The Woods Alumni Magazine 2023

2023

JORDAN GRIGGS

PAGE 26

Game Changer William Woods announces the addition of intercollegiate football for the first time in the University’s 153-year history

The official alumni magazine of William Woods University

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SNAPSHOT

Historic Haul Members of 2023’s record-breaking incoming class of new students posed for a group shot on the steps of Dulany Auditorium during new student orientation. At 456 students, combining both traditional and online, it is the largest in WWU history!

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THE WOODS Staff The Woods magazine is the official alumni magazine of William Woods University and is published annually by the Office of Strategic Communications. Its mission is to connect alumni and other members of the University community to the University and to one another.

Talons Up!

front cover: Notley Hawkins back cover: Courtney Kunkel

A DMIN ISTR AT ION

CONTRIBUTORS

Jeremy Moreland

John Fougere

University President

Vice President of Strategic Communications

Aimee Sapp

Jennifer Garcia

University Provost

Graphic Design Coordinator

John Fougere

Vice President of Strategic Communications

Dr. Tony Andenoro Vice President/Chief Advancement Officer

Jennifer Johnson Director of Alumni Relations

Jennifer Horton

Director of Marketing

PHOTOGRAPH Y

Hannah Hefflinger Amelia Thompson Alysa Jackson Courtney Kunkel Notley Hawkins Micala Austin

Summer Drawing Class John Selburg, Associate Professor of Studio Art, hosted a charcoal drawing class at the Kemper Center for the Arts during the summer os 2023. This class amoung many other camps and clinics kept the William Woods campus lively during the summer months.

Follow us!

@WilliamWoodsU and #WilliamWoodsU

©William Woods University. All rights reserved. For permissions, please contact marketing@williamwoods.edu.

To submit articles or update your alumni information and life events, please email alumni@williamwoods.edu or send to us at One University Avenue, Academic Building Suite 210, Fulton, MO 65251

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State of the University President Moreland visited with host Fred Parry on the CEO Roundtable radio program on Columbia’s 93.9 The Eagle in August, delivering a “state of the University” on the station with the highest ratings in mid-Missouri!

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in this issue 26 34 40 46

...

F E AT U R E S

Game Changer

William Woods announces the historic addition of intercollegiate football for the first time in its 153 years

Picture This

Opportunities and practical experience abound for aspiring filmmakers at WWU

A Stable Relationship

Celebrating 50 years of Equestrian Science

Media Access

Opportunities and practical experience abound for aspiring filmmakers at WWU

H IG H L IG H TS 6 Personal Graduation Ceremony An in-person commencement experience is given to a well-deserved 2023 graduate

14 First Ph.D. degree is established William Woods announces the new Doctorate of Philosopy in Ethical Leadership

16 Ribbon-Cutting The Center for Equine Medicine is officially dedicated

I N

E V E RY

5 Into The Woods Learn what’s happening in and around campus, with news about the University and its students, staff, and faculty.

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I S S U E 50 Echo Alumni News Class Notes Alum Spotlights Isaiah Buse ‘22 Michele Markey ‘82 Nathan Reid ‘05, ‘07

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From the President Think of some of your most poignant photos.

“I HOPE ALL OF OUR ALUMNI AND SUPPORTERS WILL JOIN US AS WE JOURNEY INTO THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED DAYS TO COME”

Keep the William Woods University family strong.

Please consider giving to your alma mater.

Perhaps they are of the standard big moments of life – a wedding day, graduation from college, birth of a child, a great vacation. Maybe they capture something that was beautiful in the instant but otherwise not noteworthy – a brilliant sunset, leaves turning on an autumn tree, water rushing down a crystal blue stream.

These photos capture but a moment in time. Snapshots that frame our life’s lasting memories.

I hope someday, all those who love our University will fondly look back on 2023 as one of those groundbreaking years when we came together and made history. Because frankly, considering all that has been accomplished in the past year, we did just that – academically, athletically and socially. Consider this 2023 edition of The Woods as your snapshot of an incredible year that was.

On the pages of this magazine, you will find a chronicle of a University that, while 153 years old, has never been more alive. A place with an amazing history that continues to make huge investments in its future. Like when we established both the first Ph.D and first STEM-related graduate program ever at The Woods. Or when we further signaled how committed we are to the total student experience, adding the most popular sport of all (intercollegiate football) to our growing lineup of sports opportunities and marching/pep and concert band to likewise boost opportunities for our students in the arts. Or when we took time to honor the 50th anniversary of the founding of our iconic bachelor’s degree in Equestrian Science, the first such four-year degree in the U.S. All of it happened in 2023.

But as noteworthy as all of these accomplishments are, along with many others detailed in this publication, there was one moment that stood out above all others. That day in August when we welcomed 456 new first-year students to The Woods, the single largest incoming class of new students in the University’s history. A proud day for Owls everywhere, and a preview of an exciting future that continues to unfold. I hope all of our alumni and supporters will join us as we journey into the highly anticipated days to come.

So for now, sit back and experience William Woods University in 2023 in the pages of this book. Years from now, you will want to remember exactly where you were when the Owls made history.

Go, Owls!

Jeremy Moreland, Ph.D. President William Woods University

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Into THE WOODS

courtney kunkel

... AND AROUND THE CAMPUS

NO BRIDGE TOO FAR If you strolled across the historic Senior Lake Bridge at any time over the past six or seven decades, the thought that it could one day be rebuilt for future generations might have seemed unfathomable.

But in 2023, the old structure that dates to the 1940’s was reborn, coming back stronger and more resilient than ever. Kind of like your alma mater itself. The Woods was accomplishing a lot of historic firsts that few could have foreseen in the past year.

Firsts like adding an inaugural Ph.D. program, intercollegiate football, and a marching/pep band. Or welcoming the largest class of new students in its history, who began their William Woods experience at the Ivy Ceremony by proudly marching across – you guessed it – our new Senior Lake Bridge.

WWU took a lot of bold steps and crossed a few new thresholds itself in 2023, marching into the future with new ways of creating, innovating and growing. And that is because, as has been proven time and again, whatever the task or goal to be accomplished, at William Woods, there is truly no bridge too far.

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Into THE WOODS HOOT!

Give ‘em Health!

William Woods secured a new partnership in 2023 with Christie Campus Health, one of the top mental health service providers in higher education, to provide 24/7 mental health support to the WWU undergraduate population. The new service, called Woods Online Wellness, provides students with access to a 24/7 clinical support line; visual and in-person therapy visits; and access to a customized Wellness hub, an online portal and app which includes original studentfriendly, research-based articles and videos.

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2023 graduate gets commencement experience of a lifetime at The Woods It was a sight that Sara Schaefer will always remember.

COMMENCEMENT Standing on a quiet William Woods campus on the sunny afternoon of Sunday, May 21, Schaefer thought she was there to take photos with her family in her cap and gown to commemorate her graduation from The Woods, all after the most unforeseen of circumstances forced her to miss the traditional on-campus ceremony on April 29th.

Suddenly, she spotted the entire William Woods administration, including President Jeremy Moreland, Provost Dr. Aimee Sapp, University Vice-President Dr. Ted Blashak and Chief Advancement Officer Tony Andenoro – all wearing full academic regalia - walking across campus towards her as she posed for photos! The University’s leadership team was there to surprise her, formally presenting her with her cherished diploma, with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and minor in American Sign Language, that she was unable to receive on campus with her classmates on April 29.

“I heard music and saw everyone walking towards me and was in shock,” Schaefer said of the impromptu commencement ceremony. “I never expected something that

special and personal – it was very emotional and I fumble over words remembering it because I get choked up.”

It was the moving culmination of a ten-year academic journey that included one of life’s most devastating disruptions, but Sara had made it. And The Woods leadership team dropped everything on a Sunday afternoon to be there, and show her how much they appreciated it.

Commencement Day 2023 was a festive day of celebration and recognition of achievement for hundreds of William Woods graduates and their families and friends.

For Sara Schaefer, due to finally walk across the stage after a determined ten years of study to receive her bachelor’s degree, the celebration was instead a quiet one at home with her family. It may not have been the traditional commencement experience on campus that she had once envisioned, but then her life experience over the past year has been anything but traditional for the wife and young mother.

A year ago last summer, Sara’s youngest child Ezra was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer called Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, or ARMS for short. The initial diagnosis for Ezra was rather grim, as doctors said his condition could worsen as time went on during what would be Sara’s senior year at William Woods.

“Last summer, we had a lot of decisions to make, including if I could continue my senior year at William TH E WOODS 2 02 3

“I NEVER EXPECTED SOMETHING THAT SPECIAL AND PERSONAL - IT WAS VERY EMOTIONAL.”

Woods,” Schaefer said. “It had taken me ten years to get to this point, with a lot of starts and stops due to life.

William Woods felt like a family to me, with the teachers really caring and getting to know each student. “ She spoke with two of her main professors, Julian Hertzog and Jes Brown, and asked their opinion if it was possible to even attempt to complete her degree due to the anticipated staggering number of days she would have to miss.

“They assured me that no matter what, we could work it out, that I needed to finish and that they were in my corner,” Schaefer continued. “With that reassurance and the support of my husband and loved ones, I continued on. No matter how many days I needed to miss, or unusual ways to make up points, even while Zooming into class while in the hospital while they followed Ezra’s journey on Facebook, they were always there for me.”

As the promise of Spring arrived in 2023, the Schaefers were overjoyed that Ezra began doing better than his doctors had expected in battling cancer, and arrived home in April after a lengthy stay in the hospital. Sara was also set to cross the finish line in her academic journey, set to receive that hard-earned diploma on April 29th, Commencement Day at The Woods.

But Ezra, still very weak from chemotherapy and with virtually no immune system, had to be admitted back TH E WO OD S 2023

into the hospital during graduation week when he developed a fever. He was released two days before commencement day, but doctors determined that he wasn’t healthy enough to be around people.

So commencement day for Sara Schaefer would be held at home, among her beloved family. After ten years, she would not have that experience of having the University’s leadership team, clad in academic regalia, handing her her diploma and personally wishing her congratulations. Or so she thought.

The Super Sam Foundation, a mid-Missouri based pediatric cancer foundation with a mission focused on raising awareness, funding and support for families of

Top: Sara receives a personalized ceremony

by Dr. Tony Andenoro as President Moreland and Provost Aimee Sapp look on Left: Sara and her son Ezra in front of the iconic WWU letters Bottom: President Moreland presents Sara with her WWU diploma

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Into THE WOODS Sara Schaefer with her family and the WWU administration following her May 21 graduation.

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children with cancer, had been providing valuable support to the Schaefer family in Ezra’s battle. Cassie Santhuff, founder of Super Sam, had arranged with William Woods to have Sara’s picture taken on campus in her cap and gown, with her husband and children, once Ezra felt up to it. They arranged to have the photos taken on Sunday, May 21, on the bridge across Senior Lake on an otherwise empty campus.

But Sara didn’t know was that the plans secretly involved the participation of some rather prominent individuals from the William Woods administration.

“I started to get suspicious when I saw that Cassie was recording,” Schaefer said. “She’s an amazing woman who always has something up her sleeve. I could not believe they would do something so special.

William Woods treated me like family as a student and showed support personally now as an alumnus.

I will always think of them as family.”

The WWU leadership team conferred Sara’s degree, and had her read the alumni oath. She wore her Beads of Courage with her regalia, with each bead representing a different treatment of challenge that Ezra faced through his battle, and posed for photos at the iconic William Woods W-W-U letters statue.

“Moments like this are my favorite part of higher education at William Woods,” said Provost Aimee Sapp. “We take great pride in meeting each student where they are. It was a pleasure to spend a Sunday afternoon with Sara and her family – it might not have been a conventional commencement ceremony, but it was the right ceremony at the right time for Sara and that is what made it so special.”

In the end, the “commencement day” that the Schaefers enjoyed on May 21, 2023 will resonate with the family for years to come. But it won’t be the last – Sara’s daughter Breanna will join the WWU family herself, as a first-year student, this Fall!

Former Bass Pro Shops President and Chief Operating Officer Jim Hagale talks business choices and his love for Arabian horses in visit to WWU

BY JOH N FOUGERE If there is one thing that Jim Hagale knows how to do, it is to succeed in the business world.

Wildly.

The former President and Chief Operating Officer for Bass Prop Shops, Hagale’s marketing and strategic business vision took him from creating his own apparel manufacturing and marketing firm as a young man to the top position at one of the most recognized brands in the outdoor retail industry in his remarkable career.

“I always wanted to show appreciaton for the generations that went before me, who did so much and endured so much to create better opportunities for their children like me,” Hagale said of his Depression-era grandparents and parents. “I always felt I was borrowing my last name until I earned the right to live up to it, with how I succeeded in my life.”

Hagale used how he has been incredibly successful in life through his stellar corporate career as a backdrop to his presentation to William Woods students, entitled “Choices Matter,” on Wednesday January 18 at Kemper Art Gallery, while also finding some time to address his other passion, Arabian Horses.

A native of Springfield, Missouri, Hagale founded Hagale Industries in 1969, beginning an outstanding career in apparel manufacturing and marketing. With just 25 employees, he began producing men’s and women’s apparel while marketing nationally to major branded catalogers and retailers such as Land’s End, L.L. Bean, J. TH E WOODS 2 02 3

THE WOODS

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Woods audience with words he has always lived by, courtesy of the late journalist and pundit Erma Bombeck: “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and I could say ‘I used everything you gave me.’”

Jim Hagale’s visit to The Woods was sponsored by WWU Vice-President/Chief Advancement Officer Tony Andenoro, and Gayle Lampe, Professor-Emeritus of the William Woods School of Equestrian.

Into

Crew, Nordstrom, Brooks Brothers, Joseph A. Banks and J.C. Penney. He eventually built it up to 3,000 employees and 12 plants, before hitting adversity – when the company went bankrupt and he lost everything at age 55.

But like those of his grandparents’ and parents’ generation, he picked himself up and made the best decision of his life – accepting an offer to consult a small, growing company called Bass Pro Shops.

“Always remember, choices have consequences. Decisions have consequences,” he said in his address to the WWU community. “You have the power to succeed, through your opportunities. But no one is going to hand you anything, you have to use your initiative and seize those opportunities.”

And Hagale did that, parlaying his part-time consulting position into management at Bass Pro in a period of months. First, he was promoted to Executive Vice President, responsible for merchandising, distribution, finance, human resources, and information technology for the famous brand. Then, he was named President and Chief Operating Officer in 2003, responsible for day-to-day operations of the company. Under his guidance and leadership, Bass Pro expanded its popular destination retail stores in the U.S. and Canada, with Sporting Goods Business Magazine naming Bass Pro the #1 Outdoor Retailer in American for two consecutive years.

“Our lives are an accumulation of the choices we make,” Hagale added, as he recounted turning a negative part of his life into an overwhelming positive. “It is all about personal responsibility, making the right choices and accepting the consequences of those decisions.”

Since retiring from Bass Pro Shops, Hagale has channeled his energies into breeding Arabian Horses, which began about 20 years ago when his young daughters developed an interest in the animals. And to say Hagale has taken to his new passion quickly is an understatement – he is currently the owner of a World Champion American Saddlebred Horse!

In fact, it was Hagale’s passion for horses that brought him together with William Woods. WWU Equestrian legend Gayle Lampe met him on two occasions, including the U.S. National Arabian Horse Show in Tulsa, Okla. (where Hagale’s horse became a national champion) and also the World Championship Saddlebred Horse Show in Louisville, Ky. She later stopped by Hagale’s newly constructed horse barn near Springfield.

“At that point, I fully realized how dedicated he is to the horse business, and, along with other success at Bass Pro and other ventures, knew he would have so much to offer our business and Equestrian students at William Woods,” Lampe recalled. “I asked him to come speak at WWU, in exchange for taking him on a complete tour of all the area Saddlebred barns, and he agreed!

This is what ‘horse people’ do for fellow ‘horse people!’”

Hagale has had spectacular success in his life, whether it is in his corporate career, raising a family of six children, or in his raising of champion horses. He left the William

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Into THE WOODS

Hoots Awards Cockrell Award:

McNutt Award:

This award is presented to a graduating senior who

This award is presented to a graduating senior who exemplifies the spirit and qualities of Amy Shelton McNutt including:

• Is socially and academically sound • Has participated successfully in a variety of campus activities, with a record of offices and chairmanships as well as general membership • Exemplifies outstanding campus citizenship with contributions to society • Has held some honors and membership in honorary groups • Exhibits loyalty to the University and its policies and a genuine regard for others in his/her personal relationships 2022 Winner:

• Consistency of purpose and selfless devotion to service without thought of reward • Interest in all types of volunteering, including organized community and philanthropy service situations • Engagement in a variety of diverse activities • Interest in doing things to help others who will follow • Positively embracing WWU with a willingness to serve as an ambassador to the broader community 2022 Winner:

HAYLEE SHELDON

GRACE MAUZY

Dads’ Association-Louis D. Beaumont Distinguished Professor Award for Excellence in Teaching 2022 Winner: LIZ HABEN Associate Professor of Equestrian Studies

Helen Stephens Award This is the Athletic Department’s highest honor. It is presented to an outstanding junior student-athlete who has achieved excellence both in the classroom and in the area of intercollegiate athletics. The award is presented to a student who demonstrates the talent, discipline and desire that best describes the legacy of WWU’s own Olympic Champion, Helen Stephens.

2022 Winner: NATALIE THOMAS Exercise Science Mexico, Missouri

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WILLIAM WOODS UNIVERSITY THEATRE DEPARTMENT

Proudly Presents the

Mainstage k, Fully Loded

Comedy & Drama

or The Widow Rootstoc

PARENTAL GUIDANCE RECOMMENDED

DULANY AUDITORIUM Sep. 21 – 23 7:30 p.m. and a matinee Sep. 23 2 p.m.

A comedy about playwright Olympe de Gouges, assassin Charlotte Corday, former queen Marie Antoinette, and Haitian rebel Marianne Angelle in the year 1793.

DULANY AUDITORIUM Feb. 22 – 24 7:30 p.m. and a matinee Feb. 24 2 p.m.

DULANY AUDITORIUM Nov. 16 – 18 7:30 p.m. and a matinee Nov. 18 2 p.m.

A Southern Comedy

PARENTAL GUIDANCE RECOMMENDED

SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES

Western Melodrama

PARENTAL GUIDANCE RECOMMENDED

2023-2024

DULANY AUDITORIUM April 18 – 20 7:30 p.m. and a matinee April 20 2 p.m.

ALL THEATRE PRODUCTIONS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. PRE-PURCHASE IS REQUIRED.

For ticket info, visit williamwoods.edu/Mainstage or call 573.592.4281

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EASY WAYS TO GIVE Your gift will greatly impact generations of students to come. Scan the QR code to donate today.

THE LOYALTY FUND

The Loyalty Fund, previously known as the Annual Fund, serves as a conduit through which generous donors contribute to the University on an annual basis, offering a sum of their choosing. These funds enhance unrestricted contributions, offering crucial assistance to a range of programs and aspects within the organization. This encompasses areas such as scholarships and technological advancements.

ESTATE PLANNING AND IVY LEGACY SOCIETY

Estate Planning and the Ivy Legacy Society encompass meticulously designed, philanthropic contributions and legacies that are endowed either during one’s lifetime or planned prior. These planned gifts include a wide array of options, such as trusts, life insurance policies, stocks, and retirement plans. Contributions made during the donor’s lifetime are publicly acknowledged. Members are honored publicly in the main corridor of the William S. Woods Academic Building.

SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT

A Scholarship Endowment stands as an enduring tribute to a cherished individual or program. The minimum requirement for establishing an endowed scholarship at WWU is $10,000. While initiating a fund with a smaller sum is possible, the donor must commit to contributing a total of $10,000 within five years for the endowment to take effect. Once the scholarship fund attains endowment status, the principal is judiciously invested, and the resulting interest is directed towards granting scholarships.

MATCHING GIFTS

Matching Gifts entails generous donations from corporations to institutions like William Woods. If you happen to work for a company that participates in matching gifts, your contribution to William Woods University has the incredible potential to be amplified thanks to your employer’s matching program.

HONORARY AND MEMORIAL GIFTS

Honorary and Memorial Gifts to William Woods University are a heartfelt tribute, either ‘in honor of’ a living individual or ‘in memory of’ a cherished departed soul. In both forms, these meaningful donations serve to commemorate and pay homage to members of the faculty, staff, alumni, and other individuals closely connected to the William Woods University community.

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University Advancement | advancement@williamwoods.edu | 573-592-4237 | university-advancement.williamwoods.edu TH E WOODS 2 02 3

Into

Patrick Shelepov

SPORTS

THE WOODS

NAIA Daktronics Scholar-Athlete Honorees Owls earning this honor must have a 3.5 cumulative GPA or higher and be a student for two full years at the institution (or one transferred).

MEN’S TRACK & FIELD Isaiah Buse Landon Dunlap Dustin Russell WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD Emma Clifford Ellie Dimond Alicia Engelbrecht Faith Gerling WOMEN’S GOLF Maria Ortiz Rozo Jennah Schell MEN’S GOLF Theo Brown Pheemawat Wimonrat MEN’S TENNIS Patrick Bernius Ben Grumley Jaeden Mukkaladyil Mladen Novovic Patrick Shelepov WOMEN’S TENNIS Marta Calvo Larraz Allison Kowalke Hanna Lindeboom Hannah Meyer MEN’S BASKETBALL Kevin Yang

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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Sydney Booker Olivia Hanks Katie Keilholz

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY Faith Gerling Harley Nale Kimi Putnam

BASEBALL Tyler Abney Logan Blumhagen Andrew Fyffe Brock Glavey Kaleb Haley Conrad Hansel Zach Krause Bryson Matthews Jack Niggemeier Jared Stephens Jackson Truesdell Kohl Weber

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL Lauren Adams Riley Alton Lauren Hiestand Ally Konarzewski Lanie Lowry Kassidy Phillips Tori Rosemann

SOFTBALL Taylor Bell Arianna Donovan Katie Gaus Jessica Keilholz Ally Mahoney Sarah Ostertag Annika Ramon Sarah Randermann Sydney Wilbeck MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY Landon Dunlap Dustin Russell

WOMEN’S SOCCER Belle Boschert Mackenzie Boyle Hannah Loethen Sam Poehlmann Abby Prather-Turner Abby Wilson MEN’S SOCCER Daniel Bateman Evan Filer Chais Paul Emilio Ruiz

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Into THE WOODS

The Doctor(ate) Is In William Woods establishes first Ph.D. degree program in University’s 153-year existence

BY JOHN FOUGERE HOOT!

Quite an Education!

According to 2023 rankings by one of the nation’s top college data and analytic firms, the School of Education at The Woods rates as one of the best in the nation among universities with the highest percentage of students enrolled in Education.

College Factual’s annual higher education rankings rated 2,248 four-year colleges and universities across the U.S. in the “Most Focused On Education” category, ranking WWU at number 11 nationally in providing a top education for prospective teachers.

Criteria for the ranking includes accreditation, student body caliber through average test scores, educational resources, degree completion and post-graduate earnings.

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Even after a century and a half of innovation, William Woods was still breaking new ground in 2023. Continuing that proud legacy, the University announced on May 4 the creation of a new Ph.D. degree program – a Doctor of Philosophy in Ethical Leadership – the first Ph.D. degree program in the 153-year history of WWU. The new course of study, which began being offered online with a summer residential requirement in August, takes the quality academic offerings at the University to a new level.

“Our new Ph.D. in Ethical Leadership, the first Ph.D. program ever offered by William Woods, is a groundbreaking moment in the long, proud academic tradition of our University,” said WWU President Jeremy Moreland. “Workforce analysts have identified leadership as the critical skillset needed in the 21st Century economy, and we are uniquely positioned to educate the next generation of business and industry leaders through our innovative Doctor of Philosophy in Ethical Leadership.”

The University received approval for the new degree from the Higher Learning Commission, a highly regarded institutional accrediting agency that is responsible for accrediting post-secondary educational institutions in the United States, in April.

The Ph.D. in Ethical Leadership consists of 54 credit hours, including a minimum of three required dissertation courses. The program can be completed in as little as three years. It is being offered primarily online and includes residency events where students can meet faceto-face with other students, faculty and industry leaders

ACADEMICS

during intensive three-day development sessions each year.

Coursework in the Ph.D. in Ethical Leadership program focuses on the top organizational leadership skills cited by employers, including complex problem-solving; creativity; ethics and morality; change management; resiliency through adversity; innovation; strategic communication; coaching and motivation; and clarity and efficiency for the advancement of organizational, community, and stakeholder goals.

“Sound leadership is critical for any organization that wants to succeed,” continued President Moreland. “The best organizational leaders are visionary and strategic, but also possess the kind of hard and soft skills to address the challenges modern workplaces face. Our students will not only understand the theoretical foundations of leadership but will hone the skills and perspectives that the world demands in our modern and future economy.”

The formation of the first-ever Ph.D. program in WWU history continues the University’s tradition of academic innovation, which includes offering the first collegiate four-year degree program in Equestrian Science in 1973; the establishment of online and graduate-level degree programs in the 1990’s, before many other independent institutions were doing so; the creation of the innovative LEAD program in 2000 to support campus engagement; and the first-ever private institution to offer the Show-Me GOLD program in the state of Missouri, in 2018, cementing the institution’s role in producing the next generation of military leaders.

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Graduation Cap Decoration Contest

Why follow us on social media?

WWU brought back the annual graduation cap decoration contest, and the winning results didn’t disappoint.

See what’s happening at The Woods

Elizabeth Saathoff

Connect with fellow alumni Brandy Maibes

Get the latest WWU news!

CeVana/Nan Borgstedt

Stay connected with what’s happening at The Woods

Christina Watson

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Into THE WOODS The CEM includes: A full-time doctor of veterinary medicine who has an extensive background in sports medicine, reproduction and general equine medicine and surgery A 17-acre property that is ideally suited for continued equine research and care Classroom space, a large indoor riding facility, six horse stalls, and isolation area for ill or contagious horses A home for the University veterinarian and his family, which allows him to be onsite in case of an emergency Opportunities for EQS and Biology/Pre-Vet students to assist with emergency care and treatment, perform research and gain practical, hands-on clinical experience

University officially dedicates Center for Equine Medicine While the William Woods Equestrian program marked its illustrious past during 2023, the 50th anniversary year of the founding of the first four-year degree in EQS at The Woods, there was also a significant look to the program’s future with the official opening of the innovative new Center for Equine Medicine (CEM) on April 14.

President Dr. Jeremy Moreland joined local and university leaders in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the CEM, a state-of-art clinical facility for the care of the University’s horses and for the education of WWU students studying both Biology/Pre-Veterinary and Equestrian Studies (EQS). The new facility, located on 17 acres just a half-mile from the WWU campus in Fulton, was funded by the generous support of private donors, including the Levy family.

“It is with great pleasure that we formally dedicate the William Woods Center for Equine Medicine today, which will serve as another impressive asset to our nationally-renowned, elite Equestrian Studies program,” said President Moreland, who officiated at the official ribboncutting ceremony on April 14. “This new facility will provide a unique opportunity for our students to participate in a hands-on classroom environment that will enhance their education.

We are grateful for the friends of William Woods who made this day possible.”

The opening of the 8,700 square foot facility marks a

new era for the EQS and Biology/Pre-Veterinary programs at The Woods, greatly expanding the medical procedures that can be performed while also exposing students to the best practices in Veterinary Medicine and equine care.

Built at a cost of $1.7 million, the CEM was funded by the support of private donors, led by Theresa Vonderschmitt, a long-time WWU benefactor, businesswoman and member of the William Woods Board of Trustees since 2004. A recipient of the Honorary Alumnus of William Woods University in recognition of the generous scholarship help she has provided to WWU students, her past donations have helped fund Equestrian Science and student diversity scholarships, and adult education programs at the University.

“This incredibly generous donation allowed us realize our vision of providing the veterinary and lab equipment that will be used to treat our horses and teach our students at the Center,” said Paul Schiltz, University veterinarian and associate professor in the WWU School of Equestrian Studies. “The Center for Equine Medicine will set William Woods University apart as the primary institution for prospective students who want to study biology, pre-medicine and equestrian.”

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top : alysha jackson ; left : amelia thompson

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Healing the Horse

Hoots Dr. Stephan Forsha,

Already ranked as one of the best collegiate degree programs in the nation, the American Sign Language (ASL) program at William Woods earned a new point of pride in early 2023 - a faculty member that is currently the only nationally Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) in the entire state of Missouri.

Jessica Brown, an Assistant Professor of

American Sign Language and a member of the ASL faculty at WWU for five years, passed the national CDI exam earlier this year and in doing so became one of only 219 Certified Deaf Interpreters in the United States. She also became the only nationally Certified Deaf Interpreter in the state of Missouri.

The accomplishment for Brown was a goal for her that was more than 15 years in the making.

“It has been a long, arduous and hard-earned road, and I am relieved to have accomplished the goals I set back in 2005, when I was a student at William Woods,” Brown said.

A 2010 graduate of William Woods who received her Master’s in Sign Language Education from Gallaudet University in 2015, Brown earned her Missouri Certified Deaf Interpreter certification in 2018. Among the courses she teaches at The Woods are American Sign Language 1-6, Deaf Culture, ASL Linguistics, Deaf Interpreting, Linguistics of Non-Manual Markers and Fingerspelling and Numbers.

Associate Provost for Graduate Programs at WWU, was chosen as one of 34 participants for Leadership Missouri 2023, the premiere leadership development program offered by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Leadership Missouri is designed to enhance the leadership skills of current and emerging leaders through an in-depth exploration of the state’s economic, political and social issues.

As part of Leadership Missouri, Dr. Forsha took part in seven monthly, two-day sessions held in different regions of the state, including St. Louis, Chillicothe, Kansas City, Springfield, Jefferson City, Lebanon and Columbia.

While traveling to each session, participants received the opportunity to network with Missouri’s top government, business and non-profit leaders, gaining a better understanding of the diverse industries and people that make up the state’s economy.

Liz Pemberton,

Dr. Lisa Johnson Northup, education

student of Dr. Kristee Lorenz, was awarded the Dissertation of the Year during the convocation ceremony in Spring 2023 for her outstanding dissertation titled “The Teacher Perception of Utilizing Brain Breaks in the Upper Elementary Grades for Improved Behavior, Attendance, and Cognitive Engagement.”

Dr. Kristee Lorenz (Assistant Professor of Education) served as Lisa’s dissertation chair, and their collaborative work has brought valuable insights to our academic community.

student of Equine General Studies, was acknowledged and awarded the Outstanding Senior Symposium Presentation award for her meticulously researched presentation entitled “The Art of Mounting a Horse” during the convocation ceremony in Spring 2023.

Liz’s presentation showcased her dedication to scholarly inquiry and her ability to disseminate knowledge effectively.

Dr. Miriam O’Callaghan, Associate Professor

of Management, published a book entitled “Decision Intelligence—Human Machine Integration for Decision Making” that explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be used to optimize decisions for improved business outcomes and efficiency, as well as looking ahead to the significant contributions Decision Intelligence (DI) can make to society and the ethical challenges it may raise.

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MUSIC

BY JOHN FOUGERE

This fall, The Woods announced the establishment of its first-ever marching/pep and concert band, set to begin operation with the Fall 2024 semester. The band will serve as the Owls’ marching band beginning with the inaugural WWU football season of 2024, and then transition into concert and pep bands for the remainder of the year. Jazz band and chamber ensemble are also being considered.

“A year of unprecedented history-making continues at William Woods with the creation of our firstever marching/pep and concert band, and we could not be more excited,” said Dr. Jeremy Moreland, President of William Woods. “Adding an official William Woods band will significantly add to our campus culture, build school spirit and provide new arts opportunities for our prospective students. And it fits right into our ongoing commitment of improving the total campus experience of all our students, both inside and outside the classroom.”

The University plans to recruit at least 18 members for the band’s first year of 2024-2025, building to eventually having around 70-80 members. Students will have an opportunity to audition for band scholarships of up to $5,000. Dr. Alex Kirby, Assistant Professor in the WWU School of Humanities, has been actively recruiting new band ensemble members

THE WOODS

William Woods to establish first-ever marching/pep and concert band

Into

Strike up the Band!

through serving as a clinician at area high school band rehearsals, and attending marching band competitions to connect with area directors and students.

“It truly is an exciting time for the arts at William Woods,” Dr. Kirby said. “So many institutions across the nation are cutting the arts and to see William Woods actively investing in them is exciting to see. With the addition of band coming for Fall 2024 and the revamped choral program for this year, The Woods can provide more students a place to call home and to be a part of something larger than themselves.”

The addition of a marching/pep and concert band at William Woods is merely the latest history-making news being made at The Woods during 2023. In May, the University announced the addition of the first-ever Ph.D. program in WWU history, a Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership, followed by the announcement of the establishment of the first-ever intercollegiate football program at William Woods, which will begin play in 2024. In August, the University also welcomed the largest incoming class ever at The Woods, 456 students, with 298 residential students and 158 online.

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Into THE WOODS

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“BE YOURSELF AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD, WHETHER THAT DIFFERENCE IS WITH ONE PERSON, IN YOUR FAMILY, YOUR COMMUNITY OR MAYBE EVEN THE NATION..”

An Officer and a Gentleman Major General Byron Bagby addresses graduates at the University’s 2023 Commencement ceremonies

BY JOHN FOUGERE

“Be yourself and make a difference in the world, whether that difference is with one person, in your family, your community or maybe even the nation.”

These words were the core of the advice bestowed upon 443 graduates of William Woods by Major General Byron S. Bagby, U.S. Army (Retired), who served as commencement speaker at both the undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremonies held on Saturday, April 29, at The Woods.

A Fulton native and current member of the WWU Board of Trustees who served 33 years in the U.S. Army, General Bagby referenced the storied history of William Woods in his address, citing legendary names in the University’s past that he had the opportunity to know, including Helen Stephens, Amy Shelton McNutt and former President Randall Cutlip. He used the acronym “GRACE” to inspire the graduates, with each letter standing for the five enduring qualities of life: gratitude, resilience, attitude, common sense and endurance.

“As you leave this institution, stay faithful to your core values,” advised General Bagby in his address. “The five values that are embodied in GRACE are certainly values to live by.”

Bagby’s address included valuable advice, and fascinating anecdotes, from his sterling military and professional career. His years in the military included serving as Commandant (equivalent to Chancellor) of Joint Forces Staff College; Chief Operating Officer of the Office of Military Cooperation in Cairo, Egypt, managing security cooperation programs valued at $1.3 billion annually; Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, Europe, directing all the activities of over 1,000 people in 30 locations, in nine countries; and assignments to five of the Army’s ten combat divisions.

He also served on the faculty/staff at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and in the Pentagon on the Joint Staff and Department of the Army Staff. He is a veteran of multiple combat deployments.

Since retiring from the military, General Bagby has served as Managing Partner of BMB Solutions, LLC, an independent consulting firm specializing in executive leadership Development and coaching, strategy development and governance. He is a certified True Growth Leadership facilitator, and Authentic Leadership Development Coach through the Chambers Bay Institute, and has coached more than 400 leaders.

COMMENCEMENT

In addition to serving on the WWU Board of Trustees, General Bagby is also on the Board of Directors for Management Support Technology, Inc.; the Board of Trustees for Columbia Southern University, and the Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion. He previously served as Chairman of the Board of Advisors for Ryan Consulting Group and on the Trustee Board of Westminster College.

General Bagby has earned a number of honors and decorations in his career, including induction into the Fulton Public Schools Hall of Fame; the Westminster College Lifetime Alumni Achievement Award; the Ranger Tab; the Master Parachutist Badge; two Army Distinguished Service Medals; four Defense Superior Service Medals; two Legions of Merit; and the Bronze Star Medal.

“Byron Bagby’s extraordinary life story, from serving his country at the highest level of leadership in the Armed Forces, to his impressive civilian career in fostering executive leadership development, coaching and strategy, served as an inspiration to our graduates” said President Moreland. “His career has been the epitome of service, leadership, professionalism, integrity and honor, and we were thrilled to have him deliver his powerful message at our 2023 commencement.”

General Bagby with President Moreland and Provost Aimee Sapp following his address to graduates on April 29, 2023

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LEAD SNAPSHOT 2022-2023 August 19, 2022 MAJOR MEET-UP During welcome week students are encouraged to attend this event to learn the details about the major they have chosen including meeting their professors.

The LEAD program — short for Leading, Educating, Achieving, Developing — encourages undergraduate students to attend campus events that augment the curriculum and help them grow in areas outside their majors. Attendance results in points toward annual tuition assistance. The program, which started in 2000, brings more than 500 events to campus every year. Here are a few highlights for the 2022-2023 academic year.

September 1, 2022 MEET THE WWU HORSES Students has a chance to meet with some of the worldclass horses of our natnionally-recognized equestrian program.

August 27, 2022 SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE CONCERT Each Saturday, Student Life organizes a wholesome and fun activity for students that stay on campus over the weekend. On August 27, they hired the House Band to play at the outdoor amphitheater.

October 2, 2022 HUNTER/JUMPER FALL DERBY The Hunter/Jumper equestrian department hosted a fall show/competition at the outdoor arena for the entire WWU community to stop in and enjoy.

August 29, 2022 MEN’S SOCCER GAME Our Owls played the Evangel Valor Men’s Soccer Team.

September 7, 2022 BLOOD DRIVE Students had a chance to donate blood at the American Red Cross Blood Drive on campus sponsored by the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.

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October 26, 2022 TIE-DYE T-SHIRTS The Art Club set up a tie-dye station where participants could dye their own tshirts.

September 17, 2022 WOMEN’S SOCCER GAME Our lady Owls played against Iowa Wesleyan University, which is now closed due to financial challenges.

April 18, 2023 FINANCIAL FREEDOM SIMPLIFIED Kurt Reid, author of Financial Freedom Simplified, presented useful tips on personal money management including wealth accumulation.

September 13, 2022 ACTIVE BYSTANDER TRAINING Participants joined William Woods Peer Educators as they dove into what it means to be an active bystander on campus. They discussed common issues someone may experience or witness during college and how students can help to utilize the “Step Up!” method. This was an interactive event and students were expected to actively participate.

October 27, 2022 MURDER IN THE WOODS It was a race against the clock as students attempted to solve the crime and catch the Copycat Serial Killer before he strikes again! Students had to find the crime scenes hidden across campus, gather clues at each, which, when all brought together, solves the riddle, reveals the location and identity of the killer, and saves the next victim before it’s too late!

September 14, 2022 TIME MANAGEMENT WITH ALLYSON LEWIS Founder and CEO of “the 7 Minute Life” (and William Woods Alum) Allyson Lewis gave a reviting presentation to students about improving time management at life and work with focus, commitment and purpose. She presented tools that help maximize precious time and inspired students to not take time for granted.

April 14, 2023 GOPO ASL GAME TIME ASL Assistant Professor John Brand III hosted an off-campus event at GoPo in the Brick District. ASL signs are learned by participants while playing games and having fun.

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SPEAK GREEK

Into THE WOODS

GREEK LIFE AT THE WOODS PROVIDES ONE OF THE STRONGEST FOUNDATIONS FOR SOCIAL INTERFACING AND NETWORKING WITH PEERS. 3

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Chapter Notes 1. DELTA GAMMA “The 2022-2023 school year has been wonderful with the women of the Delta Omega chapter of Delta Gamma. We started the year off by recruiting twenty women in the fall. We did a lot of new things this year since Covid such as hosting our first in-person Founder’s Day celebration in 3 years. We also completed our annual Seesaw for Sight in March for our philanthropy as well as a canned food drive to help our local community. In February a few members of our executive board attended an officer training conference in Ohio where they learned how to better their skills as a leader. Plus, we had two of our members fly to Nashville this summer to celebrate the 150 years of Delta Gamma with

women from chapters all over the country. We are looking forward to seeing our chapter thrive and cannot wait to see what our members will accomplish next year!

—Kelsey Evans ‘24 2. PHI GAMMA DELTA “The men of the Kappa Chi chapter of Phi Gamma Delta had a very successful 2022-2023 school year. With an amazing Fall recruitment, the future of FIJI is bright, with young leaders already stepping up and inspiring positive change within the fraternity and on campus.

The gentlemen of FIJI’s hard work resulted in victories among all philanthropy weeks, a multitude of successful fundraisers, and many community service hours logged across a variety of

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good causes. The tradition of the annual Frank Norris Pig Dinner continues this year as always, with graduate brothers from all over the world coming to attend. As we see off all our successful seniors, we do not mourn the loss of our brothers, but rather celebrate their impressive achievements and rest easy knowing they are well-prepared, and that we will see them as they return next year for another Pig Dinner to rejoice in brotherhood yet again.”

—Trystan Novak ‘24 3. ALPHA CHI OMEGA “The women of Alpha Chi Omega are closing off the semester with incredible accomplishments. This academic year, the Delta Chi chapter has strived

to excel in Greek life, campus involvement, academics, athletics, and equestrian studies.

Alpha Chi has many women who participate in diverse degrees, organizations, and athletics on campus. Many Alpha Chi women have received scholarships, internships, and awards from their academic and athletic accomplishments. Alpha Chi has devoted so much of their time into supporting the Greek life on our campus by supporting our surrounding Greek houses through their philanthropies and striving to create positive Panhellenic connections.

Alpha Chi has collaborated with other campus organizations such as the Black Student Union and Campus Activities TH E WOODS 2 02 3

Board to create fun an informantive events that educate students on a wide variety of important topics. Along with involvement on campus, Alpha Chi Omega also advocates for domestic violence awareness through supporting Fulton’s local Coalition Against Rape and Domestic Violence. The members who make Alpha Chi what is it have accomplished so much, and cannot wait to improve and grow as a part of William Woods University.”

—Justice Green ’24 4. CHI OMEGA “The sisters of the Tau Theta chapter of Chi Omega continue to flourish here at The Woods in academics as well as extracurricular activities! In the Fall of 2022, Tau Theta maintained Panhellenic Top Grades for the ninth semester in a row with a cumulative GPA of 3.48. We have had two successful fall and spring recruitment periods where we welcomed 23 new members home. On campus, our sisters are involved in many clubs, sports, and activities and participate actively in various leadership positions. We were also able to support

our national philanthropy, Make-A-Wish. We were able to raise over $1,000 through our Wish Week and Fries with Chis! We look forward to the many accomplishments our sisters achieve in the future here at The Woods!”

—Allyson Havens ‘25 5. PI KAPPA ALPHA “The men of Pi Kappa Alpha are men who strive to be the best men we can be and push ourselves in all aspects of our lives and through adversity, inside and outside the classroom. The standard that we hold is that you leave a better man than when you came. We work for our scholarly duties, being leaders for others, and of course, being gentlemen in our daily lives. We look forward to continue to emphasis

these core values in the coming years.”

—Michael Bhat ‘25 6. ALPHA PHI “The Delta Chi chapter of Alpha Phi has had a fantastic year both in and outside of the classroom.

We have welcomed 20 girls into our house this year and had countless leadership opportunities presented to them. At our Leadership Convention in June, we received an Excellence in Member Education and Programming Award to acknowledge our success in those fields. This year we have hosted various philanthropy events such as Mac n’ Phis, Heartthrob talent competition, and our Ivy Week! We also had two members be chosen to attend an Alpha Phi Leadership Institute in the fall in Florida! We 4

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are so proud of all the accomplishments that we have seen in the house this year, and we cannot wait to see what the future brings us!”

—Kadyn Dimler ‘24 7. SIGMA TAU GAMMA “This has been a great year the Zeta Mu chapter, with the youngest executive team in our chapter’s history and an increase in involvement with the university. Our executive team has had impressive results this year and runs our chapter with unmatched passion and dedication. Our success is also due to our brothers excelling at sports and school while producing great ideas to improve

the chapter. Although we’ve accomplished a lot this year, I’m extremely proud of co-hosting the first-ever charity basketball game with Pi Kappa Alpha. I can personally say connecting with my brothers through fraternity events, trips, or the halls of Serena has been one of my favorite things about Sig Tau. It’s one of the greatest honors I’ve had as a president to watch these men learn and grow into their best selves. While there is always room to improve, I believe the brothers have done a fine job of molding each other into responsible, capable noblemen.”

—Evan LaPosha ’25 6

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THEATRE PRODUCTIONS OF 2022-2023

45 Plays for 45 Presidents

By Karen Weinberg, Andy Bayiates, Chlöe Johnston, Sean Benjamin, and Genevra Gallo-Bayiates

Performed October 6-8, 2022

45 Plays for 45 Presidents is exactly what it sounds like, but every turn it takes is entirely unexpected. In each of these espresso shots of American history, a member of the flexible ensemble dons the star-spangled coat of the presidency and the group explores a surprising aspect of that administration. The short plays run on a spectrum from elections to impeachments, from personal stories to political battles, and from funny to tragic. Whether it’s a comedy roast of Thomas Jefferson, a nuanced monologue about social upheaval during the Johnson administration, or a mini-musical about George Bush Sr., you’re never going to know what’s coming next. A unique, thought-provoking, and wildly entertaining evening of theatre.

Silent Sky

By Lauren Gunderson

Performed December 1-3, 2022

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When Henrietta Leavitt begins work at the Harvard Observatory in the early 1900s, she isn’t allowed to touch a telescope or express an original idea. Instead, she joins a group of women “computers,” charting the stars for a renowned astronomer who calculates projects in “girl hours” and has no time for the women’s probing theories. The true story of 19th-century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt explores a woman’s place in society during a time of immense scientific discoveries, when women’s ideas were dismissed until men claimed credit for them. Social progress, like scientific progress, can be hard to see when one is trapped among earthly complications; Henrietta Leavitt and her female peers believe in both, and their dedication changed the way we understand both the heavens and Earth.

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THEATRE PRODUCTIONS OF 2022-2023

These Shining Lives

By Melanie Marnich

Performed February 23-25, 2023

Narrated by one of the workers, Catherine Donohue, These Shining Lives shows women getting a chance for a well-paying job in the 1920s and early 1930s, which was uncharacteristic for the time in the United States. Radium Dial, the company that hires the women to do the painting, tells them that there is no evidence that radium is harmful, and even that it has health benefits. After a period of time, the ladies then develop ailments, including jaw infections and bone pain. In the end, they have to travel to the city (Chicago) to find a doctor who is willing to put his name on the line and diagnose the women with radium poisoning. This in turn helps the four main characters decide to file a lawsuit against Radium Dial. Based on a true story!

The Sweet Delilah Swim Club

by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten

Performed April 20-22, 2023

Five Southern women, whose friendships began many years ago on their college swim team, set aside a long weekend every August to recharge those relationships.

Free from husbands, kids and jobs, they meet at the same beach cottage on North Carolina’s Outer Banks to catch up, laugh and meddle in each other’s lives. THE Sweet Delilah SWIM CLUB focuses on four of those weekends and spans a period of thirty-three years. And when fate throws a wrench into one of their lives in the second act, these friends, proving the enduring power of “teamwork,” rally ‘round their own with the strength and love that takes this comedy in a poignant and surprising direction.

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FEATURE

William Woods announces the addition of intercollegiate football for the first time in its 153 year History

KANNON PATTERON

Written By John Fougere FEATURE PHOTO BY NOTLEY HAWKINS

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JUSTIN SHARKEY

JORDAN GRIGGS

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I am convinced, imagine

KANNON PATTERON

said President Moreland, “and adding the biggest sport in collegiate athletics is the latest, most prominent demonstration of that game changing trend.”

The first games may have been months away – tackle football wouldn’t kick off until the Fall of 2024, flag football until 2025 – but before even taking the field, William Woods had already seemingly made the right call.

CALLING A NEW PLAY

Throughout its history, William Woods has prided itself on being innovative and forward-thinking, taking a unique route to success. In adding a new football program as a smaller, private university, The Woods was sticking closely to its historical playbook.

According to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame (NFF), only two other four-year colleges nationally reported adding football in 2023, and only one in 2022, out of 774 schools that sponsor teams, encompassing all NCAA divisions, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and independent schools. Only four additional schools added flag football.

But The Woods, true to its core, called the unconventional play.

“No other sport contributes more to the vibrancy of a college campus than football,” said NFF President and CEO Steve Hatchell. “University and college presidents clearly see the value of having programs on their campuses, and we applaud them for understanding the role football can play in the educational experience of all students.”

One university president who didn’t need convincing was Moreland, as he became the 13th president in WWU history in 2021.

“As a candidate for president, I saw an amazing, century-and-a-half old institution with rich traditions and an impressive catalog of academic programs, plus a really strong set of athletic offerings as well, through our strong membership in the NAIA,” Moreland remembered. “I saw adding football as a remarkable opportunity for us to grow our influence as a university, along with all the other amazing things that can come with that culture, especially among Fulton, Central Missouri and beyond.”

Recognizing the great opportunity on the gridiron included Athletic Director Steve Wilson, who joined William Woods in December 2022 and knew from experience what football could do for an institution like The Woods.

“I have seen, first-hand, what football – successful TH E WOODS 2 02 3

notley hawkins

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their dreams first,” legendary NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback Joe Montana once said. “They want it with all their hearts, and expect it to come true.”

On a warm afternoon in May, the William Woods campus community came together for an announcement on the patio overlooking Senior Lake to do just that – imagine something that had never happened before in The Woods’ 153-year existence. Although no coaches, players, uniforms, equipment or stadium existed yet, the people gathering under blue skies could nevertheless now not only imagine, but expect to see something unique in the near future.

William Woods was adding not one, but two new intercollegiate football programs, including men’s tackle and women’s flag football.

“This groundbreaking new direction for our university, a monumental commitment to the future of William Woods, typifies the remarkable growth and vitality of the institution, in spite of its 153 years,” said President Jeremy Moreland at the May 22nd announcement, where he was flanked by University leadership and replicas of the first-ever William Woods Owl football helmets. “Let me be the first to invite all Owls, and all who love the Owls, to make plans to ‘come home’ for the first-ever traditional, autumn homecoming celebration that will be centered around a home William Woods football game in 2024!”

With a huge throng of University supporters on hand, music playing and the Owl cheerleaders trying out new football cheers, the quintessential Spring afternoon suddenly had a whiff of autumn. A University that was already in the process of making history everywhere in 2023 – including a record incoming class of new students, and new academic programs like the first-ever Ph.D. in William Woods history – was undertaking the most groundbreaking exercise a small, private institution could make in athletics.

“Across the board, we have been growing as a university – in enrollment, academics and athletics,”

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courtney kunkel

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football – can and will do for an institution, and I’ve been part of pioneering, exciting efforts in the sport of women’s flag football. These are terrific additions that will bring a new element of excitement to our campus,” said Wilson, who came to WWU from Park University.

“William Woods Athletics carries a strong and proud tradition of success in all facets of a student-athlete’s experience, and our aim with both the football program and flag football program at The Woods is no different. We will win in the classroom, in our community, and on the field.”

Wilson surmised that adding football was in play when interviewing for the job as A.D., given the overall expansion mode Owls athletics was in during 20222023, adding seven new intercollegiate sports in all.

Once he was aboard, the move to add the two new sports began in earnest, an exercise he was more than familiar with.

“As both and athletic director and associate athletic director, I have been involved in starting 33 new sports programs in just the past eight years, including completely starting a new athletic program of 13 sports teams at one institution (Park University-Gilbert),” Wilson said. “You have to have a detailed plan in how you approach such expansion, and we are fortunate to have that, and the dedicated individuals here, to make it happen.”

And as you would expect, making it happen in time for the first-ever William Woods football game in the autumn of 2024 is requiring an all-out blitz. Both head coaches, Julian Mendez (tackle football) and Joe Schlagle (flag football), were hired in June (see inset) and are both actively scouring the nation for players to fill their rosters. Both coaches will have full-time associate head coaches, and graduate assistants to fill their coaching staffs. Because the American Midwest Conference does not have football, tackle football will compete in the Heart of America Conference, while flag is currently an independent in the NAIA. Schedules are being drawn up for both teams’ inaugural seasons.

The University has selected a vendor to install an artificial playing surface on the current WWU soccer field (Firley Field), which is scheduled for sometime in the Spring of 2024, and will construct amenities like bleachers and a press box later, after which the new stadium will be home for both Owls’ football and soccer. Football locker rooms and coaches’ offices will be housed in an existing campus building near the field, and an expanded weight room for WWU athletes has been moved from Weider Gym to a location in the old turf room inside the Stephens Sports Complex. Other equipment (helmets, shoulder pads, goal posts, sideline markers, etc.) will all be purchased over the next few months.

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MEN’S HEAD FOOTBALL COACH Mendez brings 13 years of coaching experience at different levels of college (NAIA, NJCAA, NCAA Division II) and high school (Class 6A Texas High School) football to the Owls, including serving as an Associate Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator.

“Julian Mendez is an exciting hire and the perfect fit to be the first head football coach at The Woods,” said Steve Wilson, Athletic Director at WWU. “He brings the ability to establish a brand and program culture that will set us up for success from the start, and believes in our vision. He is also extremely well connected and an incredible recruiter, and is already forming a staff that will be one of the best in the NAIA. I am excited to see Coach Mendez get to work, start the program and build it under his leadership.”

Mendez came to WWU from Odessa (Texas) High School (enrollment: 3,890), one of the most powerful high school programs in the country in the famed Class 6A division in Texas, where he served as the Offensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator. Previously, he served as Associate Head Coach/Offensive

Coordinator at Ottawa (Kansas) University from 2019-2022, where he was involved in every aspect of the football program, including preparing and implementing offensive game plans; coordinating recruiting; coordinating academics; overseeing eligibility; and personally recruiting players in junior colleges in California and Iowa and high school players in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

“I can’t thank President Moreland, Director of Athletics Wilson and the rest of the William Woods Family for this amazing opportunity to be the first Head Football Coach in program history,” Mendez said. “I am excited to get started and engrain myself in not only the William Woods community but also the community of Fulton! William Woods football will strive to put a product on the Field, in the Classroom and in the Community that Owl Nation can be proud of! Go Owls!”

WOMEN’S HEAD FLAG FOOTBALL COACH emerging sport,” said Wilson. “He is also a tireless recruiter who has been able to recruit and develop top-notch talent at his current position at Midland University. In our conversations and throughout the process, we learned that Coach Schlager will provide an unmatched program structure, and a winning culture that will set the tone for the start of this program.”

“It is a tremendous time to be an Owl!” said Schlager. “I am incredibly honored and excited to be bestowed the opportunity to lead the Women’s Flag Football program onto the collegiate landscape. I fully believe in the leadership and direction provided by President Moreland and Steve Wilson. I am confident that WWU possesses, most importantly, the quality people, but additionally the resources and desire to provide dedicated, purposeful student-athlete experiences and education.”

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notley hawkins

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Schlager joins the owls from midland university, an naia institution located in Fremont, Nebraska, where he served as Graduate Assistant Women’s Flag Football Coach. His responsibilities included coordinating the offense and special teams for the Warriors, as well as on-field coaching; scouting and recruiting; and ensuring NAIA compliance and student-athlete eligibility. He previously served as Youth and Adult Sports Program Director at the Ed Thomas YMCA in McCook, Nebraska, and also has experience as an Operations Assistant for the football program at Colorado St. University.

“Schlager received his Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Sport Management from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, S.D. A member of the football team at the NCAA-Division 1 FCS level school, he received the Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

“Joe Schlager is one of the bright flag football minds in this

ATHLETIC TURNING POINT

The addition of football will go down as one of the groundbreaking moments in the history of Owls’ athletics, which has had its share of classic memories. Like the most famous William Woods athlete of all-time, Fulton’s own Helen Stephens, for example, who won international acclaim by winning two gold medals in track at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, joining American legend Jesse Owens in famously upstaging Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.

In just the past 40 years, William Woods men’s and women’s athletic teams have also won a combined 55 conference titles, and made 98 national tournament appearances. During the same time period, the University has had 198 athletes earn NAIA All-American status, and seven former Owls who played professionally.

But the addition of the most popular sport in collegiate athletics is a real turning point for an institution that has been reaching turning points in a number of areas in the past year, in enrollment, academics and now athletics.

“It is thrilling to see a wide range of people who are wildly excited about adding football, but it is important to note that if it was something that wouldn’t make sense for the University in terms of our sustainability and long-term growth, it is something that we would not have launched,” Moreland said. “As we deeply researched the pros of adding football with our leadership team here, it quickly became clear that growing our athletic offerings overall, and football in particular, really made sense for William Woods University at this point in our history.”

There it is, that word again – history.

The Woods made a habit of making it in 2023, and with a first-ever representation on the gridiron coming up next year, it is clear that there will be more in the offing soon.

MEN’S FOOTBALL WILL BEGIN PLAY IN 2024, WITH WOMEN’S FLAG FOOTBALL FOLLOWING IN 2025.

FIRST HEAD FOOTBALL COACHES IN WILLIAM WOODS HISTORY

In the long, proud athletic history of William Woods, two individuals will always stand out as the first head coaches in their respective sports. For the Owls, that would be Julian Mendez, named on June 16 as the first-ever head men’s football coach at William Woods, and Joe Schlager, who was officially announced as the inaugural Women’s Flag Football coach at WWU on June 27.

“At William Woods, our vision is one of setting high standards and making progress in all we do as a University, including in academics and athletics,” said Dr. Jeremy Moreland, President of William Woods. “We all agree that both Coach Mendez and Coach Schlager fit well with our vision and is are the perfect choices for our inaugural head football coaches. We are excited to welcome Coaches Mendez and Schlager into the Owl family of students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends.”

JUSTIN SHARKEY

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Picture

This

Opportunities and practical experience abound for

aspiring filmmakers

at WWU

BY JOHN FOUGERE

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When Kaja Brunzlow ’26 decided to accept a scholarship to play tennis at William Woods University, she became one of those fortunate college students who get to study in a foreign country. What the Warsaw, Poland native didn’t know was that her choice of The Woods was going to open up another door for her to one of her passions: filmmaking.

Below: Kaja Brunzlow interviewing fellow film student Elvis Kaniaru for her podcast.

Right top: Senior Filmmaking student Sarah Laney edits her capstone project.

Right bottom: Film Major Collin Cossey sets up his next shot for a class project.

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“I always wanted to pursue a career in Digital Filmmaking, maybe follow in the footsteps of my mother (a television advertising producer),” said Brunzlow, a Digital Filmmaking major at WWU. “When I came here for tennis, I was surprised that William Woods had this major, because many schools do not.”

In her first year at The Woods, Brunzlow has become fully immersed in the major, working on a variety of projects like her first digital film advertisement (a perfume ad) and learning the ropes as a film professional, from composing to design, production to execution, of creative celluloid projects.

“You get to engage in a variety of practical projects, guided by professionals who inspire you, in a way that is way beyond textbooks,” Brunzlow said, describing her experience thus far at William Woods. “In one year, I have already been exposed to editing, screenwriting,

producing, color design, set design – it is always interesting!”

Brunzlow’s dream is to work in sound design back in Europe, where the need is great in the industry. In choosing William Woods to further her career goals, she has joined what is becoming a new tradition at the University.

Already Camera Ready William Woods had already offered filmmaking courses with its Bachelor of Science in Communication program for many years, including a concentration in digital filmmaking. The growing popularity of the concentration, along with the democratization of the technology, inspired the University to create a full Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Filmmaking. The degree is designed for students interested in entertainment, advertising/commercial video, YouTube, film studies, cinematography, video editing, screenwriting / script writing, directing, producing, sound design, music videos, short films, and feature films.

With students increasingly coming to WWU with more and more experience, it was time for the University to take a deeper dive into the art of filmmaking.

“Our students complete a variety of projects spanning the full production process including pre-production, production and post-production,” said Tony Weed, Dean for the School of Social Sciences and a longtime professor of Communication at WWU. “When students graduate from our program, they will have had the opportunity to work in and create each of these areas, making them extremely marketable. Additionally, students in the program create festival-ready works and will, by program completion, fund themselves entering their work into a variety of festivals.”

One of those festivals is the First Flight Film Festival, held each year at the end of the academic year in April in downtown Fulton, where aspiring filmmakers have their creative works shown to a wider audience.

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micala austin

On campus during the year, students can also hone their craft in a student production group called the Reel Fanatics Film Club.

There are also additional opportunities for filmmaking students to get involved in interdisciplinary roles, partnering with other programs to create content. For example, Digital Filmmaking students, in coordination with the WWU Social Work program, worked to record interviews and a panel discussion for digital dissemination. The students who worked on the project were compensated for that work and were able to help the Social Work program deliver content to local and distant audiences.

It is this kind of practical, professional experience that drew Collin Cossey ’26 to the program at WWU. A native of nearby Columbia, Missouri, Cossey loved the opportunity to explore many different paths of filmmaking at a more personal institution like The Woods.

“The personal nature of the film program at William Woods is what appealed to me – I know that if I need any kind of assistance, I can contact my professor and get the immediate help I need,” said Cossey, who would like to work as a cinematographer for a small film studio or in the postproduction field upon graduation. “Working to help shoot and edit a video for the School of Social Work as my first paid gig in the field was great experience, maybe the kind of opportunity in the industry that I may not have had access to at a bigger school.”

And those opportunities continue to grow at William Woods. For example, all WWU film students are TH E WO OD S 2023

now granted a free license to Avid Media Composer, the industry standard film-editing software.

“We encounter and work with a variety of software within the program, but Avid is one that will help set them apart from other film programs,” said Weed. “Avid is what most Hollywood films and TV shows we watch are edited on, so this is another great opportunity for our students.”

And beyond the practical experience film students at William Woods receive, they also get a first-hand look at some of the top independent films right on campus, before they are shown to the wider world.

Screen Time As the lights dimmed and the big screen flickered to life at Dulany Library Auditorium in the early evening of March 30, the audience of William Woods students, faculty members and staff were about to be drawn into a harrowing true story of a man whose life was upended by a false conviction.

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Below (left to right): Anthony Weed, Dean for the School of Social Sciences and Professor of Communication, Cynthia Kramer, Professor of Legal Studies, Timothy Kazmarek, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, Melissa AlpersSpringer, Assistant Professor of Communications, and Stephanie Washington, Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

“Free Chol Soo Lee,” a documentary about a Korean immigrant wrongfully convicted of a 1973 murder in San Francisco who inspired a movement to free him, was one of the screenings of the Indie Pop-Up Film Festival, which was new to William Woods in 2023.

“Free Chol Soo Lee” was the third film that was featured this past Spring on campus as part of Festival, under a new agreement between the University and KMOS-TV, the PBS-affiliated station based in Warrensburg, Missouri. Through the agreement, William Woods is now hosting pre-broadcast screenings of acclaimed independent films throughout the year, which include discussion of the films with WWU faculty and on some occasions, the creative teams behind the productions.

The new series presents a unique opportunity for William Woods students interested in a career in the film industry, or anybody in the campus or surrounding community who loves movies and the chance to see new, independent productions, to experience a genuine independent film screening.

After the March 30 Free Chol Soo Lee screening, members of the WWU faculty, including Weed, Melissa Alpers-Springer, Assistant Professor of Communications;

Cynthia Kramer, Professor of Legal Studies, Timothy Kazmarek, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, and Stephanie Washington, Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, facilitated a discussion of the many themes of the film with WWU students.

“Getting the opportunity to host the Indie Pop-Up film series on an annual basis at William Woods is a real benefit to our film students and Communication program,” said Weed. “For nearly 20 years, this series has brought hundreds of thousands of participants together across the country to view the work of aspiring filmmakers, and to discuss issues that impact local communities. We are thrilled to now have what will be a yearly event at William Woods.”

Hosting the Indie Pop-Up Film Festival is another great reason for those prospective students interested in a career in filmmaking to consider attending William Woods. Together with the practical experience students received in the program, William Woods film graduates are working in a wide range of occupations in the industry, including advertising and marketing agencies, broadcast networks and agencies, in-house video production departments and production studios, and even pursuing freelance and entrepreneurship opportunities.

For aspiring filmmakers at The Woods, it is clear that the experience is valuable, and the future possibilities are endless. After all, as the saying goes, the camera doesn’t lie!

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COME BACK TO THE WOODS... ONLINE

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For Psychology Professionals: Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology

Master of Education (MEd) in Curriculum and Instruction Master of Education (MEd) in Educational Leadership Master of Education (MEd) in Equestrian Education Master of Education (MEd) in Athletic/Activities Administration

Convenient 8-week courses designed for busy lives! Continue your journey with William Woods Global today.

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800.995.3199 williamwoods.edu/global globaladmissions@williamwoods.edu

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A Stable Relationship The William Woods Equestrian Science program marks its 50th anniversary WRITTEN BY

JOHN FOUGERE FEATURE IMAGE BY

NOTLEY HAWKINS

41 TH E WO OD S 2023

Title page top: photo taken in the mid-1980s in the UPHA arena which was built in the early 1970’s Title page bottom: taken in 2018 by Micala Austin Below left: Equestrian students and faculty perform a demonstration at the EQS 50th Anniversary Gala (The Mane Event) Below right: EQS 50th Anniversary Gala (The Mane Event) from left to right: Jackie Ware, Magen McLeod, Sandy Backer, Gayle Lampe, Kim Cowart, and Lynn McCallister

was as perfect as can be for celebrating all things horses. Sunny, comfortable autumn days that settled into cool, crisp evenings were the perfect backdrop for riding, training, or just appreciating the beauty of these remarkable animals, which was fitting at The Woods because the campus was engaged in a celebration.

A celebration of the establishment of one of the premiere programs in the history of the University, Equestrian Science (EQS).

For many, EQS has been the program that has not only helped make The Woods stand out compared to its peers through the years, but the one that also helped define the University more than any other. When people thought of William Woods, it was often the first thing that came to mind. In some areas, in 2023, it still is.

So in early October, the University welcomed back alumni, friends and supporters of this unique program to campus for “A Celebration Of 50 Years Of Equestrian

HISTORY MADE IN – HAWAII(?)

The decision to go all-in on Equestrian Science at William Woods was not made in a barn in mid-Missouri.

Or at a horse show in Kentucky, or a farm somewhere in rural America. Try the land of white sand beaches, luaus and lais.

During the presidential term of Dr. Randall Cutlip, he made it a priority every year to spread the good word about WWU in one particular geographic locale. Each January the president set aside time to do the real dirty work of the college, traveling to Hawaii to pitch Wil-

notley hawkins

The weekend of October 6 and 7, 2023 on the William Woods campus

Science at William Woods,” marking the anniversary of the establishment of the first-ever four-year degree in Equestrian Science in higher education in the U.S. Nothing was more instrumental in putting WWU on the map in the Equine industry, or forever cementing Equestrian Science with William Woods, than that singular decision five decades ago.

“A half-century of excellence and leadership in the Equine industry is something we take great pride in,” said President Jeremy Moreland in kicking off the festivities. “Over these past 50 years, William Woods has forged a remarkable legacy in the industry, with our graduates serving in it in virtually every capacity.

We are excited to come together with alumni and supporters of our EQS program this week to celebrate this amazing program and milestone.”

To mark the celebration, the University held a gala (The “Mane” Event), panel discussions, meetings with faculty and open houses at the EQS barns and Center For Equine Medicine. All who took part and love the EQS program at William Woods couldn’t help but marvel at how far this unique program has come in the past 50 years, and what an extraordinary legacy it has built.

And to think that the origin of this historic decision to create a first-ever bachelor’s degree in EQS, one that set the University on a path that has been so pivotal to establishing its brand, actually had its origins about as far from Fulton, Missouri as one could imagine.

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“If a girl in Hawaii knows the name of a horse at William Woods, then we need to make Equestrian a full-blown major.” liam Woods to prospective students on the islands. Hey, someone had to do it, and to ensure the job was done to his high standards President Cutlip personally sent himself, each and every January.

During one such trip, as the president detailed all the reasons why a young woman should leave Hawaii and travel some 4,000 miles away to attend The Woods, he blurted out something about students at William Woods receiving college credit for riding horses. Suddenly, a young girl in the audience asked if William Woods was the school with a horse named Midnight Wingo, which she had inevitably seen in a horse magazine. A TH E WO OD S 2023

light went on in Dr. Cutlip’s head, this one not due to the warm Hawaiian sunshine. When he got around to returning to William Woods, he summoned Ms. Gayle Lampe. And the rest, as they say, is history.

“Dr. Cutlip comes back from Hawaii and tells me to meet him in his office immediately,” recalled Lampe, who was the sole Equestrian instructor at William Woods at the time. “He asked me if we had a horse named Midnight Wingo, which of course we did, and I told him how he earned more points on the show circuit than any other five-gaited horse in the state that year. Dr. Cutlip said if a girl in Hawaii knows the name of a horse at William Woods, then we need to make Equestrian a full-blown major. And then he told me to go do it.”

So Lampe, the legendary figure at The Woods for 55 years who had arrived at the school in 1968 fresh out of college to run the school’s Equestrian program, now had the task of building the program which at the time had only 21 horses and co-existed with the theatre department.

Gayle Lampe on Midnight Wingo in 1969

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Left: Historical photo of Liz McBride Jones with Misty Valley Tirdes Below: WWU Board of Trustees member, Deborah Hutchison ’74

“We had to find more faculty members and add numerous courses, and fast,” said Lampe. “It was challenging, but it was fun. And then gradually, students heard about the new degree, which no other school had, and our enrollment began to grow.”

Of course, horses had been on the William Woods campus long before the establishment of the four-year degree. Students enjoyed riding them as a recreational endeavor for decades before the creation of the first structured riding program, in 1924. The school hosted its first-ever horse show in 1937, and horse riding continued to grow in popularity at William Woods through the years while other area colleges offering riding programs began to shut down, due to a lack of financial backing.

So horse riding at William Woods already had a great tradition before 1972, drawing students like current WWU Board of Trustee Deborah Hutchison ’74.

“I attended a summer riding camp in Milan, Missouri at which Gayle (Lampe) was my riding instructor and camp counselor, so when it came time to pick a college my father looked at me and said ‘you’re going to William Woods, aren’t you?’ I never looked at another school,” said Hutchison, a Chicago native. “Due to my

WE ARE LOOKING FOR

SCHOOL HORSES. Your generous donations make all the difference in the education of our equestrian students.

CONTACT: Western: Liz.Haben@williamwoods.edu Saddle Seat: Sarah.Track@williamwoods.edu Dressage: Bailey.McCallum@williamwoods.edu Hunter/Jumper: Kamerra.Brown@williamwoods.edu

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four years in the riding program at William Woods, I was able manage Indoor Polo in Chicago, which was an amazing experience.”

But starting a new four-year degree in Equestrian upped the ante at the college. Along with enrollment, the number of horses grew, and William Woods also built the new UPHA Riding Arena. New students entering into the program, like Liz McBride Jones ’75, benefitted from the new emphasis.

“They had the horses there, Gayle Lampe was there, and she had a wonderful program started, and I knew that I wanted to continue riding, so William Woods was an easy decision,” said McBride Jones, who came to The Woods from Louisville, Kentucky. “Once I was there, it was great fun – we would sit in the dorm and talk equestrian theory, and all other times outside of class we were at the barn. And Gayle, who I have known almost my entire life, was a wonderful teacher.”

McBride Jones took her experience at William Woods to forge an impressive career in the industry, running Forever Farms, a horse training and riding facility in Rayford, North Carolina, for the past 35 years.

“The draw of that program - the opportunity to be at William Woods, the friends that I made there and the horses that I was able to ride – has been huge,” she said.

“What that program has done for the horse industry, and all those (graduates) who are out there working in the various breeds, in different horse occupations all across the country, has been unreal.”

Sarah Ledford Byers ’77, who operated the prestigious Rock Creek Riding Club in Louisville, Kentucky with her husband for many years starting in 1980, echoed those sentiments. She double-majored in Business and Equestrian Science during her time at William Woods, becoming one of the first graduates of the fouryear bachelor’s degree program, and has watched with admiration how the program has grown since then.

“It has evolved tremendously since I started there,” said Ledford Byers. “Most of my classes were lessons out of books, along with riding. Now, it is much more hands-on, with the kids learning how to actually train a horse, and work on special projects. Having a four-year degree made it so that the college constantly needed to keep upping the bar.”

So much so, that “almost all of the assistant trainers we have hired over the past 40 years have been William Woods graduates,” she continued. “Over the years, you could see the level of knowledge and experience in William Woods graduates grow significantly, and it has always been the first place we go when looking to hire equestrian professionals.”

RIDING INTO THE FUTURE Today, Equestrian Science continues to be one of the most iconic, influential majors at William Woods. WWU alums can be found in ever-growing numbers in vir-

TH E WO OD S 2023

tually every corner of the industry, working as professional horse trainers, riding instructors, clinicians and horse show judges, photographers, equine sales representatives, college professors, recreational riding program instructors, boarding facility owners, Breeders Association employees or as part of the Equestrian media.

William Woods students also continue to proudly represent the University at horse shows around the country, just as they have for decades, racking up hundreds of championships while demonstrating just what an elite program exists at WWU. A program that continues to excel, whether it was building the new UPHA Riding Arena in the 1970’s, or opening the new cutting-edge Center For Equine Medicine in 2023. A program that holds the highest standards in training, research and horse health care, that is respected nationally throughout the industry.

The impact of one decision 50 years ago has been profound on not only William Woods and generations of EQS graduates, but on the equestrian world as a whole.

It has since stood the test of time as yet another example of how William Woods thrives on innovation and cutting-edge thinking, both today and a half-century ago.

“My greatest pride is all of my students who are out there in the industry,” said Lampe. “Many of my Saddle Seat students are world champion riders themselves, trainers of world champion horses, and teachers of world champion riders. So to see what I taught them being carried on, and to see how successful our graduates have become, it what is most gratifying.”

Gayle Lampe (middle) holds her Equestrian Instructor of the Year award next to Dr. Jahnae Barnett (right). Sarah Ledford Byers (left), Lampe’s former student, presented the award on behalf of the United Professional Horsemen’s Association.

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Written by John Fougere | Feature image by Amelia Thompson

With the Owl Media Corps, WWU students get an opportunity to gain practical experience in all varieties of mass media As the William Woods Owls women’s soccer team goes through their pre-game warm-ups on the Firley Field turf prior to a match-up with Culver Stockton College, a two-person broadcast team is positioned on a hill overlooking the field, going through the line-ups and breaking down the contest for an audience tuning in on a live stream.

Handling the play-by-play is Jacob Adams, whose smooth delivery and keen insight into college soccer sound like a seasoned sports broadcast professional.

But he’s not a veteran play-by-play man – not yet, anyway.

“My dream is to someday call professional soccer in England, perhaps in the Premier League, or to do it on Apple TV here in America,” said Adams, who is actually a freshman at William Woods from Raymore, Missouri.

Just one month into his college career, the Sports Communication major is already getting valuable, hands-on experience in sports broadcasting through a new program at The Woods called Owl Media Corps.

Owl Media Corps began at WWU with the Fall 2023 semester, and is an innovative new program that provides William Woods students with an interest in broadcasting with a wide range of experience in every kind of media, from broadcasting, production, radio and TH E WO OD S 2023

journalism, to new forms such as podcasting, streaming and social media. The new program is also benefitting the entire WWU community as a whole, through increased broadcast and digital coverage of University events, from campus speakers to theatre performances to athletic events.

It also provides students like Adams with the opportunity to get hands-on, practical experience in tasks like doing live play-by-play for an athletic event, just weeks into his first year on campus at William Woods.

“It is definitely cool, because at a bigger university, I probably wouldn’t get to do something like this, actually serve as a play-by-play commentator, until my senior year,” said Adams, who himself is a soccer player on the Owls’ men’s team. “Now, when I apply for internships and look for job opportunities, I will already have a lot more experience in broadcasting on my resume thanks to this program.”

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE Serving as the color man with Adams on the live stream broadcast is Casey Wieder, Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Enrollment and Media at WWU. Wieder, who came to WWU in October 2022, also serves as the coordinator of Owl Media Corps. Prior to coming

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Above: Freshman Jacob Adams handling the playby-play for a live stream broadcast of the WWU women’s soccer game Below: Freshman Colby Mitchell prepping for a broadcast of the WWU women’s volleyball game

to William Woods, he was Assistant Director of Athletic Enrollment at Ottawa (Kan.) University, where he was able to use one of his passions – broadcasting sports – to expand multimedia opportunities for students at the school.

“With my background covering athletic events at the NAIA level, I was able to help the institution transition over to a new software that was more conducive for production of athletic events,” said Wieder. “As interest began to grow I was able to help mentor several stu-

dents in the areas of play-by-play, color commentary, graphic design, radio and video streaming.”

Wieder brought that multimedia experience from Ottawa to William Woods, where his goal is to create a similar, wide-ranging program that will be attractive to prospective students interesting in a career in broadcasting and multimedia.

“This program will allow our students to find their passion in media while also receiving ‘on the job’ experience,’” said Wieder, whose background includes serving as a radio play-by-play and color commentator for men’s and women’s college basketball and college football. “At larger institutions, you wouldn’t receive the opportunity to be a producer for an event, operate a camera, create graphics, and sell ads. Owl Media Corps at William Woods will give our students the opportunity to do all those things.”

Students participating in Owl Media Corps at WWU are getting the opportunity to not only learn from professors in the Communications department by taking required production and survey classes, but to translate that knowledge into covering events on campus.

The University already has an on-campus radio station (94.9 FM, The Pulse) that is facilitating the broadcast of athletic and other programming to not only the local community but to a wider audience through online platforms as well.

The Woods is also considering other forms of software that will help increase the entertainment value of fans, students, parents and alumni who want to connect with the institution through the coverage of lectures, guest speakers, theatre performances and other campus events, or to tune into Owls athletic events streaming on wwuowls.com. Through Owl Media Corps, William Woods students are playing a crucial role, and gaining valuable experience, in production, graphic design, interviews, advertisements, commentary and play-byplay.

“Owl Media Corps is providing our students with the opportunity to not only gain real-world experience in the digital media profession along with their coursework, but is also giving students a greater opportunity to shape and be a part of the ‘voice’ of the University,” said Tony Weed, Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Professor of Communications at WWU. “It will help provide students interested in any media-centered profession a wealth of experience and knowledge, along with a professional portfolio upon graduation, which has a value that cannot be understated as they move forward into their careers.”

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MASTERING MASS MEDIA On an early October evening inside the Helen Stephens Sports Complex, Anderson Arena is buzzing as the Owls’ women’s volleyball team prepares to face off with the College of the Ozarks. As both teams bat around a dizzying array of volleyballs during their warmup for the match-up, WWU freshman Lilly Haynes is busy capturing the entire scene with her camera.

The Eureka, Missouri native is one of the members of the first class of Owl Media Corps students, and although she aspires to own her own horse barn someday as an Equestrian Science major, she is thrilled at the wide variety of media skills that Media Corps will provide her for whatever she does in her professional career.

“It’s a cool opportunity to be kind of thrown into things right away as a freshman, and get used to the media side of things,” Haynes said. “Everything, every job or business, needs some kind of media, so when I find out about this new program and how they needed people to do social media, photography, videography, editing - I was very interested.”

Haynes already has a small business on the side, providing horse riding lessons, and the experience she is getting through Owl Media Corps in areas like social media and photography are helping her to promote her business. And she is already receiving that hands-on experience in a variety of media just weeks into her first

year in college.

As is fellow freshman Colby Mitchell. Seated at the press table across the court from Haynes, the Higbee, Missouri native has head phones on, preparing to deliver the play-by-play on a live stream of the Owls’ contest with College of the Ozarks.

“Owl Media Corps gives me the opportunity to achieve what I want to do while in college, which is prepare for a career as a play-by-play man,” said Mitchell, a Sports Communication major at WWU. “The opportunities I have here to get this experience means that I can go out and do it now, instead of waiting until I’m an upperclassman like I would at a bigger school.”

William Woods is recruiting high school seniors who would be interested in Owl Media Corps, people like Adams, Haynes and Mitchell, which includes an annual scholarship. Being a Communications major is not a requirement for participation in the program, to ensure that students in other majors who have a passion for podcasting, broadcasting, graphic design or other forms can still get the opportunity to take part.

“We have seen current students, along with new students who arrived on campus this fall, having have an interest in Owl Media Corps, and are welcoming of them looking to be a part of this new and exciting program,” said Wieder. “If you are looking for a career in broadcast, or just want the experience for whatever you want to do, the hands-on that you get to do here as part of Owl Media Corps is certainly worth considering.”

Above: Freshman Lilly Haynes photographing the action at Anderson Arena Below (from left to right): Colby Mitchell (student), Lillian Haynes (student), Jennifer Horton (Director of Marketing), Michael Westphal (Social Media Specialist), Jenica Wieberg (student), Nathan Mueller (student), and Casey Wieder (Assistant Athletic Director for Enrollment & Media)

49 TH E WO OD S 2023

ALUMNI

Weekend Alumni Weekend 2023 was full of laughter and reminiscing. Alumni enjoyed many activities including a golf tournament, cocktail reception, bourbon tasting, ribbon-cutting of the Center of Equine Medicine, and a touching memorial for Linda Peterson Campbell. We look forward to another great alumni reunion next year.

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52 Alumni News 57 Reunion Photos 58 Class Notes and Featured Alumni 63 In Memorium 66 Alum Spotlights

Echo 51

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Alumni News S TAY I N -T H E - K N O W

The Power of Lifelong Bonds A Message from Your Alumni Director

Jennifer Johnson ‘08 Director of Alumni Relations 573-592-4237 alumni@williamwoods.edu

GIVING

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Alumni Award Winners Each year the WWU Alumni Association honors outstanding individuals who embody the spirit and mission of our esteemed alma mater. Here are the winners for 2023: Brooke Hostetler Green Owl Award Kerri Roberts, MBA ‘11 Graduate & Professional Alumni Award Karla Williams ‘79 Outstanding Service Alumni Award Kip Wahlers Order of the Owl Jill Molli ‘93 Alumni Award of Distinction Paul Schiltz, DVM Honorary Alumnus Award

SAC Outstanding Student Winners The following Student Alumni Council members are recognized for their outstanding involvement within our campus community. Here are the winners for 2023: Devin Sell Senior Ashley Wendt Junior Jaden Fousert Sophomore Mary Grace Huskey Freshman

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photos : previuos spread , alysa jackson ; left ; micala austin

Keep the William Woods University family strong.

Please consider giving to your alma mater.

It has truly been an amazing year since I came back to The Woods last autumn. I wanted to take a moment to share the profound impact and endless opportunities I have seen in the past year as I’ve reconnected with alumni from around the world.

Throughout this year, I have consistently heard a resounding message when discussing the enchantment of the connections and friendships forged at The Woods.

William Woods University has masterfully woven a tapestry of unity among its alumni that endures a lifetime. This community of alumni is not just a list of names; it’s a vibrant assembly of individuals poised to lead and transform the world around us.

Here are a few key insights I have gained and that I hope you’ll seize in the year ahead.

The Power of Networks: The moment you graduate, you have joined a network of over 20,000 alumni. This network is a source of wisdom, influence, and connections.

A Woods alumnus is always willing to help a fellow owl through friendship, connections, career development, and mentorship.

Mentorship Matters: As an alumnus, your wealth of wisdom and experience is invaluable to our current students. They look to you for guidance, advice, and opportunities as they navigate the complexities of career choices and if we are being candid, personal choices.

Giving Back: Our alumni feel a deep sense of gratitude for the education, experiences, and opportunities they received as a student at The Woods. In return, they contribute monetary gifts to The Woods to continue supporting the traditions and legacies. Alumni come back to campus to support campus events or student-sponsored events like the senior showcase, athletics, theater productions, or sharing their knowledge at a LEAD event. Alumni provide networking and mentorship opportunities to students and young graduates.

I strongly urge you to rekindle your connection to your Alma Mater and the alumni network Your involvement will make a profound impact on the future of our institution. Please consider attending or hosting an alumni social, update your contact information, attend Alumni Weekend, or make a financial contribution.

William Woods is a Small University with Big Opportunities!

AND THE AWARD GOES TO...

Know an alum that deserves recoginition?

Nominate them today!

Award of Distinction

Honors an alumnus who has achieved national or international fame in their chosen field. First presented in 1952

Green Owl

Honors an alumnus who has given years of service to the Alumni Association and the University. The recipient must have been an alumnus at least five years prior to receiving the award. Qualifying service activities include serving as an alumni club officer, class reunion chairperson or on the National Alumni Association Board of Directors; assisting with William Woods University events in the community; assisting University Advancement in their efforts to support the University and generally promoting the good of the University whenever possible

Honorary Alumnus

Honors an individual who is not an alumnus of the University, but who is selected for membership in the National Alumni Association in recognition of their distinguished personal achievement and outstanding community service

Order of the Owl

Honors spouses of alumni who have shown a special interest in promoting and supporting the University. Originally, referred to as the Woodsman Award (male spouse), changed to Order of the Owl in 1999 with the admission of males

Outstanding Service Award

Honors an alumnus for their many years of support in the multifaceted areas and outstanding service to the university. A recipient must have been an alumnus for ten years. Qualifying service activities include serving as an alumni club officer, class reunion chairperson or on the National Alumni Association Board of Directors; assisting with William Woods University events in the community; assisting University Advancement in their efforts to support the University and generally promoting the good of the University whenever possible

Graduate and Professional Alumni Award

Honors an alumnus who holds a graduate or professional degree from WWU, and represents excellence in achievement in their field.

Awards will be presented at Alumni Weekend on Scan for online nomination form.

Deadline is December 31, 2023 TH E WO OD S 2023

April 12-14, 2024

53

e r e h e go next?

Wld w

sho u

MAR. 12, 2023

JUNE 10, 2023

Bringing WWU to You! We’re excited about the continuation of Alumni Socials in 2024! Join us on this nationwide journey as we host socials across the states.

JULY 10, 2023

54 TH E WOODS 2 02 3

FEB. 16, 2023

NOV. 2, 2023

AUG. 24, 2023

AUG. 3, 2023

Visit our website for dates and locations – and let us know if you would like to have one near you!

JUNE 9, 2023

alumni@williamwoods.edu

55 TH E WO OD S 2023

Mark your calendars! We are thrilled to invite you to the much-anticipated William Woods University Alumni Weekend, happening from April 12th to 14th. This special occasion promises to bring together alumni from across the globe for a weekend of reconnection and reminiscence on our vibrant campus.

Golf Tournament

Alumni Social

Class Year Reunions

Wine Tasting

Tee off and showcase your skills in an alumni golf tournament, a spirited event that promises friendly competition and camaraderie.

Mingle and catch up with fellow graduates at our lively social event. It’s the perfect opportunity to forge new connections and relive cherished memories.

Reconnect with classmates and reminisce on the glory days. Celebrate your shared experiences and the enduring bonds that define the William Woods community.

Savor an array of exquisite wines. Discover new favorites and enjoy the company of fellow wine connoisseurs.

Don’t miss next year’s Reunion!

ATTENTION CLASS OF 1974!

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There is a special 50th class reunion just for you hosted by your fellow Owl, Cindy Logan ‘74.

Saturday, April 13 • 3:00 • at the AVC

TH E WOODS 2 02 3

Reunion Alumni

2023

See more photos on the WWU Alumni Facebook Page.

TH E WO OD S 2023

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Notes

Lucy Darris ‘00

CLASS NEWS AND NOTES FROM BEYOND THE WOODS

“Don’t be afraid to make ripples, we never know how far they may reach.”

Administration, was serving on the Eastern District Court Of Appeals at the time of her appointment, and also previously served as an Associate Circuit Judge for Montgomery County (MO) for 15 years.

1997

—CHRISTY WILSONSMITH ’80 Christy Wilson-Smith ‘80

1968

Virginia Lumb is living in Ojai, California which is famous for its beautiful pink sunsets where she recently experienced an earthquake.

Ginny is active and frequently attends dance concerts and theater, and she does intuitive counseling for people which brings her great joy. She loved her time at William Woods and can’t wait to Come Home to the Woods for a visit.

Margot Meyer ‘97

58

school with his AS degree in Computer Science.

1980

Christy Wilson-Smith was crowned Ms. Missouri Senior America 2023. The Ms. Senior America Pageant is the world’s first and foremost pageant to honor women who have reached the “Age of Elegance”. Christy is busy making appearances across the states. She speaks about “Overcoming Obstacles with a Positive

Attitude.” She contributes her success to WWU and Alpha Phi. (photo)

1992

Judge Kelly Broniec ‘92 was appointed to the Missouri Supreme Court

by Missouri Governor Mike Parson on September 12, 2023. Judge Broniec, who graduated from The Woods with a degree in Business

Margot Meyer has been the business and barn manager at Spring Mill Farm in Eads, TN for the last 10 years. She first moved to Memphis right after graduating from WWU (equestrian science degree), working at a local tack shop for several years.

After that, she managed a local barn for 5 years before going to work for a CPA for 6 years. She was able to bring her equestrian skills and accounting knowledge to Spring Mill Farm, working for head hunter/jumper trainer David Pellegrini. It’s ten years later and she is still loving her job! (photo)

1998

Amy S. Miller was awarded a 2023-24 Artist Support Grant from the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis and selected as a Missouri Featured Artist by the Missouri Arts Council for July 2023.

Amber (Terry) McGuire continues to work for Austin Community College as a Sign Language Interpreter. She also volunteers in July for the Louisiana Deaf Camp. Her second son graduated from homeschool high

2000

Lucille Darris is delighted to announce that she retired on February 1, 2023, after working 33 years in the Missouri Senate. Lucy’s last eight years were spent working as Enrolling and Engrossing Supervisor.

She is grateful to the many people who were a part of this amazing and incredible journey. (photo)

Sara (Piland) Swaim ‘04

2002

Dena Saak is proud to announce her retirement this year.

2004

Kim Zeiss retired from Steelville High School in 2016 after 34 years in education. She was an Adjunct English professor at Missouri University of Science and Technology TH E WOODS 2 02 3

DAN LANNING ‘10 WRITTEN BY JOHN FOUGERE

COLLEGE FOOTBALL LEGACY

It was a historic moment in May when William Woods announced the addition of intercollegiate football for the first time in its history.

But before the Owls actually suit up for their first game, hold a practice, hire assistant coaches, purchase helmets and shoulder pads or even recruit a single player, the University already had an interesting connection to the college football world - through an alumnus who resides nearly 2,000 miles to the west.

That alumnus is 37-year-old Dan Lanning, a 2010 graduate of William Woods University and head coach of the University of Oregon Ducks.

In 2009, 23-year-old Dan Lanning was coaching high school football at Park Hill South High School in the Kansas City area, while teaching physical education at a nearby elementary school. A native of Richmond, Missouri who played small college football at William Jewell College in Liberty, Lanning wanted a boost to his teaching and coaching career while continuing to work. So he turned to an option that thousands of working professionals have chosen for the past three decades – the graduate program at William Woods University.

“A group of my fellow teachers and I wanted to advance our careers while continuing to work, and William Woods made it so convenient,” Lanning remembered. “I enrolled in a cohort program that at the time was being taught at Staley High School (North Kansas City), and the curriculum was very applicable to real life and what I wanted to do.”

Lanning specifically remembered a skilled professor named Steve Sellers, a long-time education administrator who really instilled a sense of teaching ethics and organizational leadership on the young teacher and coach.

“We would have engaging open discussions about educating and leading young people, and really focused on important fundamentals that have been applicable to my profession,” said Lanning. “It was a valuable experience that has helped me throughout my professional career.”

TH E WO OD S 2023

Lanning received his Master’s degree in secondary administration from The Woods in 2010, and then embarked upon an amazing climb up the college football ladder that took him straight to the top before age 40.

Shortly after receiving his degree from WWU, Lanning – driven by his dream of coaching major college football - drove 13 hours to Pittsburgh to convince the head coach at the University of Pittsburgh to hire him after Lanning met him one time at a Kansas City-area football clinic. The bold approach led to his first job in NCAA Division 1 football, and with his foot now firmly in the door, Lanning moved up the ranks, coaching at Arizona St., Sam Houston St., and Alabama (under the legendary Nick Saban) before arriving at the University of Georgia. At Georgia, he started as an outside linebackers coach before ascending to defensive coordinator in 2019. With Lanning leading a fearsome Georgia defense, the Bulldogs won the national championship in 2021, allowing the red-hot young coach to make it to the sport’s Emerald City, so to speak, hired by the University of Oregon as the Ducks’ head coach at 36.

In his first year as head coach, Lanning led Oregon to a 10-3 record and a win in the Holiday Bowl. The young man who played football at a small school and burnished his leadership skills with help from graduate school at William Woods had realized his life’s dream. And those lessons he learned from WWU still resonate today, even from his lofty perch at the top of the hill in major college football.

“Ultimately, it was studying leadership, and spending a lot of time discussing and debating the qualities of great leaders,” Lanning continued, recalling what he takes from his William Woods experience today.

“We would take a holistic view of issues in education administration, and those lessons are things that are still a part of what I have to do as a leader today.”

When Lanning played football at William Jewell in the mid-2000’s, the school was a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and Heart of America Conference, which is what William Woods will compete in as well. He sees the parallel between the two institutions, as The Woods gets ready to begin its program.

“Attending and playing football at William Jewell was perfect for me, just as William Woods will be a great destination for other young men like I was,” he said. “It’s about learning the discipline needed as a student-athlete, making lifetime connections with teammates that are still my good friends to this day, competing at a high level. It’s clear that one can still achieve big-time goals after a small-school experience, and I wish William Woods University well in starting their program.”

59

KERRI ROBERTS ‘11

KERRI ROBERTS ’11 SEES THE LIGHT

BY JOHN FOUGERE

sors who were active business men and women and it was a great shift from the traditional professors I had during undergrad.”

After earning her MBA, Roberts’ career took her through high-profile positions at Veterans United Home Loans (Director of Learning and Development), the University of Missouri System (Human Resources Director), TIG Advisors (Chief Operating Officer) and Keystone Agency Partners (Vice President of Partner Operations). Each step helped enhance her professional experience as she prepared to make the big step to establishing her own firm.

“The biggest blessing has been having peers in business reach out to me and ask if we can talk about working together,” she said. “I pictured entrepreneurship starting out as hounding folks to give me a shot. I am grateful for the businesses who have been open to collaboration and have helped me to move into the next season of my professional life.”

So now that next season involves running Salt and Light Advisors.

Based in Columbia, Missouri, where she lives with her husband and son, Roberts serves the gamut of roles for her client companies.

“I have a client list that spans across mergers and acquisitions, insurance companies, medical spas, law firms, retail and non-profits, with some other companies in the pipeline,” Roberts said. “I act as an outsourced Chief Operating Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer or Chief Marketing Officer, depending on the contract. Some clients keep me on retainer, some I work with on a regular basis, and some are project-based.”

It might seem like running a one-person business from scratch is like drinking from a fire hose, but if anyone is suited to making it a success, it is Kerri Roberts.

“Right now, being newer, I’m building out all my tools as resources on demand, so I rarely have something I can easily pull from as a I create,” she said. “In the future, this will get easier as I have more repeatable processes. That said, I plan to always treat each client as unique because no two businesses have the same values, people or goals.”

TOP 20 UNDER 40 BY COMO MAGAZINE

60

After 20 years of building a career working in the business of others, Kerri Roberts decided to invest in someone else in 2023 – herself!

The Center, Missouri native who earned her Master of Business Administration from The Woods in 2011 had used her expertise in operations and human resources to bolster organizations for two decades. But then in April 2023 she saw the light, so to speak, forming her own company called Salt and Light Advisors, a consulting and advisory firm providing operations and human resources services to companies around the globe.

“In 20 years of working for others, I loved seeing how different industry leaders chose to make their own paths,” Roberts said. “I felt like I was able to learn from and alongside some of the best of the best and felt ready to bring what I learned and apply it to my own business.”

Roberts’ foray into owning a running her own firm was a step away from what had already been a highly successful career, including working in a Magnet healthcare environment, a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award winning company, a Fortune 100 Best Workplaces mortgage operation, a stint in public higher education and then on operations in the insurance industry.

She’s been named to the 2021 and 2022 Hot 100 and 2022 Elite Women by Insurance Business America, Top 20 Under 40 by CoMo Magazine and listed as Women in Power, Women Who Move the City and Women of Excellence by local publishers.

And then the same month she started Salt and Light Advisors, her alma mater of William Woods recognized her with the Graduate and Professional Alumni Award during Alumni Weekend 2023, one of the top alumni awards WWU bestows annually.

“It was a surprise and an honor,” Roberts said. “I’ve enjoyed maintaining my relationship with the university over the years, coming in to talk to students about business, mentorship and growth.”

Like so many working professionals, Roberts was already well into her career when she made the decision to attend The Woods in 2009.

“I chose WWU because I was working full-time and wanted to remain employed while getting my Master’s,” she recalls. “William Woods had a location in Columbia (Mo.) which was perfect for me, and I obtained my MBA in 2011.”

“I loved the real-life application in the MBA program at William Woods,” she continued. “I had profes-

TH E WOODS 2 02 3

Notes

brother Carson, 3, and big sister Everly, 5. (photo)

from 2016-2021. She was then a High School Critical Needs Counselor from 2021-2023.

Sara (Piland) Swaim graduated with a second master’s degree in May of 2023. Her first master’s degree was an MBA and my second master degree was an MAT. (photo)

2006

Darla Gaus retired from teaching special education students after 33 years.

She continues to work part-time as a special education director for Canton R-V School District. Her daughter graduated in April 2023 from William Woods, where she was a member of the softball team.

Stephanie Turner will become the first Coordinator for Sports and

Stephanie Turner ‘06

2011. In addition to her teaching and head coaching duties, Turner has served as assistant girls basketball coach, a member of the Professional Learning Communities (PLC) Leadership Team for South Callaway, a member of the Inside/ Out Coaching Leadership team for the school, a trainer for Crisis Prevention Intervention, and serves on the Board of Directors for YMCA of Callaway County. Turner and her husband, Justin, reside in Fulton. (photo)

Samatha Decker Finished her 15th year teaching middle school math. Her husband, Trent Decker ‘06, finished his 17th year as an aircraft mechanic. They have 2 boys, 12 and 8, who play all the competitive sports. They just built a 2100 sq ft fully turfed indoor practice facility, with batting cages, etc, for them and their teams to practice, and to also give lessons.

Activities for MSHSAA. She has been an Art teacher at South Callaway High School in Mokane, Mo., since 2008, and the school’s head cross country coach since TH E WO OD S 2023

2007

Dorothy Topa Willy and Tyler Willy welcomed baby Isabel on December 18, 2022. Isabel joined her big

2011

Kerri Roberts created her own business called Salt and Light Advisors located in Columbia, MO. (see page 60)

2013

Kathy (Dury) McKight became engaged February 27, 2022 while vacationing in the Bahamas. Her fiancé, Aaron, proposed on horseback on the beach!

They tied the knot on April 22, 2023 and in true WWU equestrian fashion she rode her horse down the aisle. The McKnights happily reside in Indianapolis, IN and are currently looking for their countryside oasis. (photo)

2014 Leigh Rice Rogers ‘14

2008

Dorothy Topa Willy’07

with three more on the way before the end of the year.

Whitney Williams (‘08 & MBA ‘10) now resides in Springfield, Missouri and works for CoxHealth in the hospital’s foundation as the Senior Development Officer. She was recently recognized as Springfield Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” for 2023. She married David Williams ’08 and they have three children ages 3, 5 & 7. Whitney is a loyal supporter of her alma mater and excitedly contributes to sorority recruitment efforts, the Women’s Golf program and is hopeful to assist in Admissions, Alumni and Development efforts to ensure the forward vision of the University. During her undergraduate time, she served as captain of the Women’s golf team, president of her sorority, Chi Omega, and was actively involved in the Legal Studies department.

2010

Anna Miller has published several books this year

Leigh (Rice) Rogers obtained her masters at SNHU in English.

After teaching high school English and yearbook in Hermann since 2014, she moved to South Calllaway High School in 2021 to continue teaching high school English. She is cur-

“I am so grateful to the many people who were a part of my amazing and incredible journey.”

—LUCILLE DARRIS ’00

rently entering her tenth year in education. She lives in Tebbetts with her husband, Kyle, and their two children, Lewis (5) and Adaline (4 months - born in March). They also have two dogs. Leigh enjoys spending her time outside hiking, enjoying her property, or on the boat with the family. Last year, Kyle and Leigh opened their home to host a foreign exchange student from Spain, Cristina, and have since come to think of her as a daughter. (photo)

Kathy (Dury) McKight ‘13

61

Baylie (Borman) Pezold ‘18

Notes

Abby Prather-Turner got engaged to the love of her life, David Wilder and they moved to Minot, North Dakota! She is working as a Marketing Content Specialist and Site Editor for SoccerPro.com, coaching youth soccer for the Magic City Legends, and is also a Volunteer Assistant Coach for the Minot State Women’s Soccer Program. (photo)

2015

Sara McCahon wrote and published Ginger Warrior Princess which recounts her near-fatal experience of being driven head-on into a semi truck on the highway while riding with a coworker. The story is tale of inspiration and triumph as she walks you through her process of recovery, from awakening from a coma with no memories of her recent life to learning to walk and speak again.

2017

Rebecca Robert started working as an equine vet assistant at Homestead Veterinary Hospital after her 2017 graduation, then in 2020 to current day working at MU Equine Hospital as a vet assistant in surgeries and lameness as an Equinosis Certified QTech. She still has her Appaloosa Doodles who came to college with her, also Willoux (a William Woods school horse in the Hunter/Jumper barn), who is enjoying retired life. She also has two other horses, an Arabian Maverick and Paint named Millie. (photo)

2018

Riley King married Alexis Willingham (‘20) at

Greenhouse Two Rivers in Springfield, MO on April 29, 2023. They dated all through college while both attending William Woods and playing for the soccer teams at WWU. Riley and Alexis have both also recently accepted new positions in their careers and moved to Utah on July 6, 2023. Riley is working as a Communications/Marketing Specialist for the Bank of Utah. (photo) Baylie (Borman) Pezold (‘18, ‘19) and her husband Michael Pezold are happy to announce the birth of their new baby, Adler, in August of 2023. Adler’s older brother, Langston, is now two years old. They now live in Fulton Missouri, where Michael is an engineer at Ameren. Baylie and Michael started dating in high school and throughout college. (photo)

2019

62

Rebecca Robert ‘17

2021

Anna Johnson (‘19, & ‘20) owns Sea Glass Business Solutions, business consulting and remote administrative support, and is currently the Office Administrator and Assistant to the Executive Director for Opportunity Hub, a large nonprofit. She also works closely with government officials and manages the books. Her business, SGBS, is supportive income presently primarily helping service industry professionals evaluate their business structure and offering

remote administrative support. Anna also is working on co-authoring equine children’s books with her mother who is already a published author which they hope to wrap up the first set next summer.

Craig Hutson (‘21, EdS ‘22) graduated with a Specialist in Educational Leadership degree from WWU and was recently promoted to the District Technology Coordinator for the Delta R-V School District. He is excited to start his 6th year of teaching in the district.

Hope Ratliff was employed at Fulton State Hospital after graduating Summa Cum Laude in April 2023.

The Fulton State Hospital is a forensic psychiatric hospital, where Hope is a Miscellaneous Professional who adopts various roles and completes a variety of tasks related to client interaction as well as treatment team needs. She is currently fulfilling her contract with the Department of Mental Health (DMH), and has received the level three Sign Language Fluency (SLF) necessary to provide non-clinical services directly in ASL. This was a part of the Deaf Human Services Scholarship that she was awarded in the fall of her junior year at WWU.

2020

Alexis Willingham married Riley King (‘18) at Greenhouse Two Rivers in Springfield, MO on April 29, 2023. They dated all through college while both attending William Woods and playing for the soccer teams at WWU. Riley and Alexis have both also recently accepted new positions in their careers and moved to Utah on July 6, 2023. Alexis is the photography and ceramics teacher at Ogden High School. (photo) Ashley (Johnson) Griffin (‘20, MBA ‘22) was accepted as a Corporate Trainer for a Fortune 500 company where she can continue to fulfill my passion for learning and teaching. She was recently accepted into the PhD program in Business Administration with a Project Management Cognate at the University of the Cumberlands. She started the PhD program in May and is on the path to become a professor in the business realm. She aspires to positively impact the lives of students through teaching just as her professors at William Woods University positively impacted her life.

Alexis Willingham (‘20) and Riley King (‘18)

2023

Grace Mauzy excepted a new position at the Missouri Wine and Grape Board after graduation, and is loving her new role. (photo)

Palmer Soberg has accepted a position in Columbia at the University Hospital in the blood bank. This position allows him to gain meaningful experience in a medical laboratory while continuing to stay involved with the Woods communi-

TH E WOODS 2 02 3

In Memoriam Abby Prather-Turner ‘21

ty and prepare to apply for medical school. As fun as this experience has been, Palmer already misses the friends and connections he made at Woods and cannot wait for Alumni Weekend 2024!

Victoria Sherwood is currently working for the Missouri Department of Conservation as a member of the invasive species team, which sprays invasive plants throughout the central region of Missouri.

She hopes to get on full-

Grace Mauzy ‘23

time with the Department of Conservation or move out-of-state and work with bigger animals in a refugee or a sanctuary.

TH E WO OD S 2023

1933 Elizabeth (Hendershott) Conour 1943 Pat (Rea) Maguire 1944 Audrey (Genders) Wilkes 1945 Willa (Wiltsie) Johnson 1947 Ellen (Feagin) Hyndman 1948 Wanda (Jeffries) James Patricia (Chase) Corman Mary (Schulte) Miller 1949 Ann (Schafer) Serwe 1950 Mary (Baker) Blue 1951 Mildred (Collings) Crum 1952 Linda (Reulman) Curran Shirley (Adams) Fishback 1953 Dorothy (Richards) Alexa 1954 Ruth (Young) Green Carolyn (Miller) King Lois (Mueller) Hostkoetter 1955 Joyce (Turner) Swanson Paula (Beasley) Thompson Arlene (Bruning) Tice 1956 Barbara (Burch) Courtney 1957 Carole (Yost) Clark-Werd Cynthia (Latta) Romanin 1960 Deborah (Graham) Sherer Andrea (McMullen) Wiley 1961 Carole (Krahn) Careaga Nancy (Humboldt) Femrite 1962 Mary (Rosendahl) Juhl 1963 Sally (Spencer) Hojczyk

1967 Sandra (Day) Must Martha (Morton) Stocker 1968 Veda (Pernich) Wolf Maribeth (Crymes) Jennings 1969 Jane Dutcher 1973 Vana (Malter) Galloway D’Loral (Crockett) McCarty Nancy (Baker) Patton Sarah (Campbell) Turner 1975 Sarah (Riddell) Meehan 1978 Twila (Gardner) Walker 1979 Dana (Moore) Chapman 1981 Carol (Thompson) Campbell 1991 Dru Anne (Abernathy) Powers 1994 Angela (Holland) Allen 1996 Erin Center 1998 Margie (Mollick) Tippett 1999 Lori Schroeder 2000 Scott Smedstad 2001 Russell Chrisman 2002 David Williams 2003 Marc Fountain 2005 Kathy Reimler Samuel Rogers 2008 Brenda (Scott) Trandum 2011 Steven Hamilton

Florence Phyfer Krause October 29, 1927 – May 7, 2023

Florence Krause, long-time beloved English professor at William Woods, passed away in Fulton on May 7, 2023.

Dr. Krause taught at William Woods for nearly 30 years, from 1971 until 2000, where she worked alongside her husband Irl, who was also a professor at The Woods. As a professor of English, she taught and mentored countless generations of WWU students until her 2000 retirement, and then continued her association with the University for many additional years, serving as marshal during the annual graduation ceremonies. She was also an accomplished pianist, musician, artist and writer.

But her greatest legacy was the lasting, positive influence she had on her students, fellow academicians and friends. She surrounded herself with books and music and was always ready to share her knowledge and abilities with anyone, but especially her students.

“I’ll never forget when Dr. Krause came to one of my softball games during my sophomore year, and asked me why she had never seen me in one of her classes,” remembered Romaine Sequin ’82, current chair of the WWU Board of Trustees. “I told her that I struggled with English, and she said ‘that’s all the more reason to study it and challenge yourself.’ Thanks to her, I not only took her classes, but I ended up gaining such confidence that I graduated with a minor in English. All because Dr. Krause so believed in me – that’s the kind of individual she was.”

“I was very fortunate to have Dr. Krause as my advisor,” recalled Kathleen Kunkler ’82, current treasurer for the WWU Board of Trustees. “Late in my freshman year I came to her with enthusiasm stating that I was going to major in English. I will never forget the look she gave me, while she calmly stated ‘well then, you’re going to have to learn some grammar.’ I laugh when I think of her taking this kid from Western Kansas that didn’t know a dangling participle from a preposition, and turning her into a daily writer!”

“She was an iconic teacher who prided herself in impacting students by teaching life and lessons,” Kunkler continued, “she was a true gift.”

63

Hand down your Legacy from Honor your William Woods family tradition with a commemorative graduation stole. The stole is designed so names can be added as future generations of your family graduate from The Woods!

For the 2024 Spring Commencement, deadline to order is March 1, 2024.

Order your stole today! only

64

$

75

For questions or for updating your current family stole, contact Jennifer Wenkel.

573-592-4237 or jennifer.wenkel@williamwoods.edu

TH E WOODS 2 02 3

65 TH E WO OD S 2023

ALUM SPOTLIGHT

Isaiah Buse ‘23 Isaiah Buse’s first job after graduating from The Woods: newspaper owner/publisher, at age 20!

BY JOH N FOUGERE

To say Isaiah Buse had a momentous 2023 would be the understatement of the year.

First, the Houston, Missouri (population 2,100) native graduated from William Woods on April 29 with a degree in Business, doing so a year early at age 20. During the month of May, he both married his high school sweetheart Danielle Walker and purchased his first home in Houston, located in Texas County in south-central Missouri.

Oh, and in the middle of all that, Buse basically created his own first job out of college – as a newspaper owner and publisher – when he purchased the Houston Herald, a weekly newspaper founded in 1878 with a circulation of slightly over 4,000!

In newspaper parlance, that’s called “burying the lead.”

“I could have succeeded in an office and still could if I wanted to 15 or 20 years from now,” said Buse, who worked at the Herald covering the local school board when he was in high school. “I could be an accountant or a financial analyst, I even have an active real estate license. But nothing else felt like it did here at the Herald.”

“Everyone’s purpose in life is to move the world a millionth of an inch. I wasn’t the first person to say that, but this was the place where I could move the world that millionth of an inch. I didn’t want to later wonder if I should’ve listened to my heart.”

So Buse became only the fourth Houston Herald owner since 1900, delivering something that residents in the small town can’t get anywhere else – local news.

“Newspapers are a vital part of democracy, and even more important than just newspapers is local, independent news,” he said. “A free press is an independent one, not owned by a large chain, and if it’s run by people who are affected by local matters, it is that much more effective. I hope that people understand the crucial function of local, independent news and continue the strong relationship the Houston Herald has had with the community for almost 150 years.”

20-year-old Isaiah Buse is now part of that history. But before he decided to return to his hometown and take the reins of a local institution, his own personal story needed

BUSINESS

66

TH E WOODS 2 02 3

to be written. At William Woods, where he studied a pair of subjects that are crucial to his new role – communications and business.

“I really enjoyed the small campus environment since I came from a town of 2,000,” said Buse. “The people were inviting and the professors cared about me as a person.

I was hard to leave everything I knew, but The Woods made that transition easier and gave me what I’ll always consider my second home.”

And The Woods was fortunate to get something back when Buse enrolled – an impressive young student-athlete who would’ve been an asset to any college community. After achieving a near-perfect score on his ACT, Buse was awarded one of the University’s most prestigious honors – the Amy Shelton McNutt Scholarship – a fouryear “free ride” scholarship that goes to one incoming student annually who exhibits academic achievement and outstanding character.

Buse competed for the Owls in track and tennis during his time at WWU, made some great friends and loved engaging his professors in academic debate and discussion. He also found great preparation for his professional career.

“Most universities can teach you the hard skills that you need in the workplace,” he said. “William Woods excels at helping students to step out of their comfort zone with interactive classes, numerous campus events, and an environment that encourages students to know as many people as possible.”

Buse also learned to challenge himself while at William Woods in a big way – taking additional courses and excelling in the classroom to enable him to graduate one TH E WO OD S 2023

year early, in April 2023.

“I found that I was able to challenge myself more than I might have been able to otherwise,” he said.

Turns out the future 20-year-old newspaper owner and publisher was just getting started challenging himself.

Perhaps it’s no surprise that a young man as impressive as Isaiah Buse had always been planning for such a banner moment. With his college paid for, an absence of any debts and a frugal lifestyle, he was able to save and invest money from a young age. Which allowed him to have the necessary funds to go big and purchase the Houston Herald, a scant few days after his William Woods commencement.

Today, Buse runs the show at the Herald, a weekly publication with some 1,250 subscribers that sells around 4,000 papers each week, while attracting about 200,000 page views of the paper’s website each month.

“As owner/operator, you need to do whatever it takes to get the news out in all mediums (paper, website, email, text, social media, etc.) each week as well as run the business side of things,” he said. “I do some writing, page design, website maintenance, social media, reporting, ad sales, and all the things it takes on the accounting, financial analysis, employee management and business side to keep the operation running.”

At just 20, Isaiah Buse is most likely the youngest William Woods alumnus that you will ever meet. But he’s also further along than the vast majority of us are at such a young age, and though possessing a future that is bursting with the promise of endless possibilities, is very well living in the present moment.

“EVERYONE’S PURPOSE IN LIFE IS TO MOVE THE WORLD A MILLIONTH OF AN INCH. I WASN’T THE FIRST PERSON TO SAY THAT, BUT THIS WAS THE PLACE WHERE I COULD MOVE THE WORLD THAT MILLIONTH OF AN INCH.”

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ALUM SPOTLIGHT

Michele Markey ’82 makes her mark

BY JOHN FOUGERE

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When Michele Markey ascended to the pinnacle position of her sterling professional career, as Chief Executive Officer of SkillPath in 2020, there was virtually no time for celebration.

Instead, she inherited the mother of all “all hands on deck” situations.

A leader in learning and development that provides professionals with strategic and innovative training solutions in a variety of business areas (leadership, management, communications, information systems, human relations law and policy, etc.), the Mission, Kansas-based company was a heavy hitter in the industry, delivering training services to Fortune 500 companies, the federal government, the U.S. military and even franchises from all four major professional sports leagues.

But in early 2020, SkillPath was on a treacherous path – to potential disaster.

“When I first came here, this company, and indeed this industry, was in dire need of innovation,” said Markey, a 1982 graduate of William Woods. “The industry hadn’t really changed since I started doing training in the early 1990’s. In fact, when I started at SkillPath, I was shocked to see that some of the training programs they were using were ones that I had actually written myself back in the 1990’s.”

At the time, the company was relegated to having its

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hundreds of trainers traveling across the United States to deliver in-person trainings; even the scheduling system was done by maps and pushpins as opposed to by computer. Such a primitive way of operations became an outright disaster in March 2020 when COVID-19 hit, which grounded the in-person way of delivering training.

Suddenly, SkillPath had to innovate, and fast – and freshly minted CEO Michele Markey was up to the challenge of providing the leadership to turn on a dime.

“99 percent of our training was in-person, and we were flying trainers all over the U.S. and some international. But then COVID hit, and it all came to a screeching halt,” she recalled. “Our entire business was live, so we had to turn this around really quickly.”

With the company’s financial situation deteriorating rapidly, Markey did what Skillpath’s training programs are all about – she stepped up and led. The company’s training programs were converted from a standard 6-hour live training format to a 3-hour online version virtually overnight, which included rewriting much of the program’s content. All 200 company trainers had to be retrained themselves on the new technology. And SkillPath’s customer service team had to contact thousands of clients to reschedule live trainings to virtual.

It was a case study in leadership under pressure, and it worked. From taking over a company sitting on a financial precipice, in the midst of global pandemic that necessitated a complete overhaul of the company, SkillPath ended up having the most profitable year it had had in ten years.

Which just happened to be Michele Markey’s first full year as SkillPath CEO. A Kansas City native, Markey began her college career at a large public university before transferring to The Woods for her last three years, a decision that changed her life.

“What I found was that the atmosphere, the smaller atmosphere, plus the connections you could make, and that people knew your name, and that your professors knew you, all meant that you could really find a home at William Woods,” Markey said. “I just knew that I could find a better, more high-quality college education at William Woods as opposed to my first choice and I still believe that to be true.”

Her college years were filled with making lifelong friends from across the country, at least one of which she still vacations with to this day. She loved getting to know her professors at what was then still an all-women’s college, was active in her sorority (Alpha Chi Omega), a member of the prestigious President’s 20, and formed valuable friendships with the men at cross-town Westminster College.

She also found what proved to be the best preparation for her professional career while at The Woods.

“Being able to serve in leadership positions while at William Woods, including President’s 20 and in my sorority, really helped me as an adult to understand what TH E WO OD S 2023

it means to be a leader,” she said. “I truly gained a sense of self, and how to make an impact, because you could really make an impact at William Woods.”

Which she did, graduating in 1982 with two majors (Political Science and Social Studies) and two minors (Secondary Education and Psychology).

Following WWU, Markey began teaching, earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and served as an adjunct professor at several colleges. She eventually drifted into consulting and training, found she loved it, and formed her own company, Heartland Training Solutions. Her skill and experience in creating and producing training programs for businesses eventually led to a plum position with the Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, where she rose to the level of Vice-President of Kauffman FastTrac.

From there, she was recruited by the leadership of SkillPath, joining the organization in 2018 as Vice-President of Training Operations and then CEO in 2020. Today, the company is in great hands with her at the helm, with 200 trainers, 300 independent contractors and $50 million in assets.

“We do all types of business-related training, in what could fall under the category of durable skills training,” Markey said of SkillPath. “That could be leadership and management, communication, Microsoft products, occupational safety, human resources – pretty much anything a professional would need to upskill or re-skill themselves to keep up with the evolution of changing jobs and workplaces.”

For example, SkillPath is at the forefront of training businesses and professionals in timely and emerging challenges, staying on top of recent trends life cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and how to manage during a pandemic like COVID-19.

“I have the ability here (at SkillPath) to make a difference, and to take an organization in a direction that is relevant and impactful,” she said about her leadership tenure at SkillPath. “Personally, it is very energizing to me to step into a place where one must always be innovative, with more competition in this field than ever, which helps sharpen your focus.”

Cleary, Michele Markey’s focus is on keeping an innovative, industry leader going in the right direction, just three years after her leadership of a great team of employees helped rescue it from the brink.

“Don’t ever be afraid of striving for things that are outside of your comfort zone,” she advises today’s college students and young professionals. “Take stock of your abilities, your willingness to learn and ability to think and just move forward, always!”

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ALUM SPOTLIGHT

NATHAN REID ’05, ’07 A “Hall” of an honor

“There are stars in every city, in every house and on every street.”

So went the lyrics in a long-ago rock song. But in Nathan Reid’s case, why settle for being merely a star?

The two-time William Woods graduate (B.S. in Sports Management/Business Administration in 2005, Master of Education in Athletics/Activities Administration 2007) is actually a member of the hall of fame in his profession, elected to the American Family Insurance Hall of Fame in 2022!

“The Hall of Fame honor was overwhelming, something that I had strived for every day for 10 years, and something that I had set my eyes on from the day I was hired as an agency owner for the company,” Reid said. “To be in the elite company and be in the Hall of Fame is so fulfilling knowing what we have accomplished not just for the company, but for our clients, and thinking back on all of the relationships we’ve formed over these ten years, the lives we have impacted, and the claims we’ve helped them through, it’s something special that I will always cherish.”

The numbers speak for themselves. Since Reid took over the agency that serves the Lake of the Ozarks, Ashland and Columbia, Missouri a decade ago, he has been

able to increase the number of clients served from 2,400 to 3,500, while almost doubling the sales of the business from $1.8 million of annual premium to $3.4 million of annual premium. But he’s not stopping there – his goal in the next decade is to take the number of clients up to 5,000, and increase to $5 million in annual premium.

“Just by how competitive our team is, I’m sure we can do it!” he said. “Every day, we just try to help as many people as possible and be a difference maker in their lives.”

Which shouldn’t surprise anyone who knows Nathan Reid, whose life has always been highly influenced by sports.

JOCK OF ALL TRADES A Sweet Springs, Missouri native, Reid was a two-time all-state baseball player and all-conference/all-district soccer player for the Northwest High School Mustangs.

His passions from a young age were sports and business, and he found a way to combine the two at an institution that would change his life – William Woods University.

“I chose to attend William Woods after attending an ACT Prep Course at WWU in high school,” he remembers.

“I fell in love with the campus, the friendliness of the people, plus the ducks, the lakes, the green spaces and the architecture – it just felt like home! My favorite memories are all the relationships created and the time spent with friends, most of us still stay in touch 20 years later.”

While at The Woods, Reid enjoyed a variety of roles that combined his loves. As an undergrad he worked for Coach Bob Jones in Weider Fitness Center and helped establish the intramural sports program on campus. He completed internships with the University of Missouri Athletic Department and YMCA. While a graduate student, he served as a grad assistant in the Athletic Department actually running the intramural sports program.

He also served Interim Director of Residential Life, was an Area Coordinator and helped establish the campus leadership program while pursuing his Masters in Athletic and Activities Administration.

“My education at WWU touched on so many areas within my major that it made me so well-rounded for any sports or business/finance career,” said Reid. “I had courses in Risk and Insurance, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Advertising, Economics, Business Management, Money and Banking, plus Leadership courses that all contributed to my success. I use each of these courses

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every day in my line of work where I wear multiple hats, from insurance agent to business owner, entrepreneur and CEO.” The competitive sports guy also found time at The Woods to meet his most important teammate – wife Bethany (Campbell), a 2005 graduate of WWU in American Sign Language. Nearly 18 years later, the Reids are together getting ready to welcome their sixth child in June 2023!

ALL IN THE FAMILY (INSURANCE BUSINESS) After spending a stint working for the Kansas City Chiefs as a season ticket sales representative, Reid’s career took a turn to the business side. Over the course of a few years, he worked with mortgages, banking, and real estate with positions such as Production Manager with Veterans United Home Loans, Assistant Branch Manager for Central Bank, Business Development Manager for Joe Machens Dealerships and as a Realtor with Century 21.

“I was always looking to grow professionally and improve my skill set, and one thing I loved with real estate, for example, was the sales and service side of it,” he said. “This was a perfect transition into a successful career as an insurance agency owner. I was passionate about helping as many people as possible, but also being rewarded for your results, which is why it has been a perfect fit for me, my passion and my skill set.”

And so it was that Reid moved into his life’s calling, joining American Family Insurance as a Licensed Insurance Agent in 2011. Just one year later, he became the Agency Owner of the American Family Insurance branch covering Osage Beach, Columbia and Ashland, Missouri, directing the company’s services insuring clients for their auto, home, condo, watercraft, commercial and life.

During his time leading the office, his agency has been named Missouri’s Best Insurance Agency the past four years by Missouri Magazine.

“As a business owner, I’m responsible for hiring of staff, budgeting, marketing, advertising, leadership, customer service, sales and customer satisfaction,” Reid said.

“Every day is a new day with different opportunities that arise to help our clients, whether it is assisting with a claim, or a billing question, or with coverages they have.

I’m blessed to have a great team that works for me, as well as dedicated service from American Family Insurance’s parent company.”

It was one such visit to the American Family Insurance corporate headquarters in Wisconsin that motivated Reid to seek fame – as in the company’s Hall of Fame. There was a physical wall that had a display of plaques of all the agents and greats of the company that had achieved Hall of Fame status at the headquarters.

Once Reid’s competitive athlete instinct kicked in, the rest was history.

“At that moment, I just knew that I had to be up there on the wall as well. I had to do whatever it took to make the Hall of Fame,” Reid remembers. “Nights, weekends, whatever it took, I would help as many people as possible to earn this award. I was committed to this goal.”

And commitment is what it took. To earn Hall of Fame status, Reid was required to be named an All-American Agent for the Company for ten years in a row. Becoming an All-American Agent was decided by customer satisfaction, year-to-year customer retention, plus sales of signing up new customers. But Reid achieved it, with an experience that provided some valuable lessons for today’s college students.

“Find something that you’re passionate about, use that passion to set a goal, and do whatever it takes to achieve that goal,” he advises. “That kind of determination will set you apart from others in any field. Create relationships and maintain them. As you start out in your profession, stay passionate, and try to make a difference in people’s lives. If you stay passionate, you can make a difference and impact the world!”

Words to live by, that might just might send you to the Hall of Fame. Like Nathan Reid.

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Equestrian 50th Anniversary Celebration

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Read the story on page 40.

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