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CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

SPRING 2021

e’re here to talk about the Spring 2021 semester, but it’s hard to contain our excitement for what’s ahead. As we continue to follow updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, students returning in the fall will find we’ve taken great strides in our return toward normal campus operations. They’ll find we’re ready to roar back with face-to-face classes, immersive academic experiences, a full slate of campus activities, the Japan Semester, football games and other athletic events, the opening of Lion Village … We could keep going, but let’s back up a moment. It’s hard to forget the record subzero temperatures experienced in February. (Fun fact: Our “Biology Pond” maintains a steady temperature of 62.6 degrees F thanks to it’s geothermal water source … though we’re by no means advocating taking a dip on a chilly day.) Despite the weather and pandemic-related challenges, our amazing students, faculty and staff kept the fires burning and gave us plenty of reasons to celebrate. We welcomed new faces, paid tribute to some of our outstanding graduates and alumni, and cheered on our student-athletes.

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In the following pages, you learn about the exciting new Global Leaders program set to debut this fall, as well as new academic programs in the College of Education and a new partnership with the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce and local school districts that will be an exciting addition to downtown Joplin. We check in on a project that will bring some color to the hill alongside Nixon Hall; learn about a student-led project examining local waterways for microplastics; sit down with Atiba Bradley, our new head football coach; and hear from ’92 grad Gary Vernon, who is heading up efforts to make NW Arkansas a destination spot for bicycle and mountain-bike enthusiasts. It’s always a pleasure to share our story with you, and we hope you enjoy this issue of Crossroads. If you have a story idea, news or comment on the stories, we want to hear from you. Drop us a line at crossroads@mssu.edu. Thanks for reading, and we’ll catch up with you again this fall! Editor Crossroads Magazine Missouri Southern State University

Dr. Dean Van Galen President

Dr. Brad Hodson Executive Vice President

Julie Wengert Interim Vice President for Student Affairs

Around Campus

Voices of Southern

Lost and Found

‘We had a story to tell’ Crossroads staffers look back on 2011 issue focused on Joplin tornado

Bound Together Dr. Michael Howarth, Dr. Joey Brown celebrate seventh wedding anniversary, book releases

Wait for the ‘pretty stuff’ Project converting hillside into habitat filled with native wildflowers

‘I’m thrilled it’s there’ First recipient of Annie Baxter Award donates bust to Spiva Library

Heather Lesmeister, Director Chloe McMain Scott Meeker Curtis Almeter Pat Nagel Brad Belk Megan Vest Jordan Coleman

Special Contributors Kevin Greim Lee Elliff Pound Meagan Adams Justin Maskus

Cori Reid Interim Director of Athletics

Crossroads Magazine is produced by the Office of University Relations and Marketing.

From the President

1977 graduate reunited with class ring

Dr. Paula Phillips Carson Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs Rob Yust Vice President for Business Affairs

COVER: Trailblazer Gary Vernon, ‘92, working to make NW Arkansas a biking destination

Alumni Update

College of Arts & Sciences

College of Business

College of Education

College of Health Sciences

40 Athletics Crossroads is produced three times a year and is distributed to more than 35,000 alumni.

Class Notes

46 Marriages 41

Lion Cubs

In Memoriam

Why I Give CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

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hope you enjoy this edition of Crossroads that highlights and celebrates some of the people and projects that make Missouri Southern a special place. Looking back, the past year has been one of historic challenge for all of us. Throughout the pandemic, the Missouri Southern community has demonstrated amazing commitment to our educational mission. Our faculty have innovated to educate students using flexible, alternative formats for learning, while showing great care for students’ well-being and success. Our staff have utilized new ways to provide services to our students, to keep our campus safe, and to support a positive campus culture. And, our students have shown extraordinary resiliency and grit. In fact, our first-to second-year retention rate for freshmen entering in fall 2019 was the highest in the past 13 years. Looking forward, we stand on the doorstep of great 6

opportunity. We are optimistic that the Fall 2021 semester will once again provide students with an engaging experience characterized by small classes, rich interactions with faculty, staff and peers, and a vibrant campus environment. We look forward to the return of campus events, including a full schedule for Lion athletics. We will renew our commitment to our university’s unique international mission, including celebrating the Japan-themed semester this fall. We will open a new 300-bed residence hall, Lion Village, in August, and welcome our first class of students to the new Global Leaders Program. The future of Missouri Southern will, of course, be impacted by state support, enrollment, charitable giving, and the strength of connection with Joplin and the region. All are important. In the end, however, people are most important of all. Truly, most great things are possible only when people work together. In thinking about our future, I am reminded of an African proverb: If you want to travel fast, travel alone. If you want to travel far, travel together. Together, we will face challenges and realize the tremendous opportunities in front of us, and we will travel far. With special gratitude to our alumni, friends, volunteer leaders, and all who believe in our mission — thank you for your support. Lions Together,

Dr. Dean Van Galen President, MSSU CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

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GLOBAL LEADERS PROGRAM TO LAUNCH THIS FALL Thanks in part to the generosity of a late Joplin Junior College graduate, Missouri Southern will introduce the new Global Leaders program this fall. Open to high-achieving first-time freshmen, the program will provide 50 students a year with special opportunities, including: Interaction with nationally (and globally) recognized executives in business, healthcare, politics, the military, education and non-profits; trips to corporate headquarters for exposure to leadership in action; dedicated learning community housing; access to exclusive service learning and networking opportunities. Each participant in the program will also have access to $4,000 in private funds that can be used toward international travel, leadership development, undergraduate research and travel to academic conferences. Students will be invited to apply based on a combination of ACT and GPA scores – selected from the “Premier” band of the new MOSO Merit Scholarships. The Global Leaders program will be funded entirely by

private gifts. Funding was launched thanks to a gift of $1 million from the late Joel Newby. A graduate of Joplin Junior College who died May 16, 2020, he expressed his desire to help students achieve their maximum potential despite their economic background. Ryan Orcutt was recently selected to serve as director of the new program. “It’s a brand new program, so I’m excited to start with something new and help build it from the ground up,” said Orcutt. “The global and leadership aspects are very appealing to me. We can ultimately help cultivate better global leadership through experiential learning and fieldbased experiences.”

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MSSU, SOUTHERN TO COLLABORATE ON LAUNCHPAD PROJECT Missouri Southern will collaborate with the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, the city of Joplin and area school districts to turn the former Joplin Public Library building into a learning and economic development hub. Dr. Dean Van Galen, president of MSSU, and Toby Teeter, chamber president, offered a recent presentation to the Joplin City Council to discuss the benefits of the LaunchPad project. “It would provide Missouri Southern with a downtown presence that will be a new front door for the campus,” said Van Galen. “The internship hub will better connect our students with internship opportunities, especially with downtown businesses and other organizations.” The proposal for the building includes a culinary incubator; CodeLab – offering free/subsidized adult learn-to-code classes; the Small Business Development Center; a remote learning resource center; and the Center for Advanced Professional Studies, a dual-credit program for high-school students focusing on applied tech/innovation, real-world projects and entrepreneurial learning. Funding for the proposed $10 million LaunchPad project was approved by the City Council in May and will go before voters as a ballot initiative. “There will be more conversation among the council members as they look at it in more detail and address the question of funding for renovations to make the project a reality,” said Van Galen.

DR. PAULA CARSON TO RETURN TO THE FACULTY After serving for six years as Missouri Southern’s provost/vice president of academic affairs, Dr. Paula Carson has decided to step down from her administrative role at the end of June 2021. In announcing her decision, Carson expressed her desire to return to the faculty. “I’ve truly appreciated the opportunity to serve Missouri Southern as chief academic officer through such a period of advancement and growth,” said Carson. “The expansion of our degree offerings and research programs as well as our intensified community outreach and partnerships have created a trajectory of success for our fine institution. But I am thrilled to move to a position where I can have a more direct influence on individual student development.” During her tenure at Missouri Southern, she helped to develop and implement the campuswide strategic plan, and spearheaded the university’s successful effort to obtain a full 10year re-accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission. Developing and showcasing new research opportunities for students and faculty members has been a particular passion, as well as bolstering the university’s academic degree and certificate offerings.

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STUDENTS HONORED FOR CAMPUS, COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP Several students were recognized for their service to the campus and community during awards ceremonies this spring.

Staus and the Missouri Southern softball team were the 2021 recipients of the Dr. Al Cade Beacon of Hope Service Awards.

Jordan Gibson, a biology preprofessional-medicine major from Raymore, Mo., was recognized as “Leader of the Year” during the 2021 Glenn Dolence Leadership Awards ceremony.

The awards, announced during the university’s virtual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, honor an individual student and a student group who have contributed an extraordinary level of dedication and demonstrated superior leadership through volunteer service on or off campus.

Gibson has served as president of Omicron Delta Kappa, president of Southern Ambassadors and as parliamentarian on Student Senate. She is also a member of the Campus Activities Board, Caduceus Club, MSSU Wildlife Society, Women in Science and Zeta Tau Alpha. Off campus, she has been involved at Rock Brook Church, the Truman Medical Center and is an Emergency Medical Technician and registered firefighter. Senior international and political affairs major Nicholas

Staus, an international and political affairs major, was recognized for a series of articles in The Chart examining the university’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The softball team’s 19 members accumulated more than 400 hours of volunteer service over the past year. Their service included picking up trash, volunteering on projects at Columbia Elementary, and creating care baskets for residents at an assisted living home.

LION VILLAGE NEARS COMPLETION Work on Lion Village – the latest addition to the residential offerings on campus – continues, with students expected to begin moving in this fall. From roofing and framing to sheet rock, painting and HVAC installation, the construction site was a flurry of activity this semester. Located north of the current residence halls, Lion Village is a 92,000-square-foot, four-story building that will house approximately 300 students. It will offer 88 traditional rooms as well as 32 four-bedroom, two-bathroom suites. It is expected to be complete this summer.

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TERRENCE SCOTT

DIRECTOR OF TICKETING OPERATIONS AND EVENT MANAGEMENT

s the director of ticketing operations and event management, Terrence Scott is a familiar face at games and other athletic events on campus. You might also recognize him as a former member of the Lions football team, having played as a defensive back from 2006-10. But if you tuned in to the university’s virtual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration this year, you would have seen and heard another side of Scott, who provided live and pre-recorded music for the event. A multi-instrumentalist since a young age, he has recorded two EP’s of his praise music in the last few years, with a third on the way this summer. GETTING STARTED (Worship music) is where my heart is. I guess you could say it’s my roots. However, I love to write music about my wife, about life, about my journey. I just haven’t published any of those songs yet, but they are in the catalogue.

My grandparents raised me in Jasper, Texas. They’ve been pastors for over 50 years now. Around the age of 6 or 7, I started beating around on the drums at their church. From there, I went from the drums to the organ, and then from the organ to the piano, and then I settled on the acoustic guitar.

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I love the acoustic guitar. It’s one of my favorite instruments ever, but I’ll play pretty much anything I can get my hands on. INSPIRATION For me, it’s a combination of all of it (melody and lyrics). I’ve written songs that came to me as a spontaneous thought in the middle of the night … 1 or 2 a.m. in the morning, the idea hits me and I wake up and have to jot it down on the voice memo app on my phone. From there, I branch out and build the song. A few years ago, I was working in HR and was in my office when a song came to mind. I quickly jotted down lyrics on breaks. Inspiration comes in a variety of ways, and you just have to be ready when it comes. The biggest thing for me personally is writing from experience and writing from my own journey, because I tend to sing it better. It comes from a deeper place … a place of purity. RECORDING An EP is basically a shortened album … anywhere from two to six songs, typically. I’ve recorded two. The first one (2015’s “Forever Free”) I recorded live here in Joplin. The second (2019’s “More”) was in Kansas City with JTL Group. It’s a group of producers who have worked with ESPN, State Farm – it’s amazing what these guys are doing. From the beginning, I worked with local talent … guys from my church who are absolutely amazing at what they do. But I’ve also worked with musicians from Kansas City, and we’ve had talent from Nashville, Tenn. You have to pull from different angles and find what works best for the song.

To check out his work, visit terrencescottmusic.com, or listen on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music or Google Play.

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Lost and Found 1977 graduate reunited with class ring

eresa Winter isn’t sure exactly when she lost her class ring, but it was likely sometime in 1993. And she was probably on horseback.

“The ring had cracked,” he said. “There was a name engraved inside the ring. I could read the first name but not the whole thing.”

“At that time, my husband and I had horses,” said Winter, a 1977 graduate of Missouri Southern who now lives in Neosho. “We did a lot of riding up around Greenfield, Stockton Lake and that vicinity.

Having set it aside, he picked it up again recently and took a closer look to try and decipher the name. Thinking he had it figured out, he contacted the university’s Alumni Association to see if they could connect him with Winter. Unable to find an up-to-date telephone number, the center’s assistant director, Meagan Adams, went online to see if she could find an address and then mailed a letter to her.

“I didn’t know when I lost it, but I noticed it was missing sometime later. I couldn’t put anything together as far as where we were and when I might have lost it. I figured it was long gone.” Nearly three decades later, Winter has been reunited with the ring after a stranger who found it several years ago began taking a closer look at the inscription on the inside of it. Charles Goodwater lived in the Stockton area from the early ‘80s until 2017 when he moved to Audubon, Iowa. He found the ring near Stockton Lake several years ago, and it was obvious that time hadn’t been kind to it.

Winter said she was amazed the letter made it to her mailbox. Having majored in elementary education at MSSU, she had taught fourth-grade in East Newton for a number of years and later worked in a veterinary clinic. “I was shocked she found this address,” she said. “We had moved away from the area and just moved back home to Neosho a few years ago. “Meagan gave me (Goodwater’s) number and we contacted him. He’s a very nice gentleman and offered to have it fixed for me. I told him I appreciated it, but my brother-in-law is a jeweler and could fix the band.” Having the ring back in her possession and repairs made, Winter said its return is an “irreplaceable gift.” “God’s hand was in this,” she said. “A lot of things came together to make it work.” Goodwater said he was happy to help reunite the ring with its rightful owner. “I always wanted to get the ring back to its owner, and hoped she was still having a good life,” he said.

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Crossroads staffers look back on 2011 issue focused on Joplin tornado

CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

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n a normal year, the fall issue of Crossroads magazine would have focused on Homecoming activities, says Rhonda Clark.

Ten years later, former students who contributed to that 50-page issue say that the experience is one they’ve continued to carry with them.

But 2011 was far from a normal year for the Joplin community.

“Rhonda called me with assignments (for the magazine), and it really marked a change in my life. It gave me a purpose,” says Willie Brown, then a non-traditional student who had yet to re-enroll for classes that fall. “I didn’t think of myself as a professional photographer until I went to college.”

On the evening of May 22 – at 5:41 p.m. – an EF-5 tornado tore a deadly six-mile path through town, claiming 161 lives and decimating thousands of homes and businesses. In the days and weeks that followed, Missouri Southern became an integral part of the city’s relief efforts. More than a thousand people were treated in a triage unit set up in the Health Sciences Building; Pres. Barack Obama visited campus to speak during a community memorial service; more than 73,000 meals were served by the Red Cross in the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center; while Billingsly Student Center became a staging area for the more than 45,000 people who volunteered for recovery efforts through AmeriCorps. “(Alumni Director) Lee Elliff Pound had contacted me that summer because she saw a need in the Missouri Southern community among those who had lost quite a bit in the tornado,” says Clark, ’00, then an assistant professor in the Communication Department at Missouri Southern and editor of Crossroads. “We did a newsletter that went out to alumni asking for donations to a fund to help faculty, staff and students affected by the tornado. In doing that and being on campus at that time, I saw there was a story we had to tell that was uniquely Missouri Southern.” Work began that summer on the issue that would focus on the tornado and its aftermath. Some students even volunteered that summer to get to work creating content for the publication even though they weren’t taking classes.

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Brown says his own home near 20th Street and Murphy Avenue sustained serious damage, but taking photographs of firemen, doctors and local residents who shared stories about that night with the magazine was a humbling experience. “You couldn’t talk to anybody on campus or in Joplin who didn’t know someone who had been directly affected,” says Lakin Larimore, ’13, who now works in marketing for a local construction company. “Everybody felt it and wanted to get involved and help tell these stories.” Kisa Clark, ’11, who is now a doctoral student in the School of Journalism at the University of Oregon, helped serve as a liaison for Diane Sawyer’s ABC News team in the days after the tornado. “As a budding journalist, it woke me up to the realities of what the job could be,” she says.

She later joined her fellow Crossroads staff members to put the magazine together.

Mills, who also shared his own story of survival in the issue, could understand where she was coming from.

“For someone who hadn’t worked on the magazine much at that point, I remember it being very intense, and I was super impressed with the team we had and what we put together,” Kisa Clark says. “We put together a publication about an important event in the history of our town. It was a horrific event, but I’m proud that as students we were able to use our skills.”

“I didn’t want to talk about it either,” he says. “But (working on this issue) gave me an opportunity to empathize with the people I was talking with. As a reporter, when you’re able to empathize it can make subjects open up more and make a story better.”

Nathan Mills, ’12, now design editor for The Joplin Globe newspaper, says working on stories in the aftermath of the tornado deeply informed his perspective on journalism. “The first story I was assigned was on an alum who was directly affected by the tornado,” he says. “I reached out but never got an answer. When we finally connected, she told me that it was such a traumatic experience she didn’t want to talk about it.”

Looking back, Larimore says the experience stressed the importance of print publications. “They can be the backbone of a community, with their ability to share people’s story,” she says. The students’ work would go on to receive three awards from MarCom, which recognizes excellence in marketing and communication. They received a Platinum Award for writing and Gold Awards in the design and magazine categories. “It was a tough issue, but I can’t stress enough how proud I was of our students, and many of them were directly impacted by the tornado,” says Rhonda Clark. “They saw the importance of what we were doing. They wanted to be a part of it and help cover these stories.”

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He says: “We have separate offices and don’t bother each other. We’re very conscious of each other’s writing time and the need for time to write and think creatively.” She says: “If one of us gets up and says, ‘I have something to work on,’ the other is understanding of sometimes needing to be in a room by themselves, and to have peace and quiet while working on their own things.”

his isn’t the “Newlywed Game,” so there’s no dishwasher or monetary prize to be won, but Bob Eubanks would be thrilled that Dr. Michael Howarth and Dr. Joey Brown’s answers (to a question asked separately) match up. Not exactly newlyweds, the members of the English Department faculty notched their seventh anniversary earlier this spring – but it wasn’t the only thing worth celebrating. Within a short span of time, Howarth published his second novel – “A Still and Awful Red” – while Brown published her second collection of poetry, entitled “The Feral Love Poems.” Howarth’s novel (his fourth published book) is set in 1609 and told from the point of view of a young seamstress who goes to work in the castle of Hungarian Countess Elizabeth Bathory and quickly senses something is amiss. “Bathory is considered one of the world’s most prolific serial killers,” he says. “She murdered peasant girls because she thought that young blood made her skin look youthful. “The themes in that – in terms of power and fear of death – intrigued me … it’s a Gothic and historical novel and also a thriller.” “A Still and Awful Red” had been in the works for several years, but was finally set for release for April 23 through JournalStone Publishing.

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“Publication is a lengthy process,” he says. “But it’s very satisfying when you can hold the book in your hand.” Brown’s collection, “The Feral Love Poems,” is her second, following 2010’s “Oklahomagraphy.” “The poems fall into one of three categories,” she says. “Quite a few of them are what I would call ‘portrait poems.’ They work like snapshots taken with a camera, capturing a picture of people at one given moment. “There’s another group of them that are what I most often do … write about a place or landscape. In this book it’s Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Kansas – any place I was in a car in the last five years.” But the biggest group of poems are the ones Brown says fall loosely into the theme inspired by the title. “(Howarth) gave me the title … there were things I noticed about how people often have difficulty expressing themselves. Those expressions sometimes are seen not as what they are at first, like homemade signs on a fence, a tattoo or graffiti. These I turned into a short story but formatted as a poem.” Delayed last year due to COVID, her collection was published in March through Hungry Buzzard Press. Having been together for 13 years and married for seven, the couple say they’re fully supportive of one another’s writing efforts. “I read his drafts and give him feedback,” says Brown. “Every once in a while, I’ll ask him to read my drafts. Poetry is meant to be heard out loud, and having an audience listen and react is part of the process. If the audience is only one person and it’s the one person I see literally every day, I feel like that isn’t what I’m looking for.” “We keep separate offices and don’t bother each other when we’re writing,” Howarth says. “We’re very respectful of the fact we each need our own time to think creatively.”

Project converting hillside into habitat filled with native wildflowers

here’s a steady series of thumps and scrapes as the students work their way down the hillside on the east side of Nixon Hall. It’s a cold, blustery Sunday afternoon. Armed with hoes, pitchforks and other implements, they work to rough up the ground in front of them to expose the soil. While it may not seem like the most ideal time to think about planting, the weather is actually perfect to begin transforming the area into a colorful home to a variety of wildflowers, says Dr. Katie Kilmer, assistant professor of biology and environmental health at Missouri Southern.

in the grasp of winter, the process of cold stratification will help prepare the seeds to germinate. “Our longterm goal is that this entire steep hillside that’s just grass and kind of stressful for our landscaping crew to have to mow … to convert all of this over to a wildflower habitat,” she says. “It could be a community resource, a campus resource that could be used as an outdoor classroom, and from an ecological context to attract more pollinators.” Nearly 20 students have gathered on this afternoon to begin planting, though the work to prepare the area for this day began back in the Fall 2020 semester. Bobbi Monroe, a senior biology major, began the prep work last year as part of a servicelearning project.

While the region is still firmly 22

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“It was actually a slow process,” she says, taking a moment to pause from her work scraping up the ground along the hillside. “We had to clear off the grass and spray herbicide on both sides of the hill. It took the whole course of last semester because everything didn’t die right away.” Dr. Jason Willand, chair of the Biology and Environmental Health Department, worked with a group of students in late January to do a controlled burn on both sides of the building to help prepare the ground. “It was fairly windy that day,” says Gabe McClain, a sophomore biology major who assisted with the burn and came back to help with the planting. “We started at one end and worked toward the building because that would be a good fire stop.” While he’s earning extra credit for his work on this afternoon, he says he would be here without it. “I want to get into wildlife biology, so I wanted to be here to help with the whole process. I’m excited to see what it turns into.” The mixture of sand and wildflower seeds don’t seem to want to work with the hand-cranked seed dispensers, so students are soon spreading the seed mixture by hand along the hillside. Once finished, they roll biodegradable burlap blankets over the hill to protect the seeds. “We’re using all native wildflowers – a mix of about 30 to 40 different species that are appropriate for this kind of soil,” says Kilmer. “They’re all native Missouri plants, and all pollinator specific plants. The goal is to have things blooming over the entire course of the year.” While some of the wildflowers will begin blooming this year, it will be next summer before the full results of their work will be on display. Black-eyed Susan, prairie blazing star, coneflowers, goldenrod, sunflowers, milkweed, ironweed and asters are among the variety of wildflowers being planted. At the top of the hill, there are plans for a living fence, she says. Posts with steel cables running between will line the area, with native vining plants eventually covering them. The project is a pilot run, with hopes to eventually expand the wildflower planting to more areas. It was a long road to get to this day, says Monroe. “But once the seed is down and we build the fence, we get to wait for the pretty stuff to happen,” she says.

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First recipient of Annie Baxter Award donates bust to Spiva Library

here was a certain symmetry to Marjorie Bull’s election as Jasper County Clerk in 1990.

Almost 100 years to the day, Annie Baxter became the first woman to hold the elected position – any elected position, actually – in the state, and the first female county clerk in the United States. A century later, Bull became the second woman to hold the position in Missouri. That same year, Missouri Southern honored Bull as the first recipient of the newly created Annie Baxter Award. Developed by the university’s Social Science Department, the award is presented annually to a prominent woman who makes notable contributions to her community in the spirit of Baxter. As part of the recognition, Carthage artist Bill Snow created a bust of Baxter that was presented to Bull.

The bust remained on display in the courthouse for many years, but had to be moved when renovation work began. “At first, I brought it home with me,” says Bull. “But I didn’t really have a place to put it, and thought it would be nice to donate it back to the university.” Bull was appointed by then Gov. John Ashcroft to fill the county clerk position following the sudden death of Ronald E. Davis. In 1990, voters elected her to continue on in the position. “I had worked in the election office before I became clerk,” says Bull. “I loved meeting and talking with people. It was a fun job for me.” Bull retired in 1998, after more than 30 years of working in the Jasper County Courthouse.

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ABOUT ANNIE BAXTER

Thanks to her generosity, the piece of university and local history has found a new home – on display in Spiva Library.

While most women’s lives in the late Victorian era were centered around their families and the domestic duties at home, Annie White Baxter ran for political office at a time when women were not able to vote, says Brad Belk, Missouri Southern’s community historian.

“I’m thrilled it’s there,” says Bull. “I’m interested in local history and genealogy. When I worked in the courthouse, I had several young people come in to talk to me for stories about the courthouse, when it was built and about the mural, which includes Annie Baxter (among other figures and events from Carthage history).”

“Interestingly, she was elected by the men of Jasper County by a plurality of 468 votes … amazingly, 30 years before women had access to the ballot box,” he says. Her opponent in the election challenged the results, which were upheld by the Greene County Circuit Court judge. After an election defeat four years later, Baxter was appointed state registrar of lands, serving in that position until 1916. A bronze bust of Baxter is among those on display in the Missouri Capitol Rotunda’s Hall of Famous Missourians.

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Never miss what’s important with a subscription to The Joplin Globe Call 417-782-2626 or e-mail circ@ joplinglobe.com today to start your subscription. “It’s Your World, We Deliver It!”

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Gary Vernon, ’92, working to make NW Arkansas a biking destination 26

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ven as a kid, Gary Vernon was obsessed with bikes – specifically, in those days, those of the BMX variety.

Sure, lots of kids in the early ‘80s loved to hop on their bike and push it to its limits. But helping design and build a professional-quality track? That’s a whole other level. Along with friends who held a similar interest and adults who had the professional connections, Vernon helped make it happen. “We built a track in Duenweg called Kids BMX,” he says. “It was on private property, and heavy equipment operators came in to build it. I was 14-years-old telling them where to put jumps, corners and berms.” Fast forward to 2021, and Vernon’s still riding. Mountain biking is a fun, healthy and social activity he enjoys with family and friends. But for Vernon, it’s more than that. Feeling the wind on his face, hitting a jump or dodging trees – it’s a state of mind. “Getting out on an outdoor mountain bike trail is good therapy,” he says. “There’s nothing better.” It’s also his livelihood. As program officer for the Walton Family Foundation in Northwest Arkansas, Vernon has been a driving force in creating hundreds of miles of biking trails for riders of all ages and skill levels.

A STRONG FOUNDATION Born and raised in Joplin, Vernon earned his degree in marketing and management from Missouri Southern in 1992. “I was fanatical about bicycles and motorcycles and had dreams of owning my own business,” he says. “I was working in a bike shop, but a needed a full-time job so I could buy a new dirt bike.

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“I got a job at Walmart building bikes, and they decided I was worth keeping.” And he decided it was worth staying. He got into the company’s management program, and landed positions in Kansas, Oklahoma and Springfield, Mo., before moving to Bentonville, Ark., in 2003. And that’s where his story really takes off, says Vernon. There are a lot of avid mountain bikers in the area, he says – people like him who love bikes, motorcycles and the best of both worlds the activity provides. There was no shortage of old gravel roads, creek beds and woods to ride in. He’d heard through the grapevine that a new mountain bike trail was in the works, and while out driving one day, he spotted a crew cutting a trail on the north side of the city. “I stopped and grabbed my son, Grayson, who was still an infant, and started walking down the trail,” he says. “We saw two other people and started talking with them about the project. One of them was Tom Walton.” The grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton, he was the one spearheading the creation of the new trail

through the Walmart Family Foundation. “After connecting with him, I started helping as a volunteer to build out a trail system,” says Vernon. “I was a director in the environmental division of Walmart and over the next few years, Tom would have me look at different trail projects. “Around 2014 or 2015, I looked down at my computer one day and realized half of my emails were about trail projects. We were moving quick with a lot of new trails being built.” With those projects serving as a means to help draw people to the area and make a positive economic and health impact, Vernon drafted a proposed job description that would accelerate Walton’s vision for a system of trails in the state. A few short months later, he joined the foundation – his childhood love of biking and creating places to ride now his full-time job.

Quality over quantity Over the last few years, the foundation has created more than 500 miles of biking trails; more than 150 miles of trails in the Bentonville and Bella Vista area alone. It’s all part of a plan to make Northwest Arkansas a mountain bike destination for enthusiasts worldwide. Trails are rated based on their skill level, much like ski slopes. The “green” trails are for beginners, ranging all the way to “double black diamond” trails for expert riders. Part of Vernon’s job is to scope out other trails around the country – and beyond – to bring back new ideas to incorporate into their trail system. “We want this to be a world-class destination, so we recruit the best trail-builders in the nation to come here and build for us. “But it’s not about quantity. It’s about quality. We talk about memorable moments that can be incorporated into

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the trail. Maybe it’s bridges and stonework or maybe it’s artwork … things that will make people thrilled to use the trail.” While his business background at Missouri Southern certainly paved the way for his career with Walmart, it was another course that keeps his wheels spinning when it comes to trail design. “Dr. Arthur Strobel (retired physics instructor who passed away in 2020) was probably my favorite instructor at MSSU,” says Vernon. “I was intrigued by his stories and his explanation of physics and how he applied it. “Every day we’re building trails with grades and thinking about different trajectories and angles for jumps. It all plays into it.” A major perk of his position is to share his love of biking with others. “One of the wonderful successes of all the trails we’ve built is getting kids active on them,” says Vernon. The foundation supports a junior-high cycling association, provides strider bikes for a kindergarten program and creates opportunities for a more diverse group of young people to develop a love for riding. “We had a really successful year in 2020,” he says. “With kids being out of school because of COVID, it was really wonderful to see kids get outside, be active and have fun on their bikes.” Vernon also presents “trail labs” to community leaders, park directors and others who want to replicate the success the foundation has had in creating trails. “We give them the 101 on how to start trail systems in their community,” he says. “It’s a way of leaving a good legacy behind for the health and wellness of your residents.” Biking has become a family affair throughout his 24 years of marriage to his wife, Aimee. They have a tandem bike they can ride, his 14-year-old son Grayson races with a local team, and his 19-year-old daughter Abby also enjoys riding.

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“I just feel fortunate to stay within an hour of my home town and do what I love in this part of the country,” he says. “I love the Four State Area. This is where I want to stay.” 29

DIANE ADAMS, ’71, HONORED WITH SPIRIT OF SERVICE AWARD The Alumni Association recently announced Diane Reed Adams as the recipient of the 2021 Spirit of Service Award. Nominated for the award by the Joplin branch of the American Association of University Women, Adams graduated from Missouri Southern in 1971. Established in 2017, the award is given to a Missouri Southern alum who has made significant contributions to their community through their time, actions, talents and dedication. For a number of years, she has volunteered her time to work with foster children in Joplin and Springfield through the Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services. Her volunteer

service at Ashley House in Springfield – a foster home for teenage girls – included furnishing supplies and gifts, and coaching the girls in areas such as study skills, table manners, job interview skills and self-esteem. Through P.E.O. International, Adams served on the Missouri state board and assisted in the development of the Missouri P.E.O. Outreach Fund, which supports senior citizens. In 2018, she was elected to the Joplin City Council. “We are so honored to be able to recognize Diane Reed Adams with this year’s Spirit of Service Award,” said Lee Elliff Pound, director of alumni and constituent relations. “She has truly used her passion for giving to enhance the lives of so many.”

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NATHAN PICCOLI NAMED 2021 OUTSTANDING GRADUATE When you take the opportunity to open one door and step through, you never know where it might lead you next, says Nathan Piccoli. The Missouri Southern senior from Osceola, Mo., was recently named the 2021 Outstanding Graduate by the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors. He is graduating from the university with a double major in biology and biochemistry – both with a pre-med emphasis. “Since I was a senior in high school, I knew I wanted to be a doctor,” says Piccoli. “I toured three or four different schools, but all of them emphasized things that weren’t necessarily related to academics. “During my visit to Missouri Southern, the first thing that turned me on to it was the emphasis on academics. The small class sizes and the ability for one-on-one interaction with the faculty sealed the deal for me.” While taking Biology 110 with Dr. David Penning, Piccoli says he took advantage of the opportunity to do research in the campus reptile lab. From there, he discovered other doors that led to new experiences. A member of the Honors program, he participated in the Wildlife Society (where he served as president), the Caduceus Club and the Lion Ambassadors. He has published portions of his research work in two abstracts, served as a peer-reviewer for six different journal submissions and received awards at the 2018 Kansas Hereptological Society’s annual meeting and the 2019 research symposium at MSSU. Asked for his advice to students just getting ready to begin their college experience, Piccoli says there’s nothing more beneficial than embracing the wealth of opportunities available. “Getting involved on campus is one of the most important things you can do,” he says. “It has been great for me, but it’s also a way for me to give back to the school that’s given me all of these opportunities.” Piccoli has been accepted into the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Smith, Ark., where he will begin classes in July.

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POTTORFF, WEST JOIN KGCS-TV

The KGCS television station at Missouri Southern is under new leadership, but the new station manager and creative services director are by no means strangers to the university.

before coming back to the area to serve as assistant news director and assignment editor for KOAM for more than a decade.

Bobbie Pottorff joined the station on Feb. 1 as the new station manager, while Maddy West took over as creative director last October. Both are graduates of MSSU who got their start at the station, which has served the Joplin area for more than 35 years.

“I’ve wanted to come back and work at Southern ever since I graduated,” said Pottorff. “It’s a really great environment. We have a great feeder market for television students, where they can learn and go work for our local TV stations. It’s a lifelong dream to work for the school that helped make me who I am.”

Pottorff graduated in 1991 with a degree in communicationbroadcast emphasis. Judy Stiles, the longtime KGCS manager who recently retired after more than three decades with the station, was one of her instructors.

Maddy West graduated from Missouri Southern in 2019 with degrees in mass communication and public relations, and was heavily involved with operations at KGCS as a student.

“Those are giant shoes to fill,” said Pottorff. “I only hope I can continue her legacy of professionalism and community involvement.”

West said she worked closely with former creative services director Bill Hunt, who retired last year after nearly 20 years in the role.

After graduating high school, she began volunteering at Joplin’s KSN television station while honing her skills at KGCS. She later worked for a Wichita television station

“This job is probably what I had in my head that I wanted to do, but never thought I’d get here so soon,” she said. “At this point, this is probably my dream job.”

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STUDENTS STUDY LOCAL WATERWAY FOR PRESENCE OF MICROFIBERS While a number of studies have focused on the levels of microplastics found in the ocean and marine environments, studies in freshwater are limited – even more so when it comes to the Midwest United States. Two environmental health and safety majors at Missouri Southern are working to change that. Seniors Avery Cozens, of Rogers, Ark., and Tim Peternell, of Arma, Kan., have undertaken the study for their Honors project, looking for the presence of tiny plastic fragments in the Spring River Watershed in Southwest Missouri. “We’ve taken a two-direction approach,” says Dr. Teresa Boman, associate professor of biology and environmental health. “One student is focusing on the water component and the other on the sediments in the water; both are known spots where microplastics can potentially be found.” The students – assisted by Boman, Dr. Rachel Heth, assistant professor of biology and environmental health, and Melissah Perkins, master instructor of biology and environmental health – began taking samples in December. They collected water and sediment from 16 different locations along Spring River. From each stop along the river, they brought back a one-liter jar of water and one liter of sediment to study. Their initial research has indicated the presence of microplastics in the water at all sampling locations. Fibers come off of clothes in washing machines and enter septic systems and wastewater treatment facilities. Microbeads, which are now banned in the U.S., do not go away and can still be found in the water. “Most studies are done in the ocean, so we don’t know what the ‘normal’ values are,” says Bowman. “Once we know they exist and how much, there are a lot of other directions we can go with our research.”

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JADE HENNING-CANTRELL BECOMES FIRST TO COMPLETE ARTS MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAM “I’ve always loved to draw,” says Jade HenningCantrell. “Since I was a kid, people said, ‘Oh, you’re going to be an artist.’ I thought I needed more structure and to be able to work around other artists.” She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Visual Arts from Missouri Southern in 2015 and now serves as administrator of the Spiva Art Gallery in downtown Joplin. This spring, she became the first to complete the new Arts Management and Leadership certificate program Launched during the Fall 2020 semester, the unique program focuses on how to run an arts program rather than simply be a part of one. The 18-credit-hour certificate provides students with an understanding of areas such as fundraising, marketing, budgeting and audience development. Having completed the program, Henning-Cantrell says she is excited to put what she has learned into practice. “I want to take on a leadership position in Joplin’s up-and-coming arts district,” she says. “I want to do what I can in this area with what I’ve learned, and what I’ll continue to learn … because learning is never over.”

HYBRID FORMAT ALLOWS SHRM CHAPTER TO FORM AMID PANDEMIC “Today, we’re thrilled to be joined by two esteemed graduates …” Dr. Sarah Holtzen, assistant professor of management, introduces the two guest speakers for the student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management on a late Monday afternoon. The speakers – 2008 graduate Mariya Gavrilova Aguilar and 2014 grad Lexy Parzyek – are joining via Zoom. Two members of the chapter are in attendance in the classroom, while others are attending the meeting online. It’s a hybrid model not unlike some COVID-era classes, and one that has allowed the group to get up and running amid the pandemic. “The last place I was before campus shut down (in spring of 2020) was a career fair,” says Holtzen. “While there, I had an employer approach me and ask if we had a student chapter of SHRM on campus.” Along with co-adviser Dr. Megan Douglas, assistant professor of management, work began last summer to launch the new club. “We contacted the national office for information and discussed how to get students interested in the middle of a pandemic,” says Holtzen. “We thought a hybrid model for meetings would be helpful even during non-pandemic times.” During the meeting, students who are attending in person and those online have the opportunity to quiz the guest speakers about the ins and outs of their profession. Each has their own unique take, as Aguilar teaches at the University of North Texas, while Parzyek works in the healthcare field. Diane Bullette, a senior human resource management major, says the format provides a lot of flexibility for students wanting to learn more about the HR field. “Everyone does things differently so we can learn what works for them,” she says. “And all of it is recorded. If someone misses a meeting, they can easily review it to see what they missed.” 34

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DR. BUCCIERI HELPS LAUNCH LOCAL 1 MILLION CUPS PROGRAM A national program designed to engage and encourage local entrepreneurs has come to Joplin, with a member of Missouri Southern’s faculty serving in a leadership role. Dr. Dominic Buccieri, assistant professor of international business, is one of eight local organizers for 1 Million Cups. “The way 1 Million Cups works is that every Wednesday at 9 a.m. local time across the country, the more than 160 chapters meet and have coffee – we call it connecting,” Buccieri said. “Two presenters have six minutes to tell a story about their business. They have to be an aspiring

entrepreneur or have an existing business started within the last five years, and they tell everyone about things they’re having trouble with. “Then, there’s 20 minutes for the community to ask them questions and offer feedback. It’s not like ‘Shark Tank’ – it’s about offering support for businesses and young entrepreneurs.” The national movement was created by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in April 2012 and has grown to more than 160 communities in 40 states, with more than 800 volunteers.

MSM PROGRAM GAINS NEW ACCREDITATION The Master of Science in Management (MSM) program offered through Missouri Southern’s College of Business has been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. “The ACBSP is highly recognized in business schools,” said Dr. Tom Schmidt, associate dean and MSM coordinator. “Academically, it’s a big plus for us. “This program was started in 2016, and you have to have at least three years of data before they will consider it. We revamped the program in the fall of 2020, and we waited until that was in place before going up for accreditation.” Schmidt said the accreditation process meant setting out the learning goals for the master’s program and documenting that each of those goals was being met. When it launched, the Master of Science in Management program was offered in a hybrid format – a mix of inperson and online classes. Today, the degree is offered entirely online in eight-week terms, allowing students

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to obtain the degree in as little as 12 months. And while it previously relied on adjunct faculty, it is now taught entirely by full-time faculty members. “Another thing that’s unique is that it is designed for nonbusiness majors,” said Schmidt.

“For instance, if an arts and sciences major now finds themselves in a position where they are a business manager. There are no prerequisites … someone who has never taken a business course can start right now.”

CENTER FOR APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS NEARING COMPLETION Construction is nearing completion on the ACACIA Center, which will provide a major expansion to the early childhood education offerings at Missouri Southern. Located in Taylor Hall, the center for applied behavior analysis will offer not only a hands-on learning center for students, but a major resource for families of children with autism or social, emotional and learning disabilities. The name stands for Acceptance, Community, Academics, Commitment, Inclusivity and Advocacy. About 1 in 59 children in Missouri are identified as having Autism Spectrum Disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 70 percent of these children do not receive comprehensive development assessments by the age of 3, however. A significant contributing factor to that deficit is the shortage of individuals trained to assess and treat those with ASD. Dr. Ayla Schmick, assistant professor of psychology and director of the ACACIA Center, says the impact the MSSU program could have is enormous – not only for Southern students, but for the entire community.

“Our community currently has hundreds of children sitting on waitlists for multiple years waiting to receive behavioral services,” she says. “Our center and ABA program at MSSU ensures we can get in and help those who have been waiting for far too long to receive quality behavioral interventions. Research has shown that the earlier we can get these interventions in place, the rate of success for long lasting change is much higher.”

“The ACACIA Center and ABA program also provide a fantastic opportunity for our students. Not only do they get to engage in a hands-on learning environment working with clients, but they also gain valuable work experience that will set them up for success in their future careers and/or graduate programs.” 36

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CARTHAGE R-9, MISSOURI SOUTHERN PARTNER FOR TEACH SCHOLARS PROGRAM

MSSU GRADS RECOGNIZED AS OUTSTANDING BEGINNING TEACHERS

The Carthage R-9 School District has partnered with Missouri Southern’s College of Education for a new program to highlight the education profession and attract and support students along the path to becoming high-quality educators.

Two Missouri Southern graduates were recognized among the 2021 Outstanding Beginning Teacher Award recipients during the Missouri Association of Colleges for Teacher Education’s spring conference.

The TEACH Scholars program will offer Carthage High School students the opportunity to earn dual credit through Missouri Southern, gain early field experience and exposure to the teaching profession, and receive financial incentives along the way. Through the high school’s Teach & Train program, participants will learn firsthand what it takes to become a teacher – from developing lesson plans to classroom instruction – from Carthage teachers. As they progress through the teacher education program at Missouri Southern, they’ll be welcomed back home again for their practicum and student teaching. “We need more highly qualified teachers. We also want our kids to come back and stay in Carthage,” said Dr. Mark Baker, Carthage R-9 superintendent. “This program will allow our students to learn our system, understand the dynamics of the environment and will have been trained with our district’s expectations to be ready for Day 1. It’s also good for economic development if they come back to live and work here.” During students’ junior and senior years at Missouri Southern, they will qualify for a Carthage R-9 Foundation scholarship and the university’s Dr. Al Cade Scholarship.

HOLDERMAN

Andrea Holderman, ‘18, a life skills and special education teacher at Webb City High School, and Lauren Kennedy, ’20, a freshman biology teacher at Lee’s Summit North High School, were among the award recipients. The awards recognize Missouri teachers in their first two years of service who have have demonstrated excellence in classrooms across Missouri.

“Every member institution that has an education program can nominate two teachers,” said Dr. Susan Craig, chair of the Teacher KENNEDY Education Department at MSSU. “The organization reaches out to us every two years, and we poll faculty members to see (which beginning teachers) rise to the top.” A nomination submitted for Holderman calls her “a true asset” to Webb City High School. “She exhibits great character, is positive, flexible and her students love her,” it reads. “Andrea is a team player, and WCHS is a better place because she is here.” Lauren Kennedy was praised for her natural ability to connect with her students in a nomination for the recognition. “It is evident to me that, even in our current learning environment, she has built a relationship with students that allows them to feel safe to ask questions, and take risks in their learning. She is eager to learn new strategies in order to be even more effective in her teaching … and her students feel very supported.”

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NURSING STUDENTS ASSIST WITH VACCINATION CLINIC More than 30 students from the Nursing Department lent a hand as the Missouri National Guard offered a COVID-19 vaccination clinic held March 4-5 in the university’s FEMA shelter. While they weren’t actually administering vaccine doses, the students played an important role in coordinating the event – from getting recipients checked in to monitoring them afterward for potential side effects. “From a leadership perspective, they’re getting to see how a community organizes something like this,” said Memory Curry, a clinical instructor in the department. “This is something none of us have experienced in our lifetime, and hopefully something they’ll never experience again. “But to see how it’s coordinated and managed has been a good lesson for them.” Several faculty members from the department – including Dr. Lisa Beals, department chair, and clinical instructors Chris Floyd and Sunny Lawrence – were on hand to help coordinate and keep the event running smooth. Lacy Schofield, a senior nursing major, spent a morning serving as one of the initial points of contact for those getting vaccinated, helping them check in and get situated. A global pandemic was something she had never imagined when deciding to go into the nursing field, but it hasn’t changed her resolve. “I think it’s changed my end goals in that it’s made me realize how much more I want to be a nurse,” she said. “I want to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.” Rion Boyd, also a senior, echoed that sentiment. “It’s pretty exciting … students before us haven’t had this opportunity,” she said. “We’re working to help try and limit the pandemic; moving forward and finding the best solution for everybody.”

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DENTAL HYGIENE RECEIVES GRANT FUNDING Grant funding for the Dental Hygiene program will create a mobile teledentistry program and promote better oral health for area students and senior citizens. The two grants were approved by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. One is for $84,477 to help purchase supplies and equipment to create the teledentistry program. The Health and Senior Services department also approved a grant for $94,992 that

will be used to provide services to children and nursing home residents. “We’ll be able to go out, screen children, take photos and X-rays, and then send them to our supervising dentist to see if the sealants can be prescribed and applied,” said Becky Hershaw, a clinical instructor for the department who led the grant application effort. “We’re having a trailer made that can transport all the equipment.” Currently, MSSU dental hygiene students serve children in the Avilla and Jasper school districts. “(The mobile clinic) will help kids prevent decay, but also save their parents time because they won’t need to take off work,” she said. “Sealants also offer a 76 percent reduction in tooth decay.”

SCHOLARSHIP HONORS MEMORY OF LATE FIREFIGHTER The Missouri Southern Foundation and the family of late firefighter Steve Fierro have announced the creation of an endowed scholarship in his memory. The Steve Fierro Endowed Memorial Scholarship Award will be given each year to a graduate of the Fire Academy program at Missouri Southern. Fierro, a Carthage firefighter, died in the line of duty on Feb. 18, 2004, while responding to a restaurant fire in Diamond. His family originally created a patron scholarship at Missouri Southern in his memory, funding it through efforts such as annual softball and golf tournaments, said Susan Reddy, Fierro’s twin sister. When fire training stopped being offered at MSSU in 2015, the scholarship funding switched to provide assistance to EMT students.

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With MSSU and the Joplin Fire Department recently entering into a new partnership for a regional fire academy, Reddy said the family felt the timing was right to create a permanent award in Fierro’s name that would benefit those following in his footsteps. The recipient will exemplify characteristics similar to Fierro’s – his dedication, determination, comradery and a passion for a long-term career in fire service. “We want the scholarship to go to someone who has the same kind of heart for a fire career, because that was his passion. He didn’t just do his shift and go home,” said Reddy.

ATIBA BRADLEY TALKS RETURN TO MSSU AS HEAD FOOTBALL COACH Sitting in his office in the North End Zone Facility with a view overlooking the football field in Fred G. Hughes Stadium, Coach Atiba Bradley takes a moment to reflect on how much has changed since his days playing football here in the early 2000s. “I want our guys to know it wasn’t always like this,” he says. “They didn’t have this nice North End Zone complex. I remember as a player having to walk across the street on game days, and walking across the street every day for practice. We didn’t think about it, we just did it. “I tell them not to take it for granted … appreciate it.” That sense of gratitude and appreciation is heartfelt as Bradley speaks of his homecoming this year – returning to Missouri Southern as the university’s 14th head football coach, and the first MSSU graduate to lead the program.

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As you’ve settled in to your first head coach position, what does it mean to you that it’s here, where you got your start?

Do you have a message for fans excited about the upcoming season, and what’s your long-term vision for the program?

It’s important to me just from the standpoint that I can make an impact where I was impacted. I had a lot of really positive experiences here. Obviously, I didn’t know the exact route or how I was going to get here, but (as a player) I knew that I wanted to be a head coach someday. More importantly, I wanted to see Missouri Southern win. All those things have come together, and it was an opportunity to knock out two goals on my bucket list.

We always talk about the dynamic of the chicken or the egg – which one came first? If we put a winning team on the field, we’re going to have the stands packed. It’s more fun to play in front of a full stadium. I would tell fans to come out and support us. Give us some time, and we’re going to give you a product you can be proud of.

Since your days playing for Missouri Southern (200205), you served as a graduate assistant here and at the University of Missouri, defensive coordinator at NCAA Division II Quincy University (Illinois) and most recently as defensive coordinator for Division II McKendree University in Lebanon, Ill. How did these experiences prepare you for your first head coaching position?

Honestly, the biggest thing we look at (long term) … and I know it sounds cliché, but it’s getting better every day. Getting better every season. My No. 1 goal as a football coach at a public institution is to graduate studentathletes. As long as we’re improving every year in every aspect of our program, the wins will come.

Like any other profession or task, you learn a little bit through trial by fire. I was able to be a coordinator at 28 years old. Was I ready? No, but I started learning immediately different ways of handling a staff. I learned a lot about the game, building a program and interacting with different players. I was able to learn at every stop.

You’re building out your coaching staff and getting to know your players. How is that going? It’s a process. The players are learning about us as a new staff, and as a new staff we’re learning about the players. Honestly, everything up to right now has been a first. We just had our first padded practice. August will be the first time we go through a fall camp together. We’re just trying to get through all these firsts. Right now, the team is super excited and working hard. These guys wouldn’t be here if they couldn’t play (at this level). There’s a ton of potential out there.

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EMILY PRESLEY, ’19, TRAINING FOR OLYMPIC TRIALS It’s the magic number Emily Presley is striving to reach – 4.60. That’s in meters. For non-pole vaulters, that’s 15 feet … the height she’s wanting to achieve as she sets her sights on making it to this summer’s Olympic trials, to be held June 1827 at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field. Presley, who graduated in 2019 with a degree in kinesiology, is currently living and training at the SPIRE Institute athletic complex in Geneva, Ohio. “It’s an all-in-one package deal,” she says. “You live here, train here and also work here … my job is residence adviser.

“Training is going great, but COVID has put a halt on things,” Presley says. “I’m reaching for 4.60 to qualify for the Olympic trials. They’ll be taking the top 24, so I have high hopes of going even if I don’t quite reach it. I’ve jumped 14 and a half feet, so I just need another six inches.” From that event, only the top three pole vaulters will go on to compete in the Olympics. “Everybody wishes to be an Olympic gold medalist,” she says. “But just making it to trials would really set up my professional career. My first post-collegiate year goal is to get my name out there and build my career.” The St. Clair, Mo., native began competing in the event in high school. She was a three-time national champion at Missouri Southern and an eight-time All-American. Her final year of eligibility at MSSU didn’t materialize due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “It is what it is,” she says. “I’m glad that (things are looking better) and I can work on my professional career.”

But her major focus is staying healthy and competing when and where she can.

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ROB MALLORY has been named the new director of athletics at Missouri Southern. He comes from Kentucky Wesleyan, a NCAA Division II Institution that includes 21 varsity sport programs, where he served as vice president of intercollegiate athletics. “MSSU has a proud history of success in competition, in the classroom, and in the community,” said Mallory. “I am honored to be chosen to now lead those efforts as its next director of athletics. “I look forward to working with the entire campus community to build an even brighter future for Lions athletics.” Mallory graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.B.A. in management information systems and served as the head football manager in 2001. He earned a master’s degree

in sport administration from Xavier University in 2007. During his last five years at Kentucky Wesleyan, he oversaw an overall increase in revenue for his department through the development and streamlining of athletic giving with the Panther Athletic Fund. Updates and renovation plans for all athletic facilities at Kentucky Wesleyan were started with his oversight. In 2019, Mallory was appointed to the NCAA Division II National Football Committee for a four-year term, which followed three-year terms serving on the NCAA Division II Regional Advisory Committee for football and baseball. He and his wife, Holly, have two children, Lilly and Mitchell. He will start on July 1, and follows Jared Bruggeman, who recently stepped down from the position where he served since 2009.

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Senior forward CAM MARTIN was recently named an All-American selection by the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association. This season, he averaged 25 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, as well as a teamhigh 76 assists and 28 steals. He finished his career as the second-leading scorer in MSSU history, with 2,040 points in just three years. Set to conclude his final year of eligibility at KU, Martin is one of four MIAA players on the All-American team.

Head softball COACH HALLIE BLAKNEY was recently named MIAA Coach of the Year. In her third year as the Lions’ coach, she’s also the third coach from the softball program to win the award.

Sophomore JOSIE TOFPI was named first-team AllMIAA, while eight Lions earned All-MIAA honors.

Senior thrower RAJINDRA CAMPBELL had a record-setting season, dominating the field in shot put, and his achievements have not gone unrecognized. In June, he was named the NCAA Division II National Field Athlete of the Year by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. A native of Ocho Riose Bay, Saint Ann, Jamaica, he helped lead Missouri Southern to an eighth-place team finish at this spring’s NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Campbell posted an 8-1 record in finals, which included an 8-0 run after an early-season loss. He capped the season in Allendale, Mich., by becoming the fifth-best performer in

NCAA DII history with a winning mark of 19.99m. He also earned a national championship in discus, hitting a mark of 55.98m. He was named MIAA Field Athlete of the Week six times, while also winning the MIAA title in shot put and discus, and has set MSSU records in both events. Campbell’s honors were part of a solid showing from the nationally ranked MSSU track and field programs this spring. The season concluded with a pair of top 10 finishes during the NCAA outdoor championships. The Southern women finished seventh, with the men ranking eighth in the team standings, and several team members earning All-American honors.

CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

SPRING 2021

1970s

1990s

Sherrel Lawhon, ‘73, was recently elected vice-president of the Missouri Retired Teachers Association.

Bobbie Pottorff, ‘91, is the general manager of KGCSTV at Missouri Southern.

1980s

Jason Smith, ‘92, is an adult services librarian for the City of Miami, Okla.

Susan (Sierra) Markman, ‘81, was recently honored by the Arkansas Chapter of the American Planning Association with the State’s Professional Planner award. She retired as Senior Planner for Policy in July 2020, after a 28-year career in regional planning.

Michelle Hensley, ‘93, was promoted to principal of Fairview Elementary in Carthage, Mo.

Mark Boyer, ‘84, is publishing three new books in 20202021: “Very Short Reflections—for Advent and Christmas, Lent and Easter, Ordinary Time, and Saints—through the Liturgical Year”; “Living Parables: Today’s Versions”; and “My Life of Ministry, Writing, Teaching, and Traveling: The Autobiography of an Old Mines Missionary.”

Matt Huntley, ‘96, was promoted to assistant superintendent for the Carthage R9 School District.

Marty Oetting, ‘86, began at Veterans United helping veterans qualify for home loans.

2000s

Lee Elliff Pound, ‘86, was elected as REC Chair of Southwest Missouri Region 9 for the Missouri School Board Association; she was also re-elected to another three-year term on the Carthage Board of Education and elected to serve as board president. Lisa Robinson, ’87, was re-elected to the Webb City Board of Education for another three-year term. Tim Nyander, ‘89, is the director of utilities services for the City of Fayetteville, Ark.

M I S S O U R I S O U T H E R N S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y

Grady Huke, ‘96, is now First Vice President of Investments at Wells Fargo.

David Rozanek, ‘98, is currently serving as a Navy chaplain. He has been serving in that capacity since 2002.

Blake Bard, ‘02, is the executive director of development at University of Arkansas for Medical Services in Little Rock, Ark. Crystal Marshall, ’02, is the mayor of Crossett, Ark. Cody Hilburn, ‘06, was named head football coach at Seneca High School in Seneca, Mo. Atiba Bradley, ‘07, was named head football coach at Missouri Southern.

Erin (Klaus) Dunn, ‘08, was promoted to director of organizational effectiveness at Graybar in St. Louis, Mo. Amanda Fosdick, ‘08, was promoted to Vice President, Community Bank President at the Carthage branch of Old Missouri Bank.

2010s Madison (Pollock) Hardy, ‘14, was promoted to student success specialist at Ozark Technical Community College’s Republic Education Center in Republic, Mo. Ryon Phillips, ‘15, is the assistant director of athletics for compliance and academic services at Dallas Baptist University in Dallas, Texas. He is also currently pursuing his doctorate in educational leadership. Halie Endicott, ‘16, has been selected to serve on the board of directors of the Wild Steelhead Coalition, a group working to restore wild steelhead populations in their native watersheds.

Andrea Holderman, ‘18, received the Missouri Outstanding Beginning Teacher Award. She is a life skills and special education teacher at Webb City High School. Kahlie (Jones) Huff, ‘18, is the director of project management at Midwestern Interactive in Joplin. Kate Kelley, ‘18, is the coalition and full potential coordinator at The Alliance of SWMO. Janette Montano, ‘18, is the billing manager at CFI in Joplin. Michelle Bozich, ‘19, is a respiratory therapist at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, Ark. Mikayla Demaree, ‘19, earned her master’s degree in social work from the University of Oklahoma and is the agency services and capacity coordinator for The Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. Rylee Hartwell, ’19, was elected to a three-year term on the Joplin Board of Education.

Whitney Mestelle, ‘16, has a new company called Small Batch Candle Company.

Bridgette West, ‘19, is a marketing manager for Sheep Dog Impact Assistance in Rogers, Ark.

Jonathan Ernst, ‘17, is a senior system engineer at Cerner Corporation in Kansas City, Mo.

Maddy West, ‘19, is creative services manager for KGCSTV at Missouri Southern.

Caleb House, ‘17, is a manufacturing engineer at Reyco Granning Suspensions in Mount Vernon, Mo. Bethany Ames, ‘18, is the donor engagement coordinator for Ozark Christian College in Joplin. Katie Andrews, ‘18, is a justice services specialist for the Department of Mental Health in Jefferson City, Mo.

2020s Lauren Kennedy, ‘20, received the Missouri Outstanding Beginning Teacher Award. This is her first year teaching biology at Lee’s Summit North High School.

Ashley Burns, ‘18, is now a training instructor for the National Park Service. Her position is based out of the Grand Canyon National Park. Ashley Elliott, ‘18, is a juvenile services coordinator for Spring River Mental Health in Riverton, Kan. Karsten Gilbert, ‘18, is a communication associate at Tulsa County Parks in Tulsa, Okla.

LET US KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE! E M A I L U S AT ALUMNIASSOC@MSSU.EDU

CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

SPRING 2021

Rob Lundien, ‘96, and Chris Constant welcomed Isaac Kit Constant-Lundien on May 27, 2020.

Andrew, ‘15, and Rachel (Weaver) Johnson, ‘16, welcomed Sadie Ann on October 21, 2020.

Kyle, ‘15, and Kelsey (Long) Vene, ‘17, welcomed Lincoln John on October 2, 2020

Austin, ‘17, and Alaina Wright welcomed Braylie Grace on November 14, 2020.

Terrell Gilmore and Daya Davenport, ’18, welcomed Taylynn Nicole on January 11, 2021.

Nate and Rebekah (Carlson) Kelly, ‘14, welcomed Myla Bess on January 20, 2021.

Aaron and Whitney (Koch) Dunbar, ‘14, ‘18, welcome Quinn Inez on February 6, 2021.

Biaka and Lora (Dean) Zaidarhzauva, ‘09, welcomed Zokimi Grace on March 1, 2021.

Ben, ‘08, and Kiley (Aasby) Crowe, ‘12, welcomed Calvin Daniel on March 3, 2021.

Tucker Hagedorn, ‘00, and Whitney Warren, ‘08, ‘19, were married on Nov. 15, 2020. M I S S O U R I S O U T H E R N S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y

ALUMNI

Gwendolyn Tarvin, ’75 | July 30, 2020

George Duff, ’48 | Nov. 4, 2020

Diana Colbert, ’90 | Sept. 19, 2020

Linda Klepper, ’69 | Nov. 6, 2020

Cynthia Lockwood, ’95 | Sept. 25, 2020

Sammy Funkhauser, ’99 | Nov. 7, 2020

Robert Wilson Jr. ’71 | Sept. 29, 2020

Pat Alford, ’71 | Nov. 8, 2020

Bunny Collins, ’96 | Oct. 6, 2020

Theao Cook, ’73 | Nov. 9, 2020

Johnny Roberson, ’77 | Oct. 9, 2020

Florence Orcutt, ’84 | Nov. 12, 2020

Barbara (Hamilton) Capps, ’50 | Oct. 20, 2020

Gale Hayes, ’73 | Nov. 13, 2020

Rosemary Willard, ’81 | Oct. 25, 2020

Kevin Hensley, ’95 | Nov. 16, 2020

Dennis Walkup, ’67, ’69 | Oct. 27, 2020

Margaret Coulter, ’72 | Nov. 18, 2020

Joel Griffin, ’06 | Oct. 29, 2020

Gary Wright, ’98 | Nov. 26, 2020

John Boucher, ’63 | Oct. 29, 2020

Arthur Cortez, ’63 | Nov. 27

Keith Brown, ’91 | Oct. 31, 2020

Ralph Zimmerman, ’74 | Nov. 29, 2020

Dolores Culp, ’79 | Nov. 1, 2020

Alicia McKenzie, ‘73 | Nov. 30, 2020

CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

SPRING 2021

Denny Chenowith, ’73 | Dec. 2, 2020

Marian Carlson, ’81 | Jan. 31, 2021

Lawrence Scholl, ’99 | Dec. 3, 2020

Andy Lawrence, ’03 | Jan. 31, 2021

Carl McCulley, ’54 | Dec. 6, 2020

Judith Whaley, ’58 | Feb. 1, 2021

Velma Martin, ’42 | Dec. 6, 2020

Christina (Burris) Furnas, ’04 | Feb. 4, 2021

Annabelle Spencer, ’71 | Dec. 7, 2020

Jim Courtney, ’63 | Feb. 4, 2021

Stanley Garber, ’70 | Dec. 19, 2020

Don Green, ’55 | Feb. 5, 2021

Kay Klink, ’92 | Dec. 25, 2020

Ted Griffith, ’97 | Feb. 8, 2021

Tom Roper, ’75 | Dec. 25, 2020

Karen Hardy, ’97 | Feb. 15, 2021

Jim Brumback, ’85 | Dec. 29, 2020

Jim Robson, ’59 | Feb. 15, 2021

Norma Hildreth, ’78 | Jan. 1, 2021

Luanne Wilson, ’81 | Feb. 17, 2021

Martha Graham, ’70 | Jan. 1, 2021

Richard Mettlach, ’74 | Feb. 19, 2021

Jerry Francisco, ’71 | Jan. 8 , 2021

Debbie Doss, ’86 | Feb. 20, 2021

Kathleen Keisner, ’70 | Jan. 9, 2021

Walter Cochran, ’66 | Feb. 21, 2021

Morgan Eldon, ’53 | Jan. 9, 2021

Susie Colley, ’17 | Feb. 21, 2021

Eda Shepperd, ’42 | Jan. 10, 2021

Steve LeMaster, ’72 | Feb. 24, 2021

Pamela Clark, ’91 | Jan. 13, 2021

Sevie (Kinzer) Davison, ’20 | Feb. 25, 2021

Charley Babb, ’85 | Jan. 15, 2021

Jeff Triplett, ’92 | Feb. 27, 2021

Margie Davis, ’01 | Jan. 17, 2021

Carolyn Wilks, ’66 | March 6, 2021

Patty (Gray) Miller, ’54 | Jan. 18, 2021

Bill Willis, ’10 | March 7, 2021

Frank “Al” Martin Jr. ’61 | Jan. 20, 2021

Nancy Roberts, ’77 | March 7, 2021

Pamela (Eliason) Johnson, ’66 | Jan. 20, 2021

Jerry Dorris, ’88 | March 9, 2021

Paula Tedlock, ’78 | Jan. 25, 2021

Carl Miller II, ’90 | March 9, 2021

Amanda (James) Green, ’79 | Jan. 26, 2021

Anne Lamkin, ’92 | March 15, 2021

C. Byron Gilbreath, ’59 | Jan. 29, 2021

Neel Baucom, ’69 | March 25, 2021

Jeanie Stevens, ’83 | Jan. 30, 2021

Cecile Woodmansee, ’71 | March 25, 2021

M I S S O U R I S O U T H E R N S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y

STUDENTS Nicholas Davis | March 9, 2021

F A C U LT Y / S TA F F Wesley Regnier | Dec. 4, 2020 Physical Plant

Richard Spencer | March 23 2021 Criminal Justice

RETIREES

Larry Karst | Oct. 11, 2020 Counselor

Bob Clark | Dec. 23, 2020 Communication

Arthur Stroebel | Oct. 13, 2020 Physics

Sam Claussen, ’70, ’74 | Jan. 3, 2021 Theatre, Professor Emeritus

Harrison Kash | Oct. 27, 2020 Chemistry

Tran Thuong | Jan. 19, 2021 Mathematics

Shirley Steele | Dec. 5, 2020 Physical Plant

Roger Adams | March 19, 2021 Automotive Technology

CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

SPRING 2021

edro Pantoja’s relationship with Missouri Southern goes back nearly four decades, to when he and his late wife, Alice, purchased the Star Country Store at the corner of Seventh Street and Duquesne Road. Their business brought them into contact with students from the college, and properties the couple purchased at different corners of the intersection soon became home to members of the football team and the Kappa Alpha fraternity. Having come to the United States from Mexico on a student visa in the 1950s, Pantoja knows the value of education and made it a point to help others further their studies. “We lent money to kids who wanted to go to college,” he says. “They had to give me a copy of their grades and had to be making at least a 2.7 (GPA). We sent 12 to 14 kids to college.” Pantoja’s background is in international sales and marketing. Having traveled to 90 countries throughout his career, he says he was extremely supportive of then Missouri Southern President Julio León’s efforts to establish an international mission, and helped bring

ambassadors from China, Mexico and Taiwan to campus. Today, he continues to support students at MSSU by establishing the Pedro and Alice Pantoja scholarship. He has also established what is known as a charitable gift annuity (CGA). With a CGA, donors can transfer cash or appreciated securities (thus avoiding capital gains taxes) to the Missouri Southern Foundation in exchange for an immediate tax deduction and a lifetime stream of annual income which is also partially tax-free. When the donor passes, the charity keeps the remainder of the gift. The amount of the income stream is determined by many factors, but in almost all cases CGA rates are much better than investing in the money market or bonds. “Missouri Southern shows students how to make money with their hands and their ideas,” Pantoja says of his incentive to remain supportive of the university. The Missouri Southern Foundation encourages supporters to consult their financial planners when considering a charitable gift.

To discuss making a gift to the Missouri Southern Foundation, please call 417-625-3104 or 417-625-9622. To make a gift online, visit www.mssu.edu/giving.

M I S S O U R I S O U T H E R N S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y

3950 East Newman Road Joplin, Missouri 64801

If you are a parent of an alum and they no longer live with you, please call 417-659-LION or visit www.mssu.edu/alumnicontact to update their contact information!