, Jerri, in the summer of 1975, while both were working as camp counselors at Camp Galilee in El Dorado Springs, Mo. Despite the miles between them, they maintained a close relationship during their college years—John at Mizzou and Jerri at CMSU. They married in 1978 in Creighton, Mo. and began their life together in married student housing in Columbia before both accepted teaching positions in Fayette. In 1980, Dr. Carter joined the faculty at Central Methodist University as a professor of political science, beginning what would become a remarkable 44-year career. He retired in May 2024, having shaped the lives of generations of students. Over the course of his tenure, he authored several books, chaired the Social Sciences Division, directed the university’s graduate program,
44 The Talon | Fall 2025
advised pre-law students, and served as a sponsor for academic and social fraternities. Known for his high standards and deep care for student growth, Carter was a demanding yet inspirational teacher who challenged his students to think critically and independently. Beyond the classroom, Carter was a passionate reader, a chess and card player, a lifelong follower of politics, and an avid pet lover who enjoyed walking his dogs around the neighborhood, rain or shine. He loved cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals, Mizzou and CMU athletics, and the Kansas City Chiefs. He found great joy in dining with friends at Emmett’s, attending his daughter Liz’s many activities, and spending time with his cherished grandsons, Alex and Gus. Carter was preceded in death by his mother, Donna Blair (née Clark), and his stepfather, Alfred Blair. He is survived by his devoted wife of 47 years, Jerri; his daughter, Elizabeth Carter Geist ’05, and her husband Gregory; his grandsons, Alexander and August; his siblings, Laura Blair ’86, Alfred Blair Jr., and Julie Diaz; and several nieces and nephews. A celebration of life honoring Dr. Carter was held on October 17 at Linn Memorial UMC, with Rev. Bill O’Neal officiating. Dr. Carter will be remembered not only for his intellect and dedication to teaching but for his unwavering loyalty, steadfast support of those he loved, and enduring devotion to his family. His impact will be felt for generations.
In Memoriam
Dr. Roger Lembke
D
r. Roger Roy Lembke, 85, of Fayette, Mo., passed away peacefully at The Lodge in Fayette on August 24,
2025. Lembke was born on April 24, 1940, in Elkader, Iowa, the son of the late Roy and Hattie (Glawe) Lembke. He was one of two children. He attended a one-room schoolhouse for his elementary years and then graduated with the class of 1958 from Elkader High School in Elkader, Iowa. Following high school, Lembke began what would become a long and accomplished academic career. He earned his undergraduate degrees in mathematics and chemistry from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa; an M.S. in chemistry from the University of Nebraska– Lincoln; and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich. While at Wayne State University, Lembke was a National Science Foundation Faculty Fellow. On July 5, 1969, he married Linda Oestreicher in Webster Groves, Mo. Together they shared more than 50 years of love, companionship, and mutual respect. Linda, also a professor at CMU, was a steadfast partner in both his personal and professional life. Dr. Lembke joined Central Methodist University in 1976, where he taught chemistry and served as chair of the science division. His expertise, passion for teaching, and commitment to students made him a respected and valued member of the faculty. In 1983, recognizing the growing importance of computer science, Lembke attended
a summer program at the University of Evansville in Indiana, earning a Master of Science in Computer Science Education. He then spearheaded the development of CMU’s computer science program. In 1999, he was named vice president of information services, a role he held until 2001. During his final four years at CMU, he returned to teaching chemistry courses. After nearly 30 years of dedicated service, he retired in 2005 and was honored with the title of Professor Emeritus. His legacy of scholarship, leadership, and mentorship continues to inspire colleagues and former students. Lembke was also deeply involved in the Fayette community. He was a longtime, active member of the Fayette Rotary Club, serving as president in the past and as the club’s executive secretary and webmaster at the time of his death. He was a devoted member of Linn Memorial United Methodist Church and was on the Howard County Water Board for several years. He used his computer expertise to assist the Fayette Public Library when it first transitioned to computers, volunteered with youth baseball, and gave generously of his time and talents. Lembke also enjoyed spending time with his family, tending his yard and garden, and playing tennis and golf. He and Linda loved traveling and were fortunate to explore many countries as well as most of the fifty states together. They also enjoyed cheering their sons and grandchildren in sporting and musical events. Survivors include his wife, Linda Lembke,
Dr. Kathryn “Taffy” Wallace
D
r. Kathryn Wallace, affectionately known as “Taffy” to her friends and family, was born July 15, 1941, in Bastrop, Texas, the daughter of A.W. and Claudia (Smiddy) Young. She passed away at her home in Fayette on August 28, 2025 at the age of 84. Wallace graduated from Smithville High School in Texas, attended Abilene Christian College, and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BA in
French. She then went on to earn a PhD in French from Vanderbilt University. Wallace was a French professor at the University of Missouri, Stephens College, and later at Central Methodist University. She taught at CMU from 1995 to 2004, when she retired. She had married James K. Wallace on December 22, 1965, in McLean, Va. The couple enjoyed 59 years of marriage until James’s death on August 31, 2024. Wallace was a member of PEO in Fayette
of Fayette; four sons, Alan (Lora) Glenn of Elkader, Iowa, Dale Glenn of Rockwell, Iowa, Todd (Alida) Glenn of Lutz, Fla., and Eric (Brandy) Lembke of Fayette; seven grandchildren, Josh Lembke, Kristy Glenn, James (May) Glenn, Alyssa Glenn, Nicholas Lembke, Dillan Lembke, and Leah Lembke; two great-grandchildren, Hanalei and Katana; and his sister, Linda (Sam) Houk of Urbana, Ill. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Mark Lembke. A celebration of Dr. Lembke’s life was held on August 30 at Linn Memorial United Methodist Church in Fayette, with Rev. Bill O’Neal officiating.
for a number of years. She is survived by a brother, John Young; niece, Sydney Kornman; and nephews, Lane Kornman, Andrew Young, Derek Young, and John Kornman. In addition to her husband and parents, Taffy was preceded in death by a sister, Linda Kornman. At her request, a memorial service at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Fayette was held on October 19, 2025.
Fall 2025 | The Talon 45
In Memoriam
Elizabeth “Betty” McIntosh
F
ayette resident and former CMU educator Betty McIntosh, age 99, passed away peacefully October 4, 2025, at Glasgow Gardens care facility. Elizabeth Jeanette McIntosh, affectionately known as “Betty” to her family and friends, was born September 26, 1926, in Lowndes, Mo. She was one of six children born to the late Elmer Ernest and Mildred (Haddock) Dunn. She attended and graduated from the Lab School in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Her primary focus in her education was in business. McIntosh earned her undergrad degree from Southeast Missouri State University. She received her master’s degree in business from the University of Missouri. During the summer of 1947, she married Harold Spickelmier. He preceded her in death on March 20, 1955. On June 16, 1974, Betty
married William “Bill” McIntosh at Linn Memorial United Methodist Church. The couple enjoyed over 51 years of marriage. McIntosh started her career in education at Chaffee High School in Chaffee, Mo., where she taught business for 12 years. She then started what would be a 25-year career teaching business and accounting at Central Methodist University. She truly enjoyed her time at CMU as an educator and had a lasting impact on all the students she had the pleasure of teaching throughout the years. McIntosh held memberships with chapter AU of PEO and Delta Kappa Gamma. She was an active member of Linn Memorial UMC. For 12 years, she was the appointed secretary for the annual Missouri West Conference of the United Methodist Church. In her spare time, McIntosh enjoyed swimming and partaking in water aerobics classes for many years, and on her 90th birthday spent an hour in the pool. She volunteered as a docent for the Ashby Hodge Gallery at CMU. She was a great cook, loved to read and do yard work. She also enjoyed traveling with her husband, Bill. Their favorite trip was to New England in the fall, where they enjoyed sightseeing the autumn colors. One of Betty’s favorite things to do post-retirement was going and listening to the first graders read once a week at Daly Elementary School. Survivors include her husband, Bill McIntosh, of Fayette; two grandchildren, Laura and Andrew Marble; two great-grandchildren, Emma and Neill Marble; and a son-in-law, Rev. Max Marble ’71. In addition to her first husband and parents, McIntosh was preceded in death by her daughter, Sally Elizabeth (Spickelmier) Marble ’71, and her five siblings, Berneice Dunn, Virginia DiFrank, Ivan Dunn, Lyman Dunn, and Helen Trantham. Joseph Bert Stevenson ’54 of Canton,
1950s
Marjorie Caldwell Bottermuller ’50 of Chesterfield, Mo. died Sep. 12, 2024.
Janet Jacobs Gooding ’51 of Scottsdale, Ariz. died Mar. 17, 2025.
Elroy H. Hines ’52 of Lee’s Summit, Mo. died Oct. 14, 2025.
Virgil Keith Howe ’53 of Hays, Kan. died May 27, 2024.
Joy Elaine Little ’54 of Marshall, Mo. died Sep. 27, 2025.
46 The Talon | Fall 2025
Mo. died Nov. 8, 2025.
Jane Ellen Byrd ’56 of Kirksville, Mo. died May 17, 2025.
Carol A. Matkin Martinez ’56 of
Providence, R.I. died July 29, 2025.
Shirley Ann Hammond Moore ’56 of Liberty, Mo. died Aug. 6, 2025.
Ronald R. Day ’57 of Chesterfield, Mo.
died Aug. 26, 2024.
Beverly Olson Herbert ’57 of Festus, Mo. died Oct. 14, 2025.
Edward Louis Priess ’58 of St. Charles, Mo. died Aug. 14, 2024.
Nancy J. Evans Smith ’58 of Springfield, Mo. died July 27, 2025.
M. Louise Krohn Cary ’59 of Boonville, Mo. died Sep. 18, 2025.
Edward R. Close ’59 of Raymondville, Mo. died Oct. 24, 2025.
Gary L. Phillips ’59 of Evanston, Ill. died Jan. 16, 2024.
Edwin Yaeger ’59 of Marshall, Mo. died Oct. 1, 2025.
1960s
Maurice B. Graham ’60 of Clayton, Mo. died Sep. 9, 2025.
James L. Thrash Jr. ’60 of Phoenix, Ariz. died Jan. 17, 2024.
Anne Waugh Brown ’61 of Macon, Mo. died Sep. 22, 2025.
Laura E. Perry Massie ’62 of
Farmington, Mo. died Oct. 24, 2025.
Jeanette A. Williams ’62 of Asheville, N.C. died July 23, 2025.
Joyce E. Nicholas ’64 of Pickering, Mo. died Oct. 14, 2025.
Richard Harold Nielson ’65 of
Middletown, Md. died July 4, 2025.
Aubrey Gene Potter ’65 of Mexico, Mo. died Feb. 18, 2024.
Sondra K. Thompson Gilmore ’67 of Louisburg, Kan. died Jun. 17, 2025.
Roberto E. Benitez ’68 of Omaha, Neb. died Aug. 30, 2024.
1970s
Charlene H. McIntosh ’70 of Columbia, Mo. died Nov. 15, 2025.
Jerald Thomas Garnett ’72 of Gallatin, Mo. died Nov. 15, 2025.
James O. Hickam ’73 of Osage Beach, Mo. died Aug. 22, 2025.
Lynn Bernard Siemer ’73 of Taylorsville, N.C. died Nov. 2, 2025.
Richard L. Brockman ’75 of St. Charles, Mo. died Aug. 8, 2025.
In Memoriam Don L. Catlett ’77 of Columbia, Mo. died Sep. 30, 2025.
1980s
Kevin D. Bishop ’87 of Hillsboro, Mo. died Oct. 13, 2025.
1990s
Daniel Mark Ponder ’90 of Columbia,
HONOREES REPRESENTING NEW HALL OF SPONSORS SCHOLARSHIPS WERE CELEBRATED AT HOMECOMING 2025! The Dr. Roger and Dr. Linda Lembke Hall of Sponsors Scholarship
Created by Dr. Kay E. Knipschild ‘81
Mo. died Aug. 3, 2025.
The Hughes/Sebold Hall of Sponsors Scholarship
Robyn Sue Stangohr Sams ’93 of
Columbia, Mo. died Mar. 13, 2025. Greg Stafford Gaba Jr. ’96 of
Pictured with their first year’s recipient: Camilla Delgado with Debby and Earl Engelbrecht
Marshall, Mo. died June 14, 2025.
2000s
Alesia R. Wissman ’09 of Sedalia, Mo. died Sep. 30, 2025.
2010s
The Todd and Lynn Miner Hall of Sponsors Scholarship
Charles Robert Hult ’11 of Lake Ozark,
The Dr. Kendal Clark Hall of Sponsors Scholarship
Mo. died June 30, 2025.
2020s
Being created by the Class of 2002* Pictured: Clark Family
Samantha Jae Reid ’21 of Holt, Mo. died Oct. 23, 2025.
CMU Friends, Former Faculty and Staff
Sam Brand of Glasgow, Mo. died Sep. 6, 2025.
John J. Carter of Fayette, Mo. died Aug. 17, 2025.
H. Eddie Chew of Fayette, Mo. died July 9, 2025.
Roger R. Lembke of Fayette, Mo. died Aug. 24, 2025.
Elizabeth J. McIntosh of Fayette, Mo.
The Rev. Robert W. and Falba A. Core Memorial Scholarship Pictured with E. C. Walker ‘66
The Colonel William F. Sheehan Hall of Sponsors Scholarship*
Some of the Sheehan Family with contributing donors in attendance.
Created, but unable to attend the celebration:
Ronald P. Patterson of Crossville, Tenn.
The Richard L. and Karen Parker Hall of Sponsors Scholarship The Dodge Family Hall of Sponsors Scholarship
Joe Thompson of Glasgow, Mo. died
Hall of Sponsors Scholarships are one of the most prestigious awards presented to Central students. Students are recognized in the Hall of Sponsors Society upon their selection.
died Oct. 4, 2025.
died June 17, 2025. Sep. 17, 2025.
Kathryn Y. Wallace of Fayette, Mo. died Aug. 28, 2025.
Sharon K. Wasson of Sedalia, Mo. died
*Additional contributions can be added anytime. To donate or to inquire about criteria to establish a Hall of Sponsors Scholarship to honor your family or someone special in your life, please contact Susan Rampy Stegeman ‘84 at anytime. sstegeman@centralmethodist.edu or at 573-690-2008
Sep. 22, 2025.
Fall 2025 | The Talon 47
Alumni News & Notes A Note from the Alumni Board President Dear Eagle Alumni, Homecoming at Central Methodist University is always a reminder of everything that makes this place feel like home. This year’s celebration brought all the familiar joys, the parade around the Square filled with students and community members cheering shoulder-to-shoulder, the Alumni Awards honoring remarkable Eagles, the tailgate buzzing with laughter, class reunions spilling into every corner of campus, the marching band filling the air with music, and the football game that brought us all together under crisp fall skies. It was a weekend full of energy, tradition, and the kind of moments that stay with you long after you’ve left Fayette. As many of you know, this Homecoming was a meaningful one for me personally. After nine wonderful years on the board and four as president, my time with the Alumni Board of Directors has come to an end. Serving in this role has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. I’ve met incredible people, shared unforgettable memories, and witnessed the true heart of our alumni community; a heart that beats strong, year after year. Although my term is ending, my love for Central certainly is not. I’ll continue cheering, supporting, and showing up, just like this place has always shown up for me. Thank you for the honor of serving you. And thank you, CMU family, for making Homecoming, and every season, something worth celebrating. Once an Eagle, always an Eagle! With appreciation,
Julie Parrish, Class of 2005 President, Alumni Association Board of Directors
1960s
Pat Clark Tyrell ’63 published Every Day is a New Beginning, a stirring memoir that explores how the author found meaning renewal through Christ. Gerald Shannon ’69 was elected president of the Grapevine Texas Library Board.
1980s
Sue Jackson ’82 has earned her Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) designation through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners, completing the coursework in late 2024. This certification reflects advanced knowledge of Alzheimer’s and related dementias, equipping practitioners to deliver personcentered care, navigate behavioral complexities, and support both individuals and families. Sue also completed the Society for Human Resource Management’s Workplace Mental Health Certificate, an eight-part series designed to empower professionals in recognizing mental health concerns and fostering supportive workplace environments.
1990s
Mike Reynolds ‘90 published his children’s book titled Mommy, You Did It! in 2025. The book tells a story of a mother who achieved her goal of earning a diploma through an Excel Center, a specialized high school for adults. Reynolds is the director of one such school in Columbia, where students can earn a high school diploma and receive free child care while they attend. John Brown ’94 was recognized as “Florida’s Outstanding News Anchor” by the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists for 2025. He was also nominated for a pair
48 The Talon | Fall 2025
of Emmy Awards for his news anchoring and reporting over the past year. And he was recognized as the “2025 Best Local Author in Missouri” by Missouri Magazines. John is a 2023 CMU Distinguished Alumni recipient and a 2004 CMU Outstanding Young Alumni award recipient. Matthew C. Cordon ’94 was named a 2025-26 Baylor Fellow by the Baylor University Office of the Provost. This program recognizes Baylor faculty members “who exemplify excellence in teaching” and “advance [the] University’s commitment to transformational education.” He currently holds the position of the Judge A. Royce Stout Chair of Law and Director of Legal Writing at Baylor Law. James Horne ’95 is the sports editor for the Daily Journal out of Franklin, Ind. Melissa Carnell Duren ’96 is the first grade teacher with Daly Elementary School in Fayette.
2000s
Christa Good Bell ’02 was chosen as one of the four finalists for the Librarian of the Year Award by the Missouri Association of School Librarians. Whitney Howser Nolan ’06 is a legislative aide to Senator Robert Dover with the Nebraska legislature. David Hutchison ’07 is the chief development officer for St. Louis Public Radio, an NPR member station and a service of the University of Missouri-St. Louis. April (Steinman) Rustemeyer ’07 is the principal at Moreau Heights Elementary School in Jefferson City, Mo.
Alumni News & Notes Christina Shutt ‘08 is the co-author of Lincoln: The Life and Legacy that Defined a Nation in 100 Objects. Shutt, the executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, published the book in September along with co-author Dr. Ian Hunt.
2010s
Aaron O’ Laughlin ’11 is joining his father, Kent, to be the assistant football coach with North Shelby High School. Aaron is also the Marion County R-II School District principal. Chris Ebright ’11 is the head baseball coach with Blair Oaks High School. Caryn Jackson Jeffries ’13 and her husband, Micah, are the legal guardians of John (second grade) and Gabriel (fourth grade).
A number of alumni and friends celebrating women in athletics at Central gathered for a photo during Homecoming Weekend, including (front row L-R) Maribeth Block Frevert ’80, Lisa Adams ’80, Sue Feldkamp, Monica Thompson (Himmelberg) ‘78, Julie Jacobs Menees ’78, (second row) Nancy Walker Peacock ’82, Kim Stoll Caldwell ’82, Shirlee East ’77, Sarah Felgar Kuschel ’76, Kathleen Holmes Stroupe ’74, Chris ’84 and Tim Gambill ’82, (third row) Rob Caldwell ’84, Susan Rampy Stegeman ’84, Vicki Rees ’81, Janet Jackson ’82, Wendy ’87 and Bill Sheehan ’84, Linda Seidt (Connor) ’82, and Kristie Musik (Richards) ’82.
Geofrey Bilabaye ’15 graduated as a judge advocate from the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School in August. Angela Allphin ’16 is the executive director of Valley Hope, a rehabilitation center in Boonville, Mo. Joe Morris ’16 is a social studies teacher with Clark Middle School in Fayette. Ryan Weber ’16 serves as the athletic director at Steelville R-3 School District and is taking over the fall and spring baseball coach position. Andres Chalbaud ’17 has signed with the St. Louis Ambush soccer team.
This fall, Central Methodist University partnered with Compass Health Network to offer discounted tuition rates to employees and their spouses. Several CMU alumni who work at the Columbia location were on-hand for the signing event, where Provost Rita Gulstad spoke on the importance of the partnership for healthcare education in the area. Dr. Gulstad and Karen Cade of Compass signed the agreement on October 2. In attendance were, from left behind the table, Virginia Grzenia, Diane Colletta, Darla Young ’17, Melissa Bell-Englehart ’16, Anna Ingham ’08, Emily Day ’21, Lisa Montgomery, Shauna Dungan ’01, Erin Allee ’15, and Erica Jenkins.
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Alumni News & Notes Camden Levett ’17 is the assistant athletic director of game day operations with William Penn University. Chelsea McCormick ’18 is a nurse practitioner (FNP-C) specializing in advanced orthopedics.
2020s
Bailey Stevens Reichert ’21 joined the Brookfield Veterinary Clinic as a veterinarian. Emma Stone ’21 received the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses with Bothwell Regional Health Center.
Current members and MOKER alumni celebrated the 75th anniversary at Homecoming weekend
Aaron Aden ’21 is a nurse practitioner (FNP-C) with Poplar Bluff Medical Center. Hayden Hackman ’21 and Abbie Hale ’21 were married on June 24, 2025. Hunter Gilliam ’22 is the men’s and women’s head soccer coach with Crowder College.
Members of the class of ‘75 gathered together for a group picture at Homecoming weekend. Members of the class of ‘65 gathered together for a group picture outside Assembly Hall at Homecoming weekend.
Ky Streeter ’22 is the coordinator of media relations and creative design with Truman State University. Bryan Adams ’24 is the assistant men’s basketball coach with State Fair Community College. Abigail Jastal ’25 is a special education teacher with Clark Middle School in Fayette.
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50 The Talon | Fall 2025
Alumni Social
Joy ’83 and John Flanders
Matt ’10 and Jeff Sherman ’83 with Dustyn Yung ’13
Julie Parrish ’05 with Ashley ’01 and Lynne Angle
Mackenzie Hustead ’17 and Jasmine Stewart ’24
Mark ’76 and Rebecca Harbison ’77
Allen Marshall ’92, Jay ’86 and Deedee Shelton ’88, with Bill Sheehan ’84
Larry Anderson ’67 with Stacy ’08 and Garth Menees ’09
Candy Marshall ’94, Suzanne Drummond ’67, and Susan Donnelly ’70
Lonna Wilke ’89, Dori Waggoner ’92, and Jeff Arrigo ’89
Christmas Alumni Party – Fayette, MO
CMU alumni and friends gathered at Lafayette on the Square for the final alumni social of the calendar year on December 11.
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