The first year of Dr. Jeremy Moreland, the 13th president in William Woods history
For the first time in three years,William Woods students were back to seeing the world in 2022, as the university’s unique Woods Around the World program journeyed to Europe.
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.
front cover: Courtney Kunkel inside cover: Courtesy of Travis Tamerius back cover: Brianna Thoenen
Jeremy Moreland University President
Aimee Sapp University Provost
John Fougere Vice President of Strategic Communications
Dr. Tony Andenoro Vice President/Chief Advancement Officer
Jennifer Wenkel Director of Alumni Relations and Community Partnerships
John Fougere Vice President of Strategic Communications
Jennifer Garcia Graphic Design Coordinator Alysha Galla Sports Information Director
Micala Austin ‘13 Courtney Kunkel ‘19 Katrina Berban ‘23 Brianna Thoenen ‘11
Alicia Engelbrecht ‘23 Amelia Thompson ‘26 Follow us!
Dr. Tony Andenoro, Senior Director of Leadership and Strategic Initiatives at WWU, spoke at the launch event of the new Center for Leadership and Character.
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The Advancement team, partnered with the Board of Trustees, requested suggestions from WWU students for names of the new walking trail around Junior Lake. The new trail name was announced at the ribbon cutting on Oct. 7, 2022. The name of the trail is... Screech Trail.
For many first-year students at The Woods, the first time they see their parents and family members since move-in day in August is during Fall Family Weekend! The event this year offered a variety of activities on campus for parents and families to experience what life at WWU is like for their student.
The first year of Dr. Jeremy Moreland, the 13th president in William Woods history
After being grounded for three years, WWU students return to the world of global travel
Increases in new student enrollment, online offerings and intercollegiate sports mark 2022 at The Woods
Featured Alums
Veronica Townsend ‘21 Darryln Johnson II ‘17 Alum Spotlights
Jenny Stracke ‘09
Amanda HerrimanReichel ‘09, ‘11, ‘13 Joe Parenteau ‘13
It has been saId that lIfe Is not measured by tIme – it is measured by moments.
We are all born, and we all die. In between comes the unique story of our existence, marked with the milestones that tell the tale of a well-lived life. Graduations. Weddings. The birth of children. Perhaps its personal achievement, like finishing a marathon for some. For others, maybe it’s being there to see your beloved team win the World Series.
April 7, 2022 will always be such a moment for me. On that cool spring day, I was honored and humbled to be inaugurated as the 13th president in William Woods history. The chance to lead this storied, historic institution is certainly the pinnacle of my professional career, and to mark that honor on inauguration day with my family, former colleagues and of course the entire WWU campus community was a memory that will live with me forever.
But as cherished as that moment will always be, it is what happens after, in the actual steering of the University, that is of course what truly matters. Recall the character portrayed by Robert Redford in the classic 1972 movie The Candidate, who after a bruising campaign and upset victory in a U.S. Senate race, ends the movie by staring out blankly into a throng of his supporters and asking “OK, what do we do now?”
Here at William Woods, the answer to that question can be found in the pages of this 2022 edition of The Woods. What we have done together is facilitate a spectacular year of growth at WWU, from our incoming class of new undergraduate students that increased by over 40 percent in one year; to the establishment of a bold new initiative called William Woods Global to significantly grow our online course offerings; our addition of six new degree programs in professions that are the most in-need by today’s employers; our expansion of our athletic department, with the addition of three new intercollegiate sports; and even the new campus landmarks we have constructed, including the new Senior Lake Bridge, the Screech walking and fitness trail around Junior Lake and new W-W-U letters statue.
No institution exists, let alone thrives, for 152 years without being innovative, cutting edge and looking into the future. That has been the William Woods Way for generations, and it is a commitment I will always maintain to present and future Owls for as long as I am so honored and privileged as to lead this great university.
So perhaps, “What do we do now?” might one day become a catchphrase here at The Woods. Because when it comes to moving our beloved university forward, the answer is limitless, as in “as much as we can imagine.”
Go, Owls! Jeremy
Keep the William Woods University family strong. Please consider giving to your alma mater by visiting williamwoods.edu/giving
Jeremy Moreland, Ph.D. President William Woods University
“NO
LET ALONE THRIVES, FOR 152 YEARS WITHOUT BEING INNOVATIVE, CUTTING EDGE AND LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE.”
William Woods dedicated a new walking and fitness trail, the Screech Trail, around Junior Lake in October. Which was only fitting, because after two years of pandemic-related disruption, the campus community was excited to embark upon a new path, if you will, during 2022, one that moved the University forward into the future. And no matter where you walked across our campus this year, the future was everywhere – including the inauguration of a new president for the first time in 32 years, a replacement of the Senior Lake Bridge for the first time in seemingly forever, the new faces of the largest incoming class at WWU in five years, and expanding academic and athletic programs. Our University was feeling a fresh jolt of newness and excitement this year, and despite its 152 years in existence, it is clear that in 2022, the journey – whether around lakes, across campus or into the future – is just beginning!
“Playing sports is great, an amazing experience. But it’s an experience with an expiration date.”
And with that, Jonathan Jones began his pitch to a gathering of William Woods student-athletes at Cutlip Auditorium on January 24, one of two sessions the up-and-coming motivational speaker and podcaster held during his visit to WWU.
Jones has been traveling the country speaking to collegiate student-athletes for the past several years, focusing on his passion: helping student-athletes market themselves to prepare for life after collegiate athletics.
That message found a receptive audience with athletes representing every William Woods team.
“I realized when my time as a collegiate student-athlete was coming to a close that I wanted to
help others in my position, to succeed in life beyond earning a college degree,” Jones said in his interactive presentation. “Because all of you should know, or be thinking about – how do I invest in myself? How do I move on from athletics, and succeed in the real world?”
Jones’ mission has been to meet students where they are, help them uncover their passions and arm them with applicable tools to achieve individual success. Before coming to William Woods, he had brought his message of empowering individuals to use their gifts to fulfill their life’s purpose, to student-athletes at such universities as the University of Texas at Austin, Baylor University, the University of Tulsa, Southern A&M University and the University of Louisiana-Monroe.
“The Association of Student-Athletes wanted to help our student-athletes in all aspects of their life
and give them tools that are helpful and impactful in their life after athletics,” said WWU Association of Student-Athletes President Abby Prather-Turner. “We decided to bring Jonathan on campus because he offered something unique to a truly unique group of students on campus. As student-athletes we are often told we have a unique set of skills that can be used in the real world, but often do not know how to use them. We wanted to bring someone to campus that has shared similar experiences to the student-athlete population and can show us how we can apply these skills in the real world, and Jonathan was the perfect fit.”
Jones recounted his own personal story to WWU student-athletes in his presentation, about how he had his own collegiate basketball career at the Uni versity of Texas-Tyler cut short due to injury. Frus trated and working at a sales job some time later, a supervisor told him his poor attitude was holding him back. So to face that problem, he changed his atti tude and created a “No Complain” campaign. Eventu ally, his campaign grew on social media and became a movement, with its own hashtag. And just like that, he learned an important lesson.
“The best way to market yourself,” Jones said, “was to find something you are passionate about and start a movement.”
From there, Jones realized that people who start successful movements, or create successful products or services, are people who identified a problem and decided to solve it. He knew from his own experience that some ex-college athletes sometimes struggle trying to move on and be successful in the real world after the uniforms have been put away for good. So, he began his own podcast about it. And soon found himself telling his story and motivating college ath letes around the country as well.
“Playing sports uniquely qualifies you to market yourself in the real world,” he added. “All the qualities that made you a successful athlete – maybe it’s being disciplined, or showing up early, or never giving up, etc. – are all qualities that are in demand in the pro fessional world. These are all tools for you to use in marketing yourself.”
It all boils down, Jones told his WWU audience, to three crucial practices that all student-athletes who want to be successful after college should live by: Choose Your Mission. Identify what you are most passionate about, and get to know successful people who are currently doing it. For Jones, it was helping collegiate student-athletes market themselves and succeed in the post-college world.
“You have the power to shape your own future, and blaze your own path,” Jones said. “You just have to know how to put yourself out there and go after it, even if it’s out of your comfort zone.”
Mikayla Burton, a junior Education major at William Woods, is the recipient of the first-ever Grow Your Own Scholarship. Under the terms of the award, she will teach in Fulton Public Schools following graduation and receive $6,000 toward graduate school tuition. She will also have a unique opportunity with FPS for professional development and priority teaching positions while she continues to work to earn her degree at William Woods.
“We are very pleased to partner with FPS, and congratulate Mikayla Burton for being the first recipient of the Grow Your Own Scholarship,” said Joe Davis, Assistant Professor of Education at WWU. “This scholarship is an effective way to identify local teaching talent, provide those individuals with financial assistance for their professional development and continuing education, and promote the placement of quality William Woods Education graduates in the FPS System.”
At the end of every academic year, William Woods University recognizes a select group of students with its OWL Achievement Award.
Here are the recipients for the 2021-2022 academic year:
MADISON CROSSWHITE Graphic Design O’Fallon, MO
KASEY HAZELL Human Performance Hutchinson, KS HANNA KNIPP Psychology Auxvasse, MO
MELANIE NORBY Equestrian Science St. Peters, MO
ELIZABETH TAMBORSKI Management and Leadership High Ridge, MO
LINDY WILSON Physical Education (K-12) Columbia, MO
McNutt Award: Cockrell Award:
ABIGAIL BENNETT English Education Jefferson City, MO
ABBY PRATHER-TURNER Business Administration Lenexa, KS
William Woods once again received the designation of being an official Military-Friendly college or university in 2022. Home of the Show-Me GOLD and Triumph programs, The Woods made the national list again due to its commitment, effort and success in creating a sustainable and meaningful benefit to the military community. WWU was cited for offering many options to help military members and veterans pay for their education whether on campus or in online or evening programs, including locking in tuition rates once an individual begins at WWU regardless if deployment occurs. The list is sponsored by Victory Recruitment Marketing Solutions, a national firm that specializes in connecting military veterans with employment opportunities.
Rosemary Lenz
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).
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Faith Gerling
Harley Nale
Kimi Putnam
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Jackson Conner
Landon Dunlap
Brian Winkelmann
WOMEN’S
VOLLEYBALL
Riley Alton
Meagan Engelbrecht
Emily Greif
Alli Gueck
Lauren Hiestand
Ally Konarzewski
Lanie Lowry Baylie Petry Kassidy Phillips
Tori Rosemann
Tess Schannuth
WOMEN’S SOCCER
CeVana Borgstedt
Belle Boschert
Mackenzie Boyle
McKenzie Gourley
Rosemary Lenz
Hannah Loethen
Brianna Morrow
Abby Prather-Turner
Abby Wilson
MEN’S SOCCER
Daniel Bateman
Jon Buerge
Evan Filer
Joao Quinonez
Emilio Ruiz
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
Jackson Conner
Landon Dunlap
Brian Winkelmann
WOMEN’S
TRACK & FIELD
Alessa Cremer
Faith Gerling
Lauren Imler
Harley Nale
Kimi Putnam
WOMEN’S GOLF
Krystal Burgtorf
Paige Hawkins
Victoria Hooker
Maria Ortiz Rozo
Jennah Schell
Maria Zrodowska
MEN’S GOLF
Theo Brown
KC Carlson
Grant Mach
Pheemawat Wimonrat
SOFTBALL
Taylor Bell
Arianna Donovan
Mallory Feldewerth
Katie Gaus
Alexis Hassler
Ally Mahoney
Kristen Mogan
Sarah Ostertag
Annika Ramon
Mia Santos
Celeste Sermeno
Emma Taylor
Ashlyn Towery
Kalee Wall
Sydney Wilbeck
MEN’S TENNIS
Isaiah Buse
Ben Grumley
Patrick Shelepov
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Alessa Cremer
Allison Kowalke
Hannah Meyer Rukshika Wijesooriya
Ana Zavala
BASEBALL
Tyler Abney
Logan Blumhagen
Andrew Fyffe
Brock Glavey
Kaleb Haley
Conrad Hansel
Bryson Matthews
Jack Niggemeier
Jordan Smith
Jared Stephens
Owen Tripp
Jackson Truesdell
Jackson Weber
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Dax Beem
Makenzie Fessler
Kevin Yang
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Olivia Hanks
Kasey Hazell
The leadership team at The Woods saw significant changes during 2022, including three new members of the William Woods Board of Trustees and four new additions to the University’s executive cabinet.
Thomas McCarty, of Scottsdale, Arizona, was appointed to the board on March 2, 2022. McCarty is a marketing executive with more than 30 years’ experience in marketing, sales and general management. He is currently serving as Chief Marketing Officer at Chief Outsiders in Scottsdale, where he is responsible for advising small and medium-sized businesses on marketing strategy and execution. Past experience includes serving as Senior Vice-President, Executive Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer at ZOVIO, a publicly-traded education technology service provider.
Christopher Daily of Fulton, Missouri, was appointed to the board on January 26, 2022. Dr. Daily serves as the Superintendent for the Missouri School for the Deaf, where he is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the operation of the school, including its educational, residential, financial and outreach services. He has been with the school since 2015, serving as Assistant Superintendent. A 2009 graduate of WWU (M.Ed. in Secondary Education), he is currently working toward a doctorate in Educational Leadership at William Woods.
Dawn Iwamoto, Ed.D., of Fountain Hills, Arizona, was appointed to the board on January 26, 2022. A veteran of more than 30 years of experience in education at both the college and K-12 levels, Dr. Iwamoto is currently President-Emeritus of the University of the Rockies, a private institution in Denver, Colorado, where she served as President and Chief Executive Officer. Additional experience includes service as Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer for the Education Corporation of America and a variety of leadership positions at the University of Phoenix.
Dr. Ted Blashak, Ed.D., joined WWU as the University’s first-ever Chief Student Experience Officer on March 14, 2022. In the newly-created position, Dr. Blashak is providing leadership to student affairs, admissions and marketing, serving as a close partner with Academic Affairs and other functional areas at the University, working together to ensure excellence both in and out of the classroom. A veteran of more than 25 years experience in higher education, Dr. Blashak came to The Woods from Acadeum, Inc., a higher education consulting firm based in Austin, Texas where he served as Vice-President of Institutional Success and Partnership Operations. He previously served as Vice-Provost of Online, Graduate and Adult Education at St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida.
Dr. Tiffany Nolan, Ed.D., was appointed as the WWU Vice-President of Student Life on May 9, 2022. Dr. Nolan joined William Woods from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri where she served as Director of Grants and Sponsored Research. During her more than 20 years of higher education experience, she has served as Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Planning at Missouri Valley College (Marshall, Mo.); Vice-President of Student Success and Engagement at Quincy (Ill.) University (20092016), and Assistant Vice-President and Dean of Students at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa from 2006-2009.
Dr. Andy Otto joined William Woods as the University’s Vice-President of Enrollment Services on May 19, 2022. He came to WWU from Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas, where he served as Director of Enrollment Management and Admissions for the past five years. Under Dr. Otto’s leadership, Ottawa saw its largest incoming class for five consecutive years, while also experiencing its largest total enrollment at its residential campus in more than 40 years. He also served as an academic advisor for first-year students and taught first-year seminar courses at Ottawa, where he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Stephen Mansdoerfer was appointed Chief Financial Officer on May 25, 2022 with more than 30 years experience in finance and budget management, coming to The Woods from Shiloh House, a mental health treatment facility in Denver, Colorado where he served as Chief Financial Officer. Prior experience includes Senior Advisor at Sarge Advisors in Aurora, Colo.; Vice-President of Operations and Finance at the University of the Rockies in Denver; Chief Financial Officer for the Orange County Mission in Tustin, Calif.; Vice-President of Administration and Chief Financial Officer at Western Seminary in Portland, Ore; and Vice-President and Director of Administration at the Art Institute of Colorado. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and Air Force Reserve, where he retired as a Systems Analyst-Major after also serving as a Financial Management Officer and Security Officer.
The William Woods University Athletic Department inducted four new members into the Hall of Fame in 2022. This year’s class was selected from a pool of nominees submitted by the Hall of Fame Nomination Committee, including suggestions from members of the public and current WWU Hall of Fame Inductees. Each of the members in this class received 75 percent of the vote or better from the Hall of Fame Voting Committee members.
Myriam Hassan (Women’s Golf)
Hassan was a member of the women’s golf team from 2012 to 2016. She began her career at William Woods with what she considers a great achievement by receiving the 2013 American Midwest Conference (AMC) Freshman of the Year. Hassan ended her career as a four-time All-AMC recipient, a four-time All-American, a two-time AMC Player of the Year (2013, 2014), and the Helen Stephens Award recipient in 2015.
Hassan led her team to four straight AMC Championships, and four straight NAIA Championships. She led her team to a school record of 6-under par, 282 at the 2014 CMU Invitational along with leading the team to numerous number one National Rankings including the 2016 Final NAIA Coaches Poll. She also led her team to two number one finishes on the National Golfstat Scoring Ranks.
Following her time at William Woods University, Hassan went on to have a successful career as a tax consultant for Deloittee. WWU and the Athletics program have impacted her success within her career field along with providing a greater understanding for teamwork, respect, and trust in her personal and professional life.
Wearing the title “President of William Woods University” is a unique distinction - only 13 individuals in history can claim such an honor. When your time leading the university is done, you are forever enshrined in the Hall of Presidents in the Woods Academic Building on campus - like the newest addition - President Emeritus Jahnae Barnett (1990-2021).
McKenzie was a member of the men’s golf team from 2014 to 2017. He began his career at William Woods receiving the Mickelson Award as the top freshman in the country in 2014. Following his strong start in the program, McKenize ended his career as a four-time AllAMC recipient, a four-time NAIA All-American, and a four-time Northern California Golf Association (NGCA) All-American.
McKenzie led his team to four straight National Championship Finishes, four straight Top 4 National Golfstat Final Rankings, four straight AMC Championships, and a number one ranking in the Final Poll in 2016. He also led the team to receive a school record
Katie French finished runnerup in the shot put at the 2022 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships and fifth in the 2022 Indoor Track & Field National Championships, earning NAIA AllAmerican honors in
18-Hole Round: 25-Under Par, 263. He received AMC Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017, AMC Individual Champion in 2015 and 2017, and was a finalist for the Jack Nicklaus Award (NAIA Player of the Year) in 2015, 2016, and 2017.
Following his time at William Woods, McKenzie pursued a career playing golf as a member of the PGA EuroPro Tour. McKenzie feels his greatest personal achievement was having the opportunity to attend college, as college is very different in the United Kingdom. He was able to grow and experience many things in his young adult life. He looks forward to bringing his skills back to William Woods to share his efforts with the University that made it all worthwhile.
The 2014-15 men’s golf team finished runner-up at the 2015 NAIA National Championships, becoming the most dominant team in William Woods University history. They ranked number one in the country for much of the season and finished the season with the school record for stroke average, 288.86.
Coached by Barry Doty and assisted by Chris Reinert, Lindsey Johnson-Linsenbardt and Nicola Race, the team was comprised of Cameron Baker, Cruz Buchanan, Damon Burrow, Jack Clarkson, Tyler Daly, Stan Gautier, Tyler Hamilton, David Houlding, Nic Keithley, Dillon Klein, Mason Kramer, Brendan Lindsay, Bryan Mach, Mark Martin, Alasdair McDougall, Billy McKenzie, Justin Menard, Jack Mueller, Jordan Riffe, Will Rushworth, Jordan Russell, Alex Stear, Julian Taylor and Matt Wells.
The team finished with a 128-5-1 overall record, beating all opponents by a combined 5,870 strokes. They won the American Midwest Conference by 25 strokes. The Owls played NCAA D1 and D2 teams, beating them all by 158 strokes and 465 strokes, respectively.
The 2014-15 team ranked number two in all of college golf behind NCAA D1 Wake Forest for the fall season with 51 under par. They also won the Missouri Intercollegiate for the 4th straight year.
The team featured seven NAIA All-Americans includ-
ing Dave Houlding, Billy McKenzie, Stan Gautier, Matt Wells, Julian Taylor, Jack Clarkson and Alistair McDougall. Dave Houlding finished the season as the Runner-Up Individual at the NAIA National Championships.
The 2015 team attended 11 tournaments and won eight total championships, including the NCAA D1 Western Illinois Invitational.
The 2014 - 15 women’s golf team finished runner-up at the 2015 NAIA National Championships, becoming the most dominant team alongside their counterparts in William Woods University history. They ranked number one in the country in scoring and adjusted scoring, finishing the year with a school record for the team score average of 300.82.
Coached by Barry Doty and assisted by Chris Reinert, Lindsey Johnson-Linsenbardt and Nicola Race, the team was comprised of Andrea Agniel, Alex Bankovich, Nikki Callahan, Megan Cullen, Alejandra Ferrer, Myriam Hassan, Cassie Kennedy, Celia Mansour, Valerie Mielziner, Kelli Mulligan, Jodie Peacock, Joni Purvis, Clara Scott, Shelby Smith, Sadie Votruba and Katie Warren.
The team finished with a 90-6-2 overall record, beating all opponents by a combined 7,627 strokes. They won the American Midwest Conference by 57 strokes. The Owls finished the AMC undefeated, 18-0, and finished runner-up at the 2015 NAIA National Championships.
The 2015 team won the AMC Conference Championship with a scoring record 296-290 – 586. They finished 57-strokes under runner-up Freed Hardeman.
The team featured seven NAIA All-Americans including Myriam Hassan, Jodie Peacock, Katie Warren, Celia Mansour, Andrea Agniel, Alex Ferrer, Megan Cullen. Five team members were ranked in the Top 18 nationally, and four members were ranked in the Top 10.
The 2015 team attended nine tournaments, winning seven total championships. Their only losses were at Indiana State and Embry Riddle in early March. In addition, the Owls had a 10-1 record against NCAA D1 schools, defeating all opponents by 251 strokes.
150 STUDENTATHLETES earned Academic All-American Midwest Conference honors.
4 TEAMS qualified for the NAIA National Championships.
7 STUDENTATHLETES received NAIA All-American honors.
115 STUDENTATHLETES earned All-American Midwest Conference honors.
Two of WWU’s online Master’s degrees – in Educational Leadership and Educational Technology – were rated among the nation’s best in 2022, according to OnlineMastersDegree.org.
The rating service listed WWU’s online Educational Leadership degree as the top-ranked in the state of Missouri and 45th best in the United States, and the University’s online Educational Leadership degree as the second best in Missouri and 29th best in the U.S. More than 7,000 colleges and universities were analyzed in the rankings.
Through academics, clubs and organizations, social involvement and on-campus events, college can be an incredibly time-crunched, near overwhelming experience. So in January of this year, William Woods established one place where members of the campus community could streamline the wide variety of student activities to help manage them all within one private campus network. And with that, Woods Connect was born.
Woods Connect is an online platform that provides WWU students with a complete toolkit for campus groups to manage activities, where everyone can connect, share and get involved. The system provides dedicated access and tools to students, group officers and school administrators, including faculty and staff. Students are able to explore groups, activities and a campus directory of users to stay up-to-date on everything that is happening at WWU through a community feed, group pages, event calendars, and notifications. Students, faculty and staff get involved by posting to the community feed or their group feed, joining groups, registering for events, answering forms or surveys, and becoming leaders of groups.
Woods Connect officially went live on January 28, after the University began exploring a new campus community engagement platform.
“It is a platform that allows students to make connections and increase engagement on campus, as it
is a ‘one-stop shop’ for available resources, groups and events on campus,” said Travis Bond, Chief Information Officer at WWU. “Not only are students now connecting with other students, faculty and staff, but they now have the ability to see community feeds, student group feeds, announcements and event calendars while receiving notifications from the dedicated mobile app keeping them informed of everything that is happening to connect, share and get involved at The Woods.”
Sharing news and announcements with other group members, or to the entire campus, has never been easier.
“As Director of the William Woods Leadership Center, part of our mission is to work collaboratively across disciplines with professors and students alike on different academic projects,” said Dr. Thomas Trice, Associate Professor of Business and Director of the WWU Leadership Center. “I envision using the Woods Connect platform in a number of ways.”
“First, it can stratify groups of users based on different types of projects they are involved in,” said Dr. Trice. “Additionally, I see Woods Connect playing a significant role in marketing the WWU Leadership Center. It also affords the ability to put out information campus-wide related to events sponsored by the Leadership Center. And I can see the platform being used as a think tank for project ideas, for collaborative work on self-pace coursework and for creating synergies for projects that individuals have a mutual interest in.”
Woods Connect users can manage information more efficiently in a number of ways, including:
• Dashboard: Track recent activity and quickly access commonly used features (e.g., Events, Email), manage your group settings, list of officers, and access rights
• Members: Add and manage group members or validate people who request to join the group
• Emails: Compose new emails, using mailing lists or email templates and check delivery status
• Events: Create events, sell tickets, view event statistics, track registrations and attendance
• Forms: Create forms or surveys, assign approval processes and manage submitted responses
• Files: Upload and share photos and documents
• Website: Create and/or administer the group’s website, blog, and discussion boards
• Money: Keep track and manage the group’s transactions (e.g., club dues collection, ticket sales, refunds)
• Integration: Woods Connect can integrate with systems via API or RSS feeds, calendars can be synchronized in a few clicks with Google Calendar or Outlook, for payments most common gateways are supported (e.g., PayPal, PayFlow, CyberSource, Authorized.net).
• Mobile: Woods Connect is also available on mobile phones via native iPhone and Android Apps
Anybody can access Woods Connect, whether you are on campus or not, primarily through a mobile app. Users can go to app stores for either iPhone or Android, search for Woods Connect or William Woods University to find and download the app.
Above: WWU MBA graduate students Aaron Westerlund (from Australia), Zlata Shuraeva (from Russia) and Ana Zavala (from Honduras) acompanied by Dr. Thomas Trice, Dean for the School of Business and Technology.
Far Left: Dr. Vanessa Davis and Allyssa Johnson
Left Above: Lonna Trammell
Left Below: WWU students of the Show-Me GOLD military program watch attentively.
Far Right: Colonel Denise Wilkinson
Small business research and women’s empowerment in the business world were the themes as William Woods convened its inaugural business leadership symposium on March 24, hosted by the William Woods University (WWU) Leadership Center. Attended by WWU students and members of the greater community, the leadership events addressed topics that were directly applicable to the professional world.
“It is exactly these kind of opportunities, sponsored by our WWU Leadership Center, that promote our professions-oriented mission at the University,” said President Moreland.
The free symposium consisted of two segments, including an MBA Graduate Student Research Presentation led by WWU graduate students Ana Zavala (from Honduras), Aaron Westerlund (from Australia) and Zlata Shuraeva (from Russia) in which they presented research findings from a nine-month analysis of a non-profit business; and a Women’s Empowerment Leadership Panel, an open discussion that examined the challenges women face and the strategies they use when climbing the executive ladder in a variety of industries. Panelists included Dr. Vanessa Davis, Lead Quality Auditor, bioMerieux Inc. (Hazelwood, Mo.); Allyssa Johnson, Director of Workforce AID, Kansas Department of Commerce (Topeka, Kan.); Lonna Trammell, Regional Account Executive, Ameren Missouri (Jefferson City, Mo.) and Colonel Denise Wilkinson, Missouri Army National Guard (Jefferson City, Mo.)
Housed within the School of Business and Technology at William Woods, the WWU Leadership Center (host of the symposium) was established to promote leadership development and research, and to provide an opportunity to address real issues faced by individuals and organizations. The center’s mission is to promote leadership development through education, research and evidence-based practices.
“In alignment with the School of Business and
Technology’s vision and mission, as well as William Woods University’s mission, the center’s goal is to provide research-based and practical programs to build leadership competencies that are professions-oriented,” said Dr. Thomas Trice, Associate Professor of Business and Director of the WWU Leadership Center. “Our business leadership symposium this week will support that mission, while sparking intellectual conversations and ideas around the focus of leadership.”
As a professions-based university, William Woods’ primary mission could be summed up in one word: Preparation.
As in a university that uses quality academic programs and courses of study that prepare it’s students to thrive in professional careers in areas that are most in-demand by today’s employers. Consistent with that mission, WWU announced an expansion of its degree offerings in 2022, adding six new courses of study to provide more opportunities for students in the coming years. Beginning with the Fall 2022 semester, the University began offering an Ed.D. in Adult Learning; Master of Arts in Psychology; Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Digital Filmmaking; Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Workforce Management; minor in Equine Media, and minor in Cybersecurity.
The expanded course offerings are another example of the University’s renewed focus on, and commitment to, a quality small private liberal arts university experience for every student at The Woods.
“At William Woods, our commitment is to providing professions-based studies that support today’s and tomorrow’s careers,” said Dr. Jeremy Moreland, President of William Woods University. “Expanding our quality academic degree offerings will provide students with more degree options to help meet their professional goals, while developing skills that are in-demand by employers.”
The online Ed D in Adult Learning is designed to equip professionals from various fields with essential instructional strategies that are necessary to train adults. Doctoral students will acquire knowledge in adult learning theory, learn to develop programs for working adults, and master leadership skills that address the dynamic changes impacting the current adult workforce.
A Psychology degree has wide application to a variety of fields including mental health, education, human services, business, law, human resources, and non-academic research. By taking a generalist approach and by meeting the American Psychology Association’s Core Learning Goals for Master’s Degree Graduates in Psychology (APA, 2018), students will gain a broad knowledge base that can be applied to a wide range of professions. This degree program will be attractive to students who plan to go on to pursue a Ph.D in Psychology or related areas of study or individuals who are looking for advancement in their career, as well as those who look ahead to a doctoral program. Offering this degree in an online format provides flexibility for individuals who are already in the career field.
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.
The B A S degree will provide a shorter path to obtaining a bachelor’s degree than meeting the requirements of a B S degree for Associate of Applied Science and Associate of Science degree holders who transfer to WWU. It is designed to increase the managerial abilities of graduates who are skilled technicians and wish to move into supervisory roles.
Horse sales, marketing, competition, and major organizations are heavily recruiting media savvy employees. Students with video, digital, writing, and social media experience are desirable hires in almost every sector of the industry. While WWU offers a current concentration in Equine Media, embedded in the Equine General Studies major, the opportunity to pursue an Equine Media minor would hold appeal for Equestrian Science and Equestrian Administration majors as well as equestrian students who have moved to non-equestrian majors.
Students can pair a Cybersecurity minor with any major. Cybersecurity minors benefit from a hands-on training in the WWU Cybersecurity lab, learning to protect organizations both large and small from cyber threats, which are on the rise.
January 18, 2022 was the start of a new tradition at WWU – the University’s first-ever Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast, an opportunity to reflect upon the inspirational legacy of America’s greatest civil rights leader. The inaugural gathering, held in the Neilsen Room inside of Tucker Dining Hall, also recognized the winner of the firstever Martin Luther King Day essay contest.
Rhondell Tipton ‘25, from Columbia, Mo., was named as the first recipient of the new award. In his essay, which he read aloud at the breakfast, Tipton cited King’s storied “Drum Major for Justice, for Peace and for Righteousness” speech as his inspiration.
“Dr. King’s quote serves as evidence that the promised land is possible, and that every single life matters no matter the gender or skin color,” Tipton wrote. “This quote means so much to me personally. I have lived to experience so many things and using this quote has put the puzzle pieces together for an individual like me. I live to promote motivation, positivity, and hard work from the strands of my afro down to me toes, and I believe Dr. King would be proud of the generations after him pushing toward higher mountains.”
Speakers at the event, in addition to Tipton, included WWU President Jeremy Moreland, Associate Professor of Business Dr. Thomas Trice, and University Chaplain Travis Tamerius.
“Let this occasion of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in 2022 be a time when everyone in the William Woods community vows to honor his memory and legacy by engaging individuals that are different than us,” said Dr. Moreland in his remarks. “If our national discourse on this critical issue is ever going to swing permanently in the direction of brotherhood for all, it will require role models in every community, and on every college campus, who don’t just call out for respectful engagement, but live it.”
The first MLK Day Breakfast at William Woods was facilitated by Dr. Trice and other members of the University’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, with plans for the commemoration to become a permanent, yearly tradition.
“Often times the word leadership is over generalized. Walking my own journey as a young black male
and first generational college student, I have always found the individuals that make the greatest impact on you have one common thread - they do what they do not for recognition but to leave a legacy,” said Dr. Trice. “Dr. King and the embodiment of what he did and stood for personifies this. As a teaching institution, our recognition of his dream to build equality, and to show love to everyone regardless of gender or race should be a bedrock of our institution. The essay contest seeks to identify students that not only aspire to be like Dr. King but also walk the walk. Today’s events and essay winner brought all of these things together along with the hard work of the DEI committee and newly established WWU Leadership Center.”
The January inaugural event was the latest initiative at WWU to help strengthen the University’s commitment to the values of diversity and inclusion. During 2021-2022, William Woods established a new Multicultural Enrichment Center, Black Student Union and a first-ever Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship.
Honoring the late and great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
DIVERSITY
“AS A TEACHING INSTITUTION, OUR RECOGNITION OF HIS DREAM TO BUILD EQUALITY, AND TO SHOW LOVE TO EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF GENDER OR RACE SHOULD BE A BEDROCK OF OUR INSTITUTION.”
by John Cariani
One deeply cold and magical Midwinter Night, the citizens of Almost -- not organized enough for a town, too populated for a wilderness -- experience the life-altering power of the human heart. Propelled by the mystical energy of the aurora borealis and populated with characters who are humorous, plain-spoken, thoughtful, and sincere, Almost, Maine is a series of loosely connected tales about love, each with a compelling couple at its center, each with its own touch of sorcery. Performed at Dulany Auditorium September 30 through October 2, 2021.
by Euripides
After ten long years of war, the great city of Troy has fallen. Only the mothers, wives and daughters of its slaughtered warriors survive. The women find unimagined resources in themselves and each other. The Trojan Women is an ancient tale of courage, resilience and hope in the face of utter devastation. Widely considered the greatest anti-war play ever written, it remains both timeless and timely, a poignant meditation on the aftermath of war. Performed at Cutlip Auditorium April 21 - 23, 2022.
It’s Christmas in the third-smallest town in Texas. Radio station news personalities Thurston Wheelis and Arles Struvie report on various Yuletide activities, including the hot competition in the annual lawn-display contest. A mysterious “Christmas Phantom,” known for vandalizing the yard displays, threatens to throw the annual Christmas Yard Display contest into turmoil. Stanley attempts to end his probation and leave Tuna, Bertha tries to hold her family together at Christmas, and Joe struggles to successfully mount his production of A Christmas Carol. Performed at Dulany Auditorium November 18 - 20, 2021.
Known in theatre history as the seminal absurdist antiplay, The Bald Soprano outlines the meaning of absurdism. In the play, we find the main characters, the Smiths, are a traditional couple from London who have invited another couple, the Martins, over for a visit. They are joined later by the Smiths’ maid and the local fire chief. The two families engage in meaningless banter, telling stories and relating nonsensical poems. The play devolves into a series of complete non-sequiturs with no resemblance to normal conversation. Performed at Dulany Auditorium February 24 - 26, 2022.
1. ALPHA CHI
“The women of the Delta Chi Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega had an amazing year and have not only done an outstanding job in the classroom, but they have also excelled in campus involvement, Greek life, as well as in their extra-curriculars. Our Fall and Spring recruitments were very successful and were able to bring some amazing new women to the chapter that have provided a new perspective to Alpha Chi Omega. Our chapter was also able to support our philanthropy greatly this year which is Domestic Violence awareness. We were able to work closely with CARDV and not only help them hold and run fundraising events, but we were also able to help women facing domestic violence firsthand. We are extremely
proud of our Delta Chi women and cannot wait to continue achieving excellence this next upcoming year.” dora moutInho, ’23
2. PHI GAMMA DELTA
“With William Woods University, as well as the rest of the world, returning to a new normal following the height of COVID-19 was quite an adjustment, especially since almost all of our members had never experienced what college was like before the COVID era. However, as the men of FIJI always have and always will do, we press on! We held many successful events and fundraisers to support our house and our local philanthropy including the Fulton Special Olympics, Flapjacks with FIJI, Pie Gamma Delta, and FIJI Islander, as well as a new fundraiser of Chocolate
Covered Strawberries for Valentine’s Day. We also helped support the other Greek houses on campus by donating and participating in their fundraisers, events, and philanthropy weeks, while also winning the weeks for Alpha Chi Omega and Chi Omega. FIJI celebrated our 20th anniversary as a house with Graduate Brothers attending from all over the United States. We also just recently held our first in-person Pig Dinner since 2019, a long-standing Phi Gamma Delta tradition, and enjoyed attending our chapter Formal and Semi-Formal, which was 20s themed along with our anniversary. The men of FIJI
attended the international Phi Gamma Delta conventions in person this Summer, and can’t wait to come back strong next year, ready to continue building courageous leaders!”
trystan novak, ‘24
“The 2021-2022 school year has been a blast for the Delta Omega chapter of Delta Gamma. Our sisters have been busy between classes, sisterhoods, participating in other Greek houses’ weeks, and raising money for our philanthropy for Service-For-Sight with our Anchor Week in the fall, our See-Saw-For-Sight event and Anchor-Man competition in the spring. We recruited
four new members during fall recruitment and one in the spring. We may be small currently, but everyone in the chapter is extremely dedicated to our goals, the community and one another. In the summer, a delegate traveled to the biannual National Delta Omega Convention with our advisors as well as to the Lewis School convention. This delegate returned from these events with new knowledge, wisdom, and skills that helps our chapter members grow further into the promising young leaders that Delta is known for building.”
abIgaIl keeney , ‘23
“The women in the Tau
Theta chapter of Chi Omega have continued to thrive this year in both academics and extracurricular activities! In the Fall of 2021, we maintained Panhellenic Top Grades with an All-House GPA of 3.48. Additionally, we had 23 women make the Dean’s List and 7 of those women earned a 4.0 GPA. We had two outstanding recruitment periods in both the fall and spring, where 14 new women joined our sisterhood. Our members are incredibly involved on campus being a part of multiple clubs, activities, and sports and many hold a variety of leadership positions in each. Our chapter was also able to support our
national philanthropy, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and raised over $2,000 through Wish Week and Corndogs with ChiOs. We are looking forward to seeing the continual growth and achievement of our chapter, and cannot wait to see what our members accomplish in the next year.!”
sarah kasubke, ‘23
5.
“The men of the Lambda Eta Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha have continued to strive to be better men inside and outside of the classroom. Getting back to a normal college life is what we are looking forward to as we continue our journey to be
the definition of a scholar, leader, athlete, and of course gentleman. ”
gavIn leuther, ‘24
6.
“Alpha Phi has had a wonderful year and has been working extra hard to accomplish many great things! Our Executive Board attended conference in Dallas, TX back in February where we learned how to better hone our skills in order to lead our chapter in the most effective way. This also allowed us to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Alpha Phi International with our sisters from chapters across the U.S. So far this school year, we have welcomed 15 new members! For our philanthropy, this year we have hosted Mac n’ Phis, heartthrob, and a few of our members attended the Annual Heart Ball to help volunteer for the American Heart Association.
We got to host a Mom’s Weekend for the first time in two years, in which it was most of our members first one! We are so proud of this Alpha Phi chapter and we cannot wait to see what next school year brings us!”
bethany haenchen, ‘23
“Throughout this year, our chapter has made huge strides in our level of organization, as well as becoming a closer-knit brotherhood. We achieved the best GPA among fraternities for the Fall 2021 semester, which made for one of the best academic semesters our chapter has ever seen. I am prouder than words can say of everyone in this chapter and what we have accomplished this year. I’m looking forward to next year with these guys!”
chase tennyson, ‘24
William Woods added a new online graduate degree cohort program in Education during 2022, an eight-week online term featuring a hybrid for its Educational Leadership, Specialist and Doctorate programs. The new program provides current students with an opportunity to join a cohort of practicing Education professionals with whom they can develop lifelong bonds and friendships. Students in the cohort have degree plans charted from start to finish, and as part of their studies, engage online and synchronously weekly via Zoom with Education professionals already working in the industry.
EQS student wins prestigious “Youth of the Year” award from one of the oldest equine organizations in the U.S.
Jordan Freitag ’25, a student in Equestrian Studies, is the latest representative of the University’s elite EQS program to achieve national excellence.
The Mount Horeb, Wisconsin native and aspiring equine veterinarian was awarded as the “Youth of the Year” by the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA), one of the oldest equine organizations in the U.S., during the Morgan Grand National and World Championship Horse Show in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Freitag won the prestigious honor over contestants from all over the nation during the show which ran from October 8 through the 15th.
“Winning this award means so much to me,” said Freitag. “The Morgan breed has had such a significant impact on my life growing up. I am looking forward to continuing my involvement and promoting this outstanding breed and its countless opportunities. I truly would not be where I am today without the Morgan horse. This is an amazing breed with an amazing community and I am so thankful to be a part of it.”
The AMHA Youth of the Year award rewards those who are well-versed in horsemanship skills. The contest consists of a rigorous four-part exam over the course of two days. Included are a written exam, an oral presentation and interview, a ridden or driven horsemanship pattern, and a judging division with a reasons portion.
“Jordan’s dedication and abilities in horsemanship,
equestrian knowledge and public speaking paid off in spectacular fashion at Morgan Grand Nationals as she was named Morgan Youth of the Year,” said Jennie Petterson, Dean of Equestrian Studies at WWU. “Our equestrian students are on their way to becoming leaders and mentors in the equine industry and Jordan has made an impressive start.”
A student in the WWU Biology (Pre-Vet) program, Freitag plans to become an equine veterinarian while working with the Morgan breed.
“I will always be involved in the Morgan breed with breeding and showing, and this award will help me accomplish my goals.”
The WWU School of Equestrian Studies is excited to announce that Ro & Me’s Kiss and Tell or “Roxie” delivered a healthy colt at the WWU stables, named “Harley.” She was kind enough to foal at around 6:30 p.m. on May 22, allowing many student workers and faculty to watch and capture great videos to use for teaching.
THE WOODS Into
your smallest fan!
at the Western Show in April. This photo was taken by student Natalie Hinz.
This spring at Alumni Weekend, we will be celebrating a special 50th Anniversary of Equestrian Science.
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. This year (post the COVID-19 pandemic) the LEAD program brought back in-person events. Here are a few highlights.
Students created fleece blankets to donate to the Linus Project, which provides new handmade blankets to children in need.
Students joined the Pre-Health club and CAB for a ‘gourd’ time carving or painting a pumpkin on the Junior Lake dock. Students kept the pumpkins to decorate their rooms and halls.
BSU (Black Student Union) hosted a Squid Game Tournament in which students could win a $10 gift card.
Student Life hosted “Get Up-Work Out,” a fitness workout combining yoga, barre, and pilates. During a time when studying was at its peak and the COVID-19 virus was still on our minds, this session offered a stress-relieving means for students, faculty and staff.
January 25, 2022
Conversations with a Holocaust Survivor
In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2022, students had the opportunity to hear a survivor share their story about the life lessons carried from having endured and survived the Holocaust.
February 16, 2022
Jerome Parker talked to attendees about what his black grandfather and uncles had to go through to become such successful horse trainers of mostly Morgans and Saddlebreds, and how things have changed over the years.
Missouri Court of Appeals (Western District)
We are fortunate to have the Missouri Court of Appeals use our model courtroom on campus for active cases. The court made its annual return to hold a docket during the first week of April.
Attendees learned the importance of time management and organizational skills that can be beneficial beyond college. Students also learned how to read degree requirements and register for classes. Presented by Academic Advising.
Student Life hosted a Harry Potter themed escape room in which participants were broken into teams and given a mission of finding horcruxes to defeat you know who.
Students attended this rip-roaring rundown of Shakespeare’s classics in this Jesters-sponsored play. With zombies, talking cows, and an appearance by Jerry Springer, I Hate Shakespeare! is a hilarious and fast-paced introduction to Shakespeare—with a modern twist.
After ten long years of war, the great city of Troy has fallen. Only the mothers, wives and daughters of its slaughtered warriors survive. The women find unimagined resources in themselves and each other. The Trojan Women is an ancient tale of courage, resilience and hope in the face of utter devastation and widely considered the greatest anti-war play ever written, it remains both timeless and timely, a poignant meditation on the aftermath of war.
The first year of Dr. Jeremy Moreland, the 13th president in William Woods history
By John Fougere
FEATURE PHOTO BY MICALA AUSTIN
and 40 degree temperatures, made Thursday, April 7th a leftover-from-winter kind of day at William Woods.
But there was also an unmistakable brightness that permeated campus that day, a feeling of newness. It was the light of a new day at The Woods, and the start of a new era.
For the first time in more than three decades, WWU was inaugurating a new president. And in front of hundreds of members of the William Woods community at Cutlip Auditorium, with untold numbers of WWU alumni and friends following along virtually, Dr. Jeremy Moreland officially accepted the call of serving as the 13th president in the University’s 152-year existence.
“I join you today both humbled and in awe of the magnitude and privilege of the responsibility before me,” said President Moreland during his inaugural address, where he was joined on stage by his wife Diane and daughters Maddy and Olivia, the William Woods faculty, and members of the University’s board of trustees. “It is with immense gratitude and honor that I accept the charge given me as the 13th President of William Woods University.”
“Today, President Moreland brings to William Woods a leadership vision that will move our institution into the future,” said Romaine Seguin ’82, Chair of the WWU Board of Trustees, in her remarks for the occasion. “He has the tireless energy and enthusiasm for the tasks before him, is innovative, and has the courage and capability to lead William Woods to new heights.”
Seguin presented President Moreland with the official inauguration medallion, symbolic of the authority and responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer of the University, and it was official: WWU had a new president for the first time since 1990. Inside Cutlip, the Missouri Military Academy Band played. The University community gathered to witness this bit of William Woods history, eager to throw off the final shackles of years of pandemic and uncertainty, cheered wildly.
Forget about the weather outside – at that moment, for William Woods, Spring had arrived.
For someone who has worked his entire professional life in higher education, Jeremy Moreland did not take any time to sit back and savor the feeling when he achieved what was the pinnacle of his career to this point in the fall of 2021. Instead, appointed as a university president for the first time when he was named the 13th president in William Woods history
on September 21, 2021, President Moreland was on the job exactly ten days later, leaving his position as Provost and Chief Academic Officer at St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida to hit the ground running in Fulton. And through a whirlwind first year at WWU, he hasn’t stopped running.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to play a role in shaping the future of this historic institution,” said President Moreland at the time of his appointment, reflecting an understanding of the past successes of the 152-year old University coupled with a need to change to continue thriving in today’s highly competitive world of higher education. And no where is that more evident in attracting, enrolling and retaining increasing numbers of students.
Among the president’s first initiatives was to reorganize the University’s leadership to better meet current and future higher education needs. This reorganization included promoting Vice-President of Academic Affairs, Aimee Sapp, to a new position as University Provost, and creating a first-of-itskind position at William Woods, that of Chief Student Experience Officer. The Chief Student Experience Officer, a cabinet-level position, provides leadership to all areas that impact the total student experience at WWU, including student affairs, academic affairs, admissions and marketing, working to align these key areas to ensure student success both in and out of the classroom. Dr. Ted Blashak was appointed as
the University’s first Chief Student Experience Officer on February 23.
Additionally from a university leadership standpoint, Dr. Moreland was instrumental in shaping the future of the institution by appointing three other new members of the executive cabinet in his first year, including Dr. Tiffany Nolan as Vice-President of Student Life, Dr. Andy Otto as Vice-President of Enrollment Services and Stephen Mansdoerfer as Chief Financial Officer.
But an early hallmark of President Moreland’s administration is a renewed emphasis on the student experience, and how it can be continuously improved to increase engagement, enrollment and retention. The Woods took a major step toward that end in May, when the president announced the addition of six new degree programs to the University’s academic offerings: an Ed.D. in Adult Learning, Master of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Filmmaking, Bachelor of Applied Science in Workforce Management, and minors in Equine Media and Cybersecurity. The new degree programs were first offered with the fall 2022 semester.
The expanded course offerings underscored the University’s focus on, and commitment to, a quality small private liberal arts college experience for every student at The Woods.
“Our commitment is to providing professions-based studies that support today’s and tomor-
The President’s Giving Society is a time-honored tradition. We hope you will be a part of it this year and for many years to come.
When you join the President’s Giving Society, and make a yearly gift, you are investing in the new era of William Woods. Standing on a firm foundation of over 150 years, William Woods is poised to enter a bold and energetic future. With multiple new degree programs, and new athletic offerings, your gift makes a difference.
The President’s Giving Society offers more opportunities than ever before to associate, celebrate, and engage. We welcome your support. Become an active member of the President’s Giving Society today by giving unrestricted gifts routinely, and join us in building a better tomorrow.
Whether this is your first time giving, or if you have been a contributor for many years, we appreciate your loyalty and commitment. In recognition, we are pleased to extend the following benefits:
» Updates from the President, sharing important University news and the impact of your gift
» A welcome gift, exclusively branded to President’s Giving Society membership
» Complimentary access to Alumni Reunion events
» Complimentary access to select on-campus and virtual theatre, arts and lecture events
» Complimentary access to Leaders Weekend, including in-person and virtual events
» Exclusive access to the President’s Giving Society online pop-up shop, plus fun freebies throughout the year
» Opportunities to share your ideas through Q&A panels and surveys
» 15% discount to the Logo Store both on-campus and online
Give online at williamwoods.edu/giving or contact us at (573) 592-1128 or giving@williamwoods.edu
row’s careers,” said President Moreland. “Expanding our quality academic degree offerings will provide students with more degree options to help meet their professional goals, while developing skills that are in-demand by today’s employers.”
From an academic standpoint, President Moreland’s first year also included the WWU Show-Me GOLD program being named the top performing GOLD program in the state by the Missouri National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion; the establishment of the first-ever Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast; the creation of a new hybrid online cohort for the University’s Education Leadership Master’s, Specialist and Doctorate programs; institution of a new academic partnership between WWU and Moberly Area Community College; a new on-campus business leadership symposium and the first-ever “Grow Your Own” Scholarship.
A commitment to educating the entire individual – both inside and outside the classroom – is a longtime tradition at William Woods, and that commitment was stronger than ever under President Moreland’s watch in his first year. In February, the University announced new additions to its athletic program, with Men’s and Women’s Bowling and Outdoor Life Sports to begin competition during the Fall 2022 semester. Even before the addition of the new programs, William Woods distinguished itself as an institution where fully half of the undergraduate population was engaged in an intercollegiate sport.
The William Woods “Woods Around the World”
program returned to global travel for the first time in three years during the president’s first year, another hallmark of the University’s out-of-classroom experiences that make The Woods attractive to potential students.
But what has made WWU’s president attractive to current students during his first year has been his personal touch. Whether it’s serving popcorn or a late night breakfast to students during finals week, or attending freshman honors research presentations, throwing out the first ball for the William Woods baseball team’s season home opener, or just joining them for lunch at Tucker Dining Hall, Dr. Moreland’s first year has been filled with examples of interacting with students on a daily basis.
So it only made sense that, during year one, in addition to his inauguration, university changes and new programs, and constant outreach to students, faculty and staff, alumni and members of the community, it was William Woods’ new hands-on president that delivered the commencement address at his first-ever WWU commencement in April.
“At William Woods, we will continue to build a community of learners, one that you have been a part of,” President Moreland told graduates on April 30. “And as you leave here today, and consider the complexity and interlaced nature of the challenges and the triumphs we all face together – as citizens of this country and of the world – be assured that here at your alma mater, our commitment to preparing learners for success through quality higher education will continue. For here at William Woods, we love who we are and what we do - for our students, our campus and our community.”
below: Dr. Moreland with his wife Diane and daughters Maddy and Olivia on the historic Senior Lake Bridge.An important position we created at William Woods is the Chief Student Experience Officer. This is something that is still somewhat unique in higher education, but not so unique in the business world, where they do a great job of serving their customers and clients. The responsibility of the Chief Student Experience Officer is toward everything that happens outside the classroom, from the initial digital impression of the institution as a prospective student all the way to becoming an alum, and everything in between. We are finding that this unique approach really pays off, leading to an increased commitment of new students opting to attend William Woods, a significant increase in student retention, and more engaged alumni.
Educating the total person will always be a commitment at The Woods. We believe strongly that the education one receives outside the classroom is just as important as the academic experience during a student’s college years. And we do that at this university, including everything from our students getting to travel and see the world while they are here; to our Greek life and more than 60 campus organizations, to the fact that one out of two of William Woods students is a student-athlete. For a university our size, we truly offer something for everyone here, which makes for a really vibrant college campus experience.
A key advantage of a university like William Woods is the fact that our faculty talk to each other. In bigger institutions, for example, the Psychology Department doesn’t communicate with the Sociology Department – there are instead huge interdisciplinary divides, and they just don’t talk to each other. But here at The Woods, we are all in a foxhole together, so to speak; our different departments are on the same page, we know our students by name, and are always there to figure out what it will take to make sure every one of our students are successful.
Another of the particular strengths we enjoy at William Woods is that, what students increasingly need from a college or university, are things we have already been doing for decades. Those include close personal relationships with faculty that go beyond academic assignments; learning experiences and bigger projects that transcend semesters and merely writing papers; and more close support early in their college years rather than later after someone stumbles. These are the kind of things we are doing at The Woods, and we are continuously adopting systems and processes to make sure we are getting better at learning from what we are doing.
The depth of commitment I have seen on the part of the faculty to a rich, independent university experience that is close and personal for their students is absolutely one of the unique strengths we have at William Woods. I have the enviable role as President of telling the story of this amazing university, a story that is remarkable now and has been for decades.
AFTER BEING GROUNDED FOR THREE YEARS, WWU STUDENTS RETURN TO THE WORLD OF GLOBAL TRAVEL IN 2022
could accurately say, “Come to The Woods, and The World will be yours.”
Meaning, of course, that those students who chose to be Owls had the chance to take life-changing trips to locations literally anywhere in the world during their time as students at WWU, through the University’s innovative Woods Around the World (WATW) program or other semester abroad opportunities.
But who could’ve imagined that when a group of William Woods travelers journeyed to Japan in March 2019, it would be the last WATW excursion until now, thanks to a nasty global pandemic that grounded the high-flying traveling dreams of WWU students for more than three years? Probably no one, which made the first Woods Around the World trip since then, to five European nations from May 2-14, 2022, something the participants would not have missed for, well, the world.
“Since the start of Woods Around the World,
hundreds of our students have traveled around the globe and learned more about the world’s various cultures. After being grounded for the past few years, it was an immense joy to see our students find their way to some amazing adventures again,” said Travis Tamerius, Director of the Center for Ethics and Global Studies at WWU and coordinator of WATW. “On this program we did it all but there were a number of moments that really stood out. We had a guided tour of (Nazi concentration camp) Dachau where we learned the tragic history of the Holocaust through a memorial that is aimed at uniting the living in the defense of peace. We hiked in the Swiss Alps, visited some of the world’s finest museums and cathedrals and gardens and learned a lot about European art and architecture through the eyes of some expert guides.”
In addition to the emotional experience of Dachau and the majesty of the Swiss Alps, the 11 WWU travelers on the trip got the opportunity to see some
Right:
“The most memorable part of the trip for me was visiting Montmartre in Paris at sunset. I’d expected this city itself to be overrated after being the focus of so many movies and books, but in that setting I was able to see just why that city was so famously romanticized. Students should definitely take advantage of Woods Around the World, because these experiences allow students to learn about themselves in a way they cannot by staying in their comfort zone. Pushing yourself further from where you’ve grown up can not only expand your knowledge of the world, but also lead to a better realization of what you value most in life.”
KAYTON COFFEE ’20“It’s so hard to pick one thing but the most memorable parts of the trip were the simple moments spent listening to the pianist at the Shakespeare & Co. book store, exchanging stories at Mr. Pickwick’s Irish pub, standing on top of a cathedral just taking in the panoramic views of the cities, and so many more moments like this. Woods
Around the World is a unique program. I see it as an opportunity for students to travel, see the world, and broaden their horizons. Seeing different parts of the world is educating yourself on other cultures and ways of life. It gives you a larger perspective on life and what’s out there.”
HANNAH WEIDLER ’24While visiting Rigi Mountain in Switzerland, Meagan Engelbrecht, Kayton Coffee, and Hannah Weidler thank Project 123 for their aid in funding the trip.
“The most memorable part of the trip was getting to mesh in different cultures. The people I got to meet, the food I got to taste, and the sites I got to see were all just an amazing experience that I won’t forget. Another memorable part was getting to travel with people that I didn’t really know much about. Spending so much time with them you get to know them on a personal level and learn so much more about them and I will cherish that.”
’22
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Opposite Page Top: Swiss Alps
Opposite Page Bottom: Santorini, Greece
of the continent’s wonders, such as Munich, Germany; Innsbruck, Austria; Venice, Milan and Lake Como, Italy; Lucerne and Zurich, Switzerland; and Strasbourg, Versailles and Paris, France. The twoweek trip of a lifetime began in the Bavaria region of Germany, and culminated with an idyllic nighttime cruise on the famed Seine River in Paris.
WATW is but one of the global travel opportunities available to students who attend The Woods. There are also journeys with a more targeted academic pursuit, for example, like the Spring Break
trip in March 2022 in which Associate Professor of Biology Robin Hirsch-Jacobson and 12 WWU students went to Central America to study the rainforests of Costa Rica.
Like the WATW trip, Costa Rica 2022 provided some unforgettable experiences that WWU students on the adventure will always treasure, which included seeing monkeys, toucans, and crocodiles; learning about traveling and tropical research, and even the joys of cold showers and sharing cabins with bats, spiders, and scorpions!
“My favorite moment in Costa Rica was when we went to the Arenal (volcano) and had our first group dinner together,” said Haylee Sheldon ’22. “It was such a great moment as we all reflected back on the hard days of work we had just experienced as we were able to relax and bond as a class.”
Such global journeys provide the essential lesson that while what you study in class about other cultures, peoples, habitats or regions of the world is, of course, necessary, actually experiencing them in person, like countless William Woods students are once again doing, is a whole new level of rewarding.
“I can now appreciate how reading and researching can only go so far when trying to explain, for example, the behaviors of animals, but the real experiences and living in the moment in person are breathtaking,” said Adam Orr ’24.
William Woods travelers continued the return to global travel with a Woods Around the World trip that began on May 31, which took WWU students and other friends of the university to Italy, Greece and Turkey. As a hopeful globe continued to emerge from the pandemic in 2022, it is once again clear that those that would be Owls can once again attain a new title during their time at The Woods.
Students of the World.
“Without question, study abroad is a high-impact educational practice and one of the most transformative experiences a person can have,” added Tamerius. “We can all think back to a trip that made a profound difference on our lives and helped us grow as a person. As a university, we are committed to preparing students for lifelong learning in the world community and these trips support that endeavor.”
Increases in new student enrollment, online offerings and intercollegiate sports mark 2022 at The Woods
Below: Members of the class of 2026, the largest incoming class of new students in five years, cross Senior Lake Bridge during the Ivy Ceremony.
It was the first truly “normal-feeling” Ivy Ceremony at The Woods in at least three years, and the event seemed to have a more lively, energetic feeling than in years past. Was it the largest crowd of parents, family members, friends and faculty and staff that anyone could recall in recent years, ringing the lake and cheering the new class of Owls on? Or was it the line of students crossing the bridge that seemed longer than in the past few years? Or was it the non-stop cheering, shout-outs and general noise that felt louder than usual?
These were just some of the perceptions of those present at Ivy Ceremony ’22, so there is no hard data to support such claims. But what could be confirmed was that on that warm late summer afternoon, William Woods was welcoming its larg-
est incoming class of new on-campus students in five years. In fact, the incoming class of 269 students in the WWU Class of 2026 represented a whopping 40 percent increase in one year!
“We are thrilled to welcome an outstanding class of new students on campus to William Woods, our biggest in five years, and excited about the future of our University,” said President Jeremy Moreland. “It is clear that the student-centered, professions-oriented, personal college experience we offer at The Woods continues to resonate with prospective students and their families, even at a time when many other institutions are facing enrollment challenges.”
According to data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, undergraduate enrollment dropped 4.7 percent nationally during the Spring 2022 semester, and was also down 19.7 percent for private four-year colleges since the Spring 2019 semester.
So how did The Woods buck the national trend? Perhaps it was unique academic experiences, such as the University’s nationally-renowned Equestrian Studies Program, which saw a 77 percent increase in new students in 2022. Or maybe the University’s traditionally strong programs like Biology (up 56 percent), Education (up 41 percent) or Business. Other factors are a new focus on the student experience, which included the hiring of the University’s first-ever Student Experience Officer earlier in the year. Or it could be just a renewed sense of purpose and energy that came with a new team leading the University’s enrollment management and admissions strategy. And certainly the COVID-19 pandemic winding down was an added factor.
But the fact is, 2022 will be remembered as a year of momentous change at William Woods, and nothing loomed larger than the University reversing a national higher education trend by getting
on the William Woods campus were as crowded as anyone could remember late on the afternoon of Thursday, August 18, 2022.Opposite Page: Parents of incoming new students watch the Ivy Ceremony from the banks of Senior Lake.
bigger. But adding the largest class of new students in five years was only part of the story.
When William Woods established its first online degree programs in the 1990’s, the University was well ahead of the curve compared to other smaller, private institutions. Fast forward to the 2020’s when changing trends in higher education, helped along perhaps by the near-universal online learning experience all students were exposed to during the pandemic, put a new emphasis on one demographic that was especially receptive to remote education: adult learners.
Enter William Woods University Global.
Established by WWU in September 2022, William Woods University Global (A.K.A. Woods Global) is a new initiative to grow William Woods’s online offerings, expanding academic opportunities for working adults around the nation and world. But what is unique about Global is that it utilizes the same WWU undergraduate curriculum that is already in place, leveraging the University’s success in traditional undergraduate degree offerings into the online arena while building on what William Woods has already established with nearly 30 years of highly successful graduate degree online programs.
Doctorate in Educational Leadership (EdD)
Doctorate in Adult Learning (EdD) Education Specialist (EdS) in Curriculum Leadership Education Specialist (EdS) in Educational Leadership
Master of Education (MEd) in STEM
Master of Education (MEd) in Reading Instruction 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 Teaching and Technology Master of Education (MEd)
“With the advent of Woods Global, we now continue the WWU tradition of innovation and relentlessly focusing on the future,” said President Moreland. “A more robust offering of our existing undergraduate online degree programs will target and better support adult learners in our global economy, exposing many more of them to our strong undergraduate degree options while increasing the chance that they use their knowledge to contribute to and strengthen their local communities.”
“Our graduate online degree programs, particularly in fields such as Education and Business, have produced graduates who are assets to their local communities and economies for decades,” said Dr. Aimee Sapp, Provost of William Woods University. “With William Woods University Global, we are excited to combine our online expertise with our strong existing undergraduate curriculum for working adults.”
And while William Woods Global is focused on benefitting adult learners who could theoretically reside anywhere and far away from WWU’s physical campus, the potential future impact on the entire University could be extremely significant. The major increase that is anticipating in the number of online students enrolled has the potential to significantly expand the University’s capacity, which would in turn allow The Woods to make additional investments in the institution. With this increased revenue, the possibilities of how William Woods can grow in the future would be limitless.
Increases in the number of new students enrolling, and the number of online offerings, weren’t the only examples of growth that occurred at WWU in 2022. There was also a significant expansion in
athletic opportunities for Owl student-athletes.
The University announced the addition of five new intercollegiate varsity sports teams in the past year, including Men’s and Women’s Bowling and Outdoor Life Sports, announced in January, and Men’s and Women’s Wrestling, announced in September. The University also added developmental teams, similar to junior varsity squads, in baseball and softball.
The significant expansion of the WWU Athletic Department is consistent with the University’s longstanding commitment to educating students with experiences outside the classroom as well as inside. Adding additional intercollegiate sports teams provides more opportunities to do just that,
while also serving as another incentive to attract prospective students. Even before adding the new programs, William Woods had the unique distinction of having fully half of the undergraduate student population being student-athletes, competing for the Owls on one of WWU’s intercollegiate teams.
“William Woods Athletics is in an expansion mode, and we are excited about these additions to our department,” said Tracy Gastineau, Interim Director of Athletics at WWU. “As we continue to look for opportunities to grow and market our university, athletics will continue to play an important role. The additions of Bowling, Outdoor Life Sports and Wrestling will position us for future growth as well. This is the next step in continuing to grow our athletics department.”
Even before the earth-shattering disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, enrollment across American higher education was trending downward for a
number of years, especially among smaller, private institutions. Just two years removed from marking the 150th anniversary of the founding of the University, William Woods made a big statement about its future vitality with growth across the board. Coming just two years after the illustrious history of The Woods was being celebrated, it is clear that William Woods can look forward to the brightest of futures as well.
Summertime in the William Woods horse stables: a unique experience for EQS student workers
BY JOHN FOUGERE
students at William Woods University, working in the University’s horse stables for the summer, got an experience they may never get again in their budding careers in the industry.
At 6:30 p.m. on May 22, just as the evening shift of student workers was beginning their work for the night, one of WWU’s horses – Roxie – began to foal, or give birth to a baby horse. Because the primary purpose of the William Woods herd of horses is to provide riding and competition opportunities for students, the University does not have young horses very often and almost never has mares (female horses) foaling at school. In fact, this was an event that hadn’t happened since at least 2005 at WWU.
And several WWU EQS students – Shay Leake ’23,
Emma Boschert ’24, Miranda Faulkner ’25 and graduate assistants Haley Cronin and Carley Sukkert –were right there to witness it.
“Being able to be there and watch/video tape Roxie giving birth was a sight to see,” said Faulkner. “I was able to learn so much about what happens when a foal is born and what it looks like for the mare to give birth. It was also wonderful to watch the foal get up for the first time and keep trying to get up after it was born.”
“Many of the students who have stayed on to work at WWU over the summer had never seen a foal born,” said Jennie Petterson, professor and Director of the School of Equestrian Studies at William Woods. “While we show video and explain the process in many of our courses, it all means so much more when you are watching it happen right in front of you. Breeding is an important part of an equine business, so exposure for our students is important.”
The unexpected bonus of observing a mare foal in person was a perfect example of the kind of unique experiences that William Woods Equestrian students get to benefit from when they stay on for the summer as one of the University’s barn workers. William Woods will generally hire 7-10 students to work in the University’s stables each summer, and while most are Equestrian majors or minors, there are also always a few individuals from outside the the EQS world such as international students and athletes that work on site each summer.
For anyone that experiences it, there are great opportunities to learn and grow.
“It’s a great way for a student to have access to faculty, the horses and the facility while still working a full-time job,” said Petterson. “We encourage students to ride all of the disciplines (Saddle Seat, Western, Hunter-Jumper and Dressage) during the summer and many of our instructors give regular lessons to our summer staff. We work hard to provide showing opportunities when we can for our summer workers as well. They have the chance to assist in many areas of horse and stable management that they may not be able to do during the school year.”
“Staying for the summer helps benefit someone who is looking for a career in the equine industry by showing them what it takes to care for the horses, even in weather where you would rather be inside in the air conditioning relaxing,” said Faulkner. “It also shows you what it takes to take care of them all of the time, and not just when you are riding them for class. It also shows you what it means to be flexible when it comes to working around horses and how to manage time effectively when working with these animals.”
Students that stay on during the summer months get a valuable education on all the responsibilities expected of someone who runs a horse barn or stables. The summer staff assists the regular crew with cleaning and bedding stalls, feeding the horses, taking horses to turnout for exercise, grooming, barn
and tack maintenance and keeping the facility ready for visitors. William Woods hosts a number of events throughout the summer, and most of the major barn maintenance projects happen then as well. Students are also frequently called upon to assist with these activities, including keeping the horses on campus out of the way so that any necessary projects can be completed quickly.
“This job is beneficial for someone pursuing a career in the equine industry for many reasons, most notable, we receive more hands-on experience with horse handling,” said Leake, a native of Center, Missouri. “It is a great learning opportunity to handle horses of different breeds and backgrounds that we might see later in our careers. Along with the opportunities to ride outside of our main seat, this gives us an edge that sets us apart from others to
future employers and clients.”
A typical day for students is packed with responsibilities and experiences that mirror what they will find when working in the industry. The day shift for workers starts at 8:00 and ends at 2:00. The feed crew is run from 3-4:00 and then the evening shift is from 6:30-8:30. Workers are scheduled for five days a week, and weekends are harder for the staff because they don’t have the support of the permanent barn crew on Saturday, Sunday or some holidays. WWU works to schedule the entire summer staff for weekends, and then they take their off days during the week. A summer staff student’s normal day might include working from 8-2:00, taking horses to turnout and bringing them back to the barn on the hour throughout the shift. Between turnout switches they will groom the horses
Following
who
Students have the chance to assist in many areas of horse and stable management that they may not be able to do during the school year.
just came in, prepare feed and medications, sweep and rake aisles, restock supplies and maybe wash a tail or two. When the shift ends at 2:00 you will find many students riding.
“Staying for summer benefits the students and the graduate assistants because it allows for them to get more horse handling experience in more of a real world setting,” said Cronin, a graduate student from Wauconda, Illinois. “Class is not in session, but it allows for students to still learn without feeling like their jobs are in peril or they can’t make mistakes. Because the crew is so small, they get to handle and deal with all four seats, and have the chance to learn more about them. It makes them more independent but also more team orientated, because they have to work with the other workers to ensure that all the horses get fed, brushed, and turned out.”
The experiences that students in the William Woods Equestrian Studies program receive are unique and, as in the witnessing of the birth of a new baby horse, sometimes practically unprecedented. There may be no time when this is more true than for the fortunate EQS students who get to stay on during the summer months for work, education and hands-on experience, proving that the WWU EQS program is truly one for all seasons.
Alumna Stephanie Fettig Hall ‘97 hosted an in-person art and wine painting party at alumni weekend in April, which was notable as being the first such gathering in three years without the restrictions of the pandemic.
Celebrating the joyous return of Alumni Weekend
Jennifer Wenkel ‘08
Director of Alumni Relations and Community Partnerships 573-592-4237 jennifer.wenkel@ williamwoods.edu
I wanted to introduce myself as the new Director of Alumni Relations and Community Partnerships. I graduated in 2008 with a degree in Equine Science, and know the value of the relationships that were formed, leadership opportunities that were presented and the diverse hands-on experience William Woods University was able to offer. I recently came back home to The Woods, leaving a career as a Strategic Partnership Manager with a large non-profit focused on child welfare. My experience includes fund development, event planning, strategic planning, grant writing and community outreach and partnerships.
It is my goal to encourage and foster lifelong alumni involvement and commitment. My main areas of focus will be to strengthen the bond between William Woods and all of you, our graduates; to create opportunities that match the needs of our alumni; to build and maintain a mentorship program with the wisdom of our more seasoned alumni to lead our younger graduates, and to serve as the primary communications link between the University and its alumni.
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 2022:
Nicole Elliott ’11 Green Owl Award (pictured above)
Sarah Byers ‘77 Graduate & Professional Alumni Award
Shaun Speers ’07 Outstanding Service Alumni Award
H. Dale LaRue Order of the Owl
Keep the William Woods University family strong. Please consider giving to your alma mater by visiting williamwoods.edu/ giving
Please stay in touch! It is a constant challenge to keep our alumni records updated, and accurate data is vital to our success. Contact us by telephone or email with news of a new address, phone number, job change, promotion, marriage, birth or death. We love to stay connected with our alumni through the ups and downs of life. We hope that you will keep us updated about yours and learn how to be more involved with your ever-growing alma mater. Our staff is here to help you in any way!
If you have questions about any alumni happenings or have suggestions, or are interested in forming a new alumni chapter, joining the Alumni Board or being a mentor or mentee, please feel free to contact me. Also, please be sure to mark your calendars for 2023 Alumni Weekend on April 14-16. 2023 will be another year of excitement and energy, and another opportunity to reconnect with fellow alumni, friends and faculty while reengaging with WWU. With new leadership, growth in enrollment, new academic programs and additions to our physical campus, these are tremendously exciting times at The Woods that you do not want to miss. More information coming soon!
Here are the winners for 2022:
Rosemary Lenz Senior
Kassidy Phillips Junior
Eavan Gardner Sophomore Rhondell Tipton Freshman
Greetings to my fellow alumni!
President Moreland and the Alumni Relations team toured America this summer and fall, meeting our great alumni and friends across the country and keeping them connected to The Woods!
Registered alums received a beautiful long-sleeve tshirt designed by WWU Associate Professor of Equestrian Studies, Laura Ward.
Barbara (Peterson) Frieze passed away March 26, 2021. She always had fond memories of William Woods. Submitted by Lauri Frieze Bates ‘76.
Ann (Hinds) Barker reports she is thrilled to report she made it to age 90! She so loved The Woods, graduating in 1952!
Jerry (Koontz) Ballard reports she is doing well and welcomed her fourth great grandchild this spring!
Her daughter, Kelly Ballard ‘84 moved back to the KC area last December. Jerry now has both of her girls close by. Life has been good and William Woods has been an important part of her life.
Sondra Brown has been living at Tallgrass Creek in Overland Park, Kansas, a senior living community by Erickson for the past seven years. She has family in Durham, NC and Olathe, KS who she enjoys visiting.
Elaine (Palmer) Dunlap currently resides in San Antonio, Texas where she plays Bingo and her sons and four grandchildren live nearby. She recently finished serving as Vice President of her Residents Council.
Sue (Query) Sommer is now retired and lives in Oro Valley, Arizona. Sue has great memories of her 2 years at Bartley Hall at WWC, and would love to hear from any classmates out there.
Ann Bruce D’Hondt is settled into a continuing care community of fellow seniors in Collierville, TN, and is happy to report her health is excellent.
Sally Jadlow is the author of 13 books available at Amazon.com, and is also a blog author (sallyjadlow.com/blog).
Coylee Fischer and her husband, Art, celebrated 57 years of marriage in June. They are blessed with two wonderful children and the ability to travel throughout the US and
also Canada, Europe, the Far East, Australia, New Zealand and more. They now live in Dallas where they have made lots of new friends and are grateful to have family nearby.
Mary Ann (Ober) Wallace and her husband, Derek, are blessed with their combined family; 5 children, 5 grandchildren, and 4 great
grandchildren. They are particularly grateful for Derek’s continued good health following a Stem Cell Transplant from AML Leukemia. They participated in Be the Match & Project 44, and are thankful for stem cell donors! Derek was featured this year with his testimony through IU Health Foundation.
Mary Lou (DeFratus) Heltzel retired from teaching and from serving as choir director for her church. She currently serves as pianist at the church and administrator of the Arbuckle Historical Society in Sulphur, OK. She is the grandmother of three girls and one boy, all approaching their teens. She reports she has lost touch with her WWC friends, but has many fond memories of the campus and singing and touring with The Ceciliennes madrigal group. Her mother, aunt, and
Godmother all graduated from WWC.
Josena Fisher Arquieta is stepping down after 28 years at J D Metals, LLC and her daughter and grandson are taking over. She is thrilled to have time to pursue her art work which includes painting and figure drawing. Her watercolor painting received 2nd place in the July Watercolor Art Society-Houston show. She is currently painting pictures of some of the old homes in her neighborhood in Houston in order to preserve a historical account.
Pamella Ulrich Christensen wrote a book called “The Gift of God’s Word,” which is available at Amazon.com.
Lynn (Gary) Kenworthy sold her insurance practice to her partner a year ago,
Notes“Life has been good and William Woods has been an important part of my life.”
—JERRY KOONTZ BALLARD ’57
and now she is enjoying more traveling. A notable trip she took was with National Geographic on a private jet around the world.
Penelope “Penny” (Ulrich) Stickney is now retired after 32 years of teaching high school and college. She and her husband Phillip are celebrating 50 years of marriage with their four children, their spouses, and seven grandchildren. Penny’s retirement plan is to reacquaint with friends and explore family history.
Barbara (Markovitz) Thompson, Kris (Swanson) Gentemann and Gwen (Erickson) Mersky and their husbands spent an outstanding weekend in Traverse City, Mich. at the beautiful, welcoming lake home of Robbie Appel Rabanus and her husband Joe. Barbara reports, “we shopped, we laughed, we cried and did an awful lot of hugging. We have a unique and special friendship.” They hope to repeat this great reunion. Barbara and Kris live in St. Louis, and Gwen lives in Minneapolis. (photo)
Shirley (Anderson) Gaither reports that their farm (FVFhorses.com) has expanded again. They own a 100-acre training and breeding farm in Bahama, NC, and just expanded to Ocala, Florida with 25 acres just 4 miles from World Equestrian Center. Her daughter Laura Gaither Ulrich is a professional trainer and daughter Christina Gaither Webb is an amateur rider. Both have grand prix horses and show hunters and jumpers! They also have a farm in Southern Pines where they like to fox hunt.
Marilyn Heger retired from Providence Health Care in Spokane, WA, and moved to Arizona where she works part-time at the local hospital, but has far more time to enjoy life. Marilyn has two sons, three grandchildren and a wonderful husband.
Stephanie Heiwig Godke continues to teach culinary arts on KWQC TV 6, an NBC affiliate, for over 19 years, and she is also the Chef at Mississippi River Distillery in LeClaire, IA. Her husband, James, sold his business, and bought the family farm.
Linda Mills is the founder and owner of Mills Floral Company, INC, a woman-owned wholesale/ import business of home décor specializing in floral items in Duluth, GA (millsfloral.com). Her daughters, Amy Haler and Becky Scott, both work to help to manage the company. They have a showroom at the Atlanta Gift Mart and exhibit at the Dallas Gift Show. (listed in the WWU Alumni Business Directory)
Jane Horvath retired as a professional Director Choreographer (SDC), and as a middle school teacher. She has two beautiful grandchildren Elizabeth and Jeffery who are her pride and joy! 13 years ago, Jane was diagnosed with MS, and enjoys supporting a wonderful MS organization in St. Louis. On July 22, she had an article published in Ladue News about MS Bright Spots of Hope. Jane is a legacy, following her mother to the Woods and has never regretted it! Jane and husband Jeff reside in St. Albans.
Cindy Dietrich Logan enjoyed a surprise birthday party for her and her husband, Walter Logan, in June hosted by her children. Many guests from both William Woods and Westminster College were present. In July, Cindy was the spotlight artist at the Alliance Gallery in Hannibal where others came. (photo)
Kristin Koppen held a 50-year reunion with some of her Centennial Hall
suitemates (freshmen in 1971) and Alpha Chi Omega sisters in Pensacola, FL. (photo)
Nancy Canestrari Williams, Patty Roe, and Laurie Letsinger Schenck have taken advantage of retirement and Zoom accessibility to meet with each other virtually on a regular basis. The threesome, all former residents in Allen Hall, have corresponded over the years by letters and email, but videoconferencing has provided a fresh way to stay in touch, despite being hundreds of miles apart.
Sandra Cole retired at the end of 2021 after enjoying working full time at Piedmont Equine Practice in The Plains, VA. She had a knee replacement which improved her mobility and way of life! She reports she is happily living her best life with lots of free time yet staying involved with people she enjoys. She is planning another reunion with some of her WWC Nichols House dorm mates.
Beth (Isabel) Lullman of Alpha Chi Omega, passed away on September 22, 2021. Married to Alan (WC) for 42 years, mother of three and grandmother to three granddaughters. Beth was a lifetime equestrian. (photo)
Diane Grindol‘s artwork was accepted into the Monterey Peninsula Art Foundation gallery, and her work is on display at 425 Cannery Row in Monterey, CA. Diane also teaches art (specifically drawing and watercolor) at Pacific Grove Adult School. Diane recently met up with Westminster College friend Greg Walters ‘78, and they visited Quebec, Canada. (photo)
For most college graduates, it takes a lifetime of working to realize their professional dream job. Veronica Townsend ’21, who graduated from WWU with a Bachelor’s in Communication, is already well on the road to achieving hers.
A current graduate student at the University of Missouri (Columbia)’s famed School of Journalism, Townsend won a coveted summer internship slot with the most famous sports cable network in the world, ESPN. While growing up in Jefferson City, MO working as a sports anchor/reporter for the “Worldwide Leader In Sports” was always her dream career. With her summer 2022 ESPN internship under her belt, she now has her foot firmly planted in the legendary network’s door.
“Happy tears rolled down my eyes because the first step of my mission was accomplished, which was getting a job at ESPN,” Townsend said, recalling when she learned she was in. “This is a goal I have worked on my entire life and was humbled and grateful ESPN executives believed I could do a great job.”
No less than Forbes Magazine has regularly ranked ESPN’s internship program as one of its “Top 20 Most Prestigious Internships” in America, and the network is said to receive upwards of 10,000 applications annually for one of a few hundred positions. Townsend beat the odds and secured one, relocating to the network’s headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut and spending the summer with her hand in a variety of areas when it comes to the 24-hour sports giant’s programming. And living a dream.
“No dream is too big or small,” she said. “Write down your goals and a couple of courses of action so you can achieve them. This is what has worked for me.”
Clearly.
Patricia (Woods) Seifert retired after 40 years of teaching at Helias Catholic High School in Jefferson City. Mrs. Seifert has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with minors in Secondary Education and Philosophy from WWU, as well as a Master of Education in Secondary School Teaching from Lincoln University. Among her many contributions to the school, she served as Helias Catholic’s English Department chairperson from 1991-2022.
golfing, exercising, biking and hiking.
Kathy (Bensch) Bates is looking forward to retiring after 36 years as a small animal veterinarian. She says she is ready to devote more time and energy to her next career as an oil painter! She does pet portraits and landscapes. (kathybatesfineart.com). (listed in the WWU Alumni Business Directory) (photo)
Kathleen Kunkler was married on November 11, 2021 and the wedding was featured in a NY Times article. (photo)
Laura Scott retired after forty years in education. She and her husband built a barn home on a bluff overlooking the Little Niangua River near the Lake of the Ozarks.
Sally Chambliss moved to Phoenix, AZ in November 2021. She and her husband are both retired, and have 3 grandchildren ages 3, 7 and 10. They are enjoying traveling a bit,
Karyn (Smagacz) Gramling continues her work in the nonprofit sector as a member of the Advisory Board for Salvation Army Silicon Valley. In 2018, she founded the Women’s Auxiliary and serves as President, spearheading two annual charity events and multiple projects to assist underserved families in the community. Karyn was recognized by the national organization for her achievements as a recipient of one of three Exceptional Service Awards. (photo)
Kelly Ballard is retired and residing in Leawood, KS. She is enjoying being near family, especially mother Jerry Koontz Ballard ‘57 and sister Kim Ballard Mawhiney ‘82.
Laura (Hill) Steinbeck retired in March 2022 after 37 years in higher education financing. Laura worked 14 years at WWU in Admissions and Financial Aid, then finished her career with 23 years at Sallie Mae as an Assistant Region Head/Director for the Midwest region. Laura received the Lifetime Membership Award from the Missouri Association of Financial Aid Personnel in recognition of her retirement & service to the association. (photo)
Jill (Thompson) Miller recently completed the Cannabusiness Studies Program at Sullivan
Nashville, TN. Her primary role will be to oversee the collections, archaeology, reference services and exhibitions. (photo)
Elizabeth (Fuselier) Ellis joined The Compliance Team as an Accreditation Advisor in June. The Compliance Team is a nationally recognized healthcare accreditation organization. She continues to serve on The National Association of Rural Health Clinics on their Public Health Policy Committee and as Adjunct Faculty for Texas A&M University School of Nursing.
Maryalice (Kubesch) Williams graduated from Research College of Nursing & Rockhurst University with a BSN in October of 2016 and is currently practicing as an RN with Kansas City Hospice.
the Minnetonka, Minnesota corporate office.
Melinda (Smith) Stewart married John Magura III on July 23, 2022. The ceremony was held at their home near Olympia, Washington. The bride’s sons, Erik Stewart (WWU 2019-2021) and Justin Stewart, walked her down the aisle. (photo)
500 company, as the first female founding real estate agent in Minnesota. COMPASS is an innovative residential real estate firm utilizing the smartest tools built by the brightest minds across engineering, design, and strategy.
Bonnie (Foran) Carr was promoted to Commercial & Industrial Team Lead, Customer Success at Hitachi Energy in Jefferson City. Her team of five is responsible for customer satisfaction in Distribution Transformers used in the Oil & Gas, Renewables (Solar & Wind) and Data Center Market.
Christi Tennyson is now serving as a Development Officer at Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services. Christi works with individuals and churches throughout the greater St. Louis metropolitan area, Mid-Missouri, Northern Missouri, the East Coast, Washington, and Oregon. In her free time, Christi enjoys tackling the seemingly endless projects that come with her new-to-her century old home in historic St. Charles with help from her son Chase (a junior at WWU) and daughter Cassie.
University and earned the President’s Award for Academic Achievement. Jill and her husband, Ken (Westminster ‘87), live in Lexington, Kentucky.
Lisa (Owsley) Freeman and Philip Freeman (WC 1986) are so excited to welcome their first granddaughter, Pearl Lynn Thompson, and their third grandson, Ridge McCoy Freeman both born in November 2021!
Pam Miner was named Vice President of Collections at Andrew Jackson’s Presidential Home in
Karen (Johnson) Fallstrom was promoted to a Legal Services Consultant with UnitedHealth Group Incorporated’s Subsidiary Corporate Governance team, where she has been a Sr. Legal Services Specialist since July 2015 in
Kimberly (Nunemaker) Powell is the new President of the Missouri Art Education Association (MAEA), a non-profit visual art education organization dedicated to the professional development of visual art education and creating meaningful art experiences for all across the state of Missouri. Kim accepted the President’s gavel at the 2022 MAEA Spring Conference held April 7-9 at the St. Louis Renaissance Airport Hotel in St. Louis MO. The Missouri Art Education Association is an affiliate of the National Art Education Association. (photo)
Natalie Turner of Chesterfield, passed away on February 6, 2022, after a long illness. A member of the Alpha Phi Sorority during her time at The Woods, she worked as an elementary school teacher before she was forced to stop due to health reasons.
Janese (Cox) Shepard, CGMA has been named Oklahoma Society of CPA’s (OSCPA) Chair for the 2022-2023 membership year. Jan is a partner with Gray, Blodgett & Company, PLLC in Norman, OK. (photo)
Alethea “Lea” Dzurick was appointed the new Transportation Director for Fulton Public Schools. (photo)
Amber (Terry) McGuire volunteered this summer for a week at the Louisiana Deaf Camp through Liberty Deaf Church. She continues to work as an interpreter for Austin Community College. Her oldest son graduated from the university in May.
Amy S. Miller was awarded an Artist Support Grant by the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis for 202223. She was also featured
Notesin an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Her work has been shown in several galleries and art fairs in the St. Louis Region. (photo)
Jessica (Maher) Kinkelaar is Ranch Manager at the Little Raven Ranch in Colorado. (photo)
Tyler Wilcox-Moore donated a jumper horse named Gracie to the WWU Equestrian program.
Kimberly (Peters)
O’Connor was a five-time Champion at the 2022 Pinto World Championship Horse Show in Tulsa riding her Tennessee Walking horse named, I’m Bristol Fashion. (photo)
Jon Carenza accepted a new position at Atlanta as a Technical Lead, Front End.
Maggie (Stolzberg)
Iribarren is the Co-Founder of Motion Filmworks in Charleston, SC. She, and her husband Dorian, produce Brand Films for organizations and corporations focusing mostly on storytelling.
Kylee Weber moved to Wright City to be a Library Media Specialist in Warren County R-3 School.
Emily Stockwell graduated Summa Cum Laude with her Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Southwest Baptist University in July 2022. She is in her 14th year as an educator and is currently teaching High School Language Arts at Marquette High School in Chesterfield, MO. (photo)
Nathan Reid, (’05 & MEd ’07), owner of Reid & Associates, LLC, has been named a Hall of Fame Agent by American Family Insurance. Reid earned Hall of Fame status for
Heather Roberts and her husband Nathan Dewhirst welcomed Caitlin Kailani Dewhirst on March 28th 2022. (photo)
Frank Giuseffi, EdD, presented a paper entitled, “Setting the World Right: Exploring Hannah Arendt’s Educational Teaching” at the Annual Critical Questions in Education Conference held in Charleston, South Carolina. Topics included natality, the role of the teacher, and the influence of the imagination and the past in learning experiences. Dr. Giuseffi was also the editor for the book entitled Enhancing
Teaching and Learning with Socratic Educational Strategies published in February of 2022. IGI Global, Hershey, PA.
Shaun Speers was ordained a ruling elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Fulton on July 24, 2022. Shaun will serve as the property committee chair until 2025. Shaun also serves on the worship committee at the church. Shaun serves on the Events Committee of the Brick District Playhouse, the non-profit dedicated to the restoration and use of the historic theatre in downtown Fulton.
Nicolette Ahrens had twin girls (Charlette and
Michael A. French and his wife, Bobbi Hauptmann, moved to the Washington DC area in 2016 for the advancement of Bobbi’s career. Michael was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in June of 2020, but he didn’t let anything slow his entrepreneurial spirit down, as he has launched several highly successful ventures since his move to Virginia. (photo)
Megan Bornhauser married Jay Jones (Indiana University) in Steamboat Springs, CO in July 2022 with several William Woods Chi-Omegas in attendance. (photo)
Jimmie Bullard was appointed as the executive principal over two schools for the KCPS district, Benjamin Banneker and Longfellow.
Felicity) and is the owner and manager of All Four Feet Equine in Berthoud, CO. Nicolette focuses on Riding Instruction, Training and Trail Riding.
Jenna Zahner Pace is married and now resides in Webster, TX.
Bill Bott was named the “2022 Government Thought Leader of the
Year” by the American Business Awards after a culmination of about 3 years of work in child welfare where Bill and his team have worked with four states to reduce the time to investigate a child abuse allegation by more than 50% and reduced open caseloads in that area by 75-80%.
Riley (Groves) Williams married Ike Williams on April 26 in Cancun, Mexico. She finished her Ed.D. at WWU and began working as an Administrative Untern in the Fort Zumwalt School District, after ten years of teaching.
Katy Dury became engaged February 27, 2022 while vacationing in the Bahamas. Her fiancé proposed on horseback on the beach! The wedding will be late April of 2023!
Kathy Daniel accepted a new position as Mid Buchanan Director of Special Services. She resides in Gower, MO.
Darryln Johnson II is happy to tell you that, since 2019, he hasn’t really “worked” at all.
“They say if you work a job that you love you will never work a day in your life,” said the 2017 graduate of William Woods. “Well I am infatuated with what I do and look forward to ‘not working’ every day!”
2019 is when Johnson officially left the corporate world and founded Steeze Marketing LLC, a cutting edge marketing/ branding firm based in Wichita, Kansas. His company works with a diverse selection of clients, including everything from professional athlete branding to cannabis marketing, with a laser focus on helping people and businesses tell their stories through digital platforms.
“If a business owner does not have customers, their business is reduced to a hobby,” Johnson said. “Steeze Marketing helps business owners create the content that grabs the attention of that clientele.”
The decision to break away and form your own business is certainly not for the faint of heart. But Darryln Johnson has exactly the qualities that one needs to be a success – a burning passion for what he does, an attention to detail, and a competitive drive. Qualities he perfected during his days at The Woods.
“I chose William Woods because it was a college that just felt right for the last leg of my academic journey,” he said. “Obviously, it was the right decision for me!”
Philip Guidry, head Cross Country and Track and Field coach at Westgate High School in New Iberia, Louisiana, coached his team to its second consecutive Class 4A state track title on May 10, 2022.
Heather (Oetjen) Willems and husband Matt Willems welcomed their third child to the family on February 24th, 2022. Everett joined big sister Hazel (3) and big brother Arthur (1), and they live on a hobby farm in Jordan, Minnesota. (photo)
Pepper Grimm and her husband have moved from Missouri to New Jersey!
She is teaching 4th Grade at Lincoln Leadership
At WWU, Johnson valued his experiences with LEAD events and Career Days, circumstances in which the University brought interesting and important people to campus to provide real world professional insights. He also excelled on the basketball court, leading the Owls to their first-ever Top 25 NAIA ranking, and ended up being one of the few WWU basketball players to actually make money playing the game following graduation, playing overseas in El Salvador and China.
Returning to the U.S., Johnson worked for a couple of marketing companies, then went his own way, creating Steeze Marketing and effectively stopped “working.”
“My dream going forward is to continue to build a brand with its own specialized niche, and because I built it from grassroots, it has my fingerprints all over it,” he said. “It cannot be easily duplicated, which makes it unique.”
Academy Charter School in Allentown, PA. Husband, Todd, is now COO of Black Buffalo 3D, a company that builds large scale 3D construction printers.
Kayla Jo Pulliam married Victor Hugo Mendoza in New Orleans, LA on October 27th, 2021. Fellow Owls served as members of the bridal party including Drew Arnett (‘13), Maridith McCune-Metcalf (‘15) and Melissa Chatto (‘15). (photo)
Ilana (Archuleta) Holland (‘13, MBA ‘15) and her husband Jordan Holland
Alejandra Martinez accepted a management position at Host Healthcare as a Team Lead Senior Recruiter, and now resides in Encinitas, CA.
Dillon Snyder welcomed his 2nd child, Sydney Rose Snyder, in July 2022, and he and his wife celebrated 5 years of marriage. (photo)
Lilly Davis recently completed a yearlong Certification in Health Care Interpreting through RIT. This is in addition to her National Interpreter Certification in 2020 and EIPA (Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment) in 2017.
surgery, to be able travel overseas for a basketball position in the future.
Michael Nader passed his National Interpreter Certification (NIC).
Carley (Atkinson) Shively passed her National Interpreter Certification (NIC).
Preston Wolfe completed his PhD in Veterinary Pathobiology from The University of Missouri and has taken a job at Arthrex.
at WWU. She also passed her National Interpreter Certification (NIC).
Jordan Ross Hunter was elected as Region 2 Ambassador to the NJCAA EDI Council, talked on several podcasts, and traveled to several states and countries around the world, all while continuing his online business called Ross Enterprises as well as his individual basketball skill developement company. He is also proud to report that he recruited
state championships. He married Danielle Donelly in August of 2020.
Baylie Borman Pezold and husband Michael welcomed a little boy named Langston Pezold on September 3rd, 2021.
Jessie Trapp recently accepted a new job as an IT Specialist at the Imo’s Pizza corporate office.
welcomed Ada Bennett Holland into the world on April 5, 2022. Ada joins big sister, Sloane (3 years). Ilana came home to The Woods in Septemer 2022 as Director of Marketing. (photo)
MacKenzie (Bowden) Knierim opened her third business, a children’s clothing brand called To the Moon (tothemoonchildrens.com). She owns a children’s boutique, Rosebuds Baby & Kids (rosebudsbaby.com). As well as The Southern Rose in Columbia (southernrosemonograms.com).
(photo)
Andraquay Quinnine works in San Francisco, CA as an Employment Training Coordinator and is working on strengthening his knee, after recocering from knee
Mikyla Kerr works for Sorenson Interpreting where she is able to interpret for a broad range of concerts such as Coachella, Rolling Loud, and Pride, to name a few. She plans to interpret on cruise ships and at different music events. Mikyla expresses gratitude for the professors she had
and signed the most ethnically diverse basketball team in North Arkansas College history.
Izayah Donnelly, M.Ed, RAA, became a Registered Athletic Administrator through the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) after finishing his Master of EducationAthletic Administration in 2020. He took a position as an Executive Assistant for the Missouri State High School Activities Association where he assists in the sports of basketball, soccer, and softball. In his position, he corresponds with all Missouri high school athletic directors about rule changes and any updated information that is needed for the state championship series. He also oversees and administers operations for all three
Kristen (Holt) Very received her MBA in January 2022, and now works for Boeing. Her son was born February 10, 2022.
Lisa Sandford moved back to Missouri and accepted a position as a veterinary assistant at the Equine Hospital at the University of Missouri Veterinary
Health Center, caring for hospitalized horses. She also joined the Board of Directors of Happy Days Dog & Cat Rescue 501(c) (3) in Livonia, MI.
Elizabeth Eaton passed the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters Certification (BEI).
Anna Walton, ITP, was hired as a staff interpreter at RIT/NTID.
Sebastian Krull started his career as an Administrative Assistant with Vocational Rehabilitation in Columbia MO, where he is helping people with disabilities find employment. Additionally, Sebastian assists with staff training in the Jefferson City office and will be partnering with them to host a LEAD event at WWU sometime in the 2022-2023 school year.
Nina McKee began teaching full-time at William Woods in January 2022 as Instructor of Cybersecurity.
Caitlin (Cook) Franklin was accepted and began studies into MU’s veterinary program, and was married in May of 202l.
Karyna Sagalai and her husband, Justin, started their very first business called Smoothie Cards last August (getsmoothiecards. com), and raised funds through a crowdfunding platform and even launched on Amazon! They are currently looking for opportunities to get into retail shops very soon. This summer they were invited
Laura (Tyler) Foster, EdD, was married in Maui on June 25, 2022. (photo)
Parker Hampton graduated from the Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Benning, Georgia on July 24, 2022. A graduate of the WWU Show-Me GOLD program, Hampton is now assigned to the 1-138th Bravo Company as a Platoon Leader.
Jay T. Rowat earned the State of Iowa interpreting license and since then he has had the opportunity to
next year. Jay resides in Des Moines, IA.
Catherine Huff is now a licensed and certified ASL interpreter in Missouri and Illinois. Since graduating, she has started her own interpreting business from home, Inspired Interpreting Services, LLC, and welcomed her first granddaughter into the world.
pervisor at a local hospital, and has begun WWU’s online MHA program.
for an interview with an influential YouTuber and successful entrepreneur named Travis Marziani.
Grace Korhammer was hired by Missouri Department of Conservation as part of the resource and monitoring crew for Missouri’s wadeable streams. She travelled all over the state sampling streams and analyzing fish habitat! Grace resides in Columbia MO.
Kristina A. Jackson has been working as HIM su-
Madison L. Crosswhite is currently working for Carboline, the global leader in the painting coating and fireproofing industries, as an intern in the Marketing department. She helps the creative lead with graphic design and other creative work within the company. Madison lives in St. Louis.
Artie Anchondo passed the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters Certification (BEI).
Sierra (Starwalt) Mahoney passed the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters Certification (BEI).
Attendees were: Connie (Skinner) Reynolds, Michelle (Nabholz) Ellis, Michelle (Gruett) King, Linda (Kilpatrick) Allert, Judy (Means) Short, Nancy (Lewis) Kurkjian, Mindy (Mueller) Scovell, Julie (Cornell) Behrens, Candace Rister, Patti (Lennertson) Lorenz, Dallas (Williams) Judd, Cheryl (Dean) Kleppe, Jamie (Warren) Corkran, Debbie Shadley, Michele (DeMaria) Brogan, Kim (Muschany) Johnson, Nancy (Fisk) Lawrence and Jamie (Spasser) Goldstein (not pictured).
WWU Alum is a vital cog at cutting edge digital-first equestrian commerce store start-up
BY JOHN FOUGERE
The global equestrian industry is vast, valued at around $102 billion in the United States alone. How advantageous would it be, then, to have a one-stop online shop for equestrians of all stripes to purchase virtually any item that is needed for their craft, from stable supplies to saddles and polo wraps to fly spray?
Enter Corro (corroshop.com), a new e-commerce platform that brings together a dizzying array of equine-tested and horse-approved products that allows horse owners to focus on what they love the most – their horses.
“We like to say that we were founded and led by ‘horse people,’ for horse people,” said Jenny Stracke, and she should know.
Stracke, of Las Vegas and a 2009 graduate of William Woods, was one of the initial seven people hired by the company when it debuted in 2020. The company is a completely online shopping destination for all things horse where Stracke has made an impact in her short stay by creating some of its most popular features, most notably the Corro Top Rated (corroshop.com/ corro-top-rated-program) program.
“We have had some of the top riders and trainers from the throughout the equestrian community offer their expertise to help curate our tremendous assortment of products, and test them in a side-by-side competition as part of Corro Top Rated,” Stracke said. “These expert equestrians from all disciplines will test, review, and provide honest feedback about our wide variety of products, such as all-natural fly sprays, liniments, shine sprays, splint boots, and more.”
Some of those experts have included Roxanne Trunnell, an Olympic Gold Medalist and current number one ranked Para Dressage Rider in the world; number one ranked U.S. Vaulter (and number eight in the world) Kristian Roberts; top-ranked Japanese Showjumper Karen Polle and top-ranked Filipino Dressage rider Ellesse Gunderson. Stracke’s other brainchildren for the company have included the Corro Barn Program (corroshop.com/corro-barn-program), in which large scale barns receive major discounts and rewards on the products they have to purchase for their barns, and the company’s Give-A-Gift Program (corroshop.com/
give-a-gift), where Corro facilitates the wishlists of various equine charities.
The unique new company has been a dream come true for Stracke, who graduated from WWU with a bachelor’s in Math with minors in Marketing and Equestrian Studies. After about a decade of dabbling in graduate school, working in hospitality in Las Vegas, and even touring the country in an RV, the offer to join Corro in 2020 proved to be a perfect fit.
“I get to combine my passion for horses, marketing, and giving back all at once with Corro,” she said. “Within my position, I create and manage programs that benefit our customers and strengthen the identity of our brand to be something you can get behind and depend on.”
As Stracke has helped build the company, her years at William Woods have always been top of mind for her. In fact, one of the experts from the Equestrian industry that she has tapped into to help rate Corro’s products under the Corro Top Rated Program has been none other than WWU Equestrian Studies Director and Professor Jennie Petterson.
“I was excited to be approached by Corro about contributing to their efforts to use their retail platform to provide education to horse enthusiasts, and even more so because the initial contact was made by one of my former students,” said Petterson. “It is truly a special moment when the teacher becomes a professional colleague with their former pupil. Jenny is such a great
example of the motivated and innovative students that come from our equestrian program.”
“Jenny and Corro have worked to build an innovative approach that brings curated products and expert equestrian advice to the horse enthusiast community,” Petterson continued. “ The articles and features in Corro Stories bring experts in all facets of the industry to Corro customers. It’s a different approach to providing both information and retail products that fills a niche in the industry. It’s always wonderful to see a graduate achieving success in the workplace.“
Stracke’s commitment going forward is to strengthen the tie between Corro and her alma mater. She has regularly donated Corro products to the WWU barns for student use and is currently working on potential sponsorships for William Woods-hosted horse shows. Going forward, she would like to utilize more WWU alums as experts for Corro Top Rated, feature William Woods equestrians in Corro articles and stories, and provide them with special discount deals on products they are already purchasing for their horses.
“It will always be a priority for me to give back to WWU whenever I can because I had such an incredible experience when I was a student there,” said Stracke. “I really like to help students become aware that they have many options when pursuing a career path that involves horses, and will do my best to help them where I can.”
For more on Corro, visit corroshop.com.
“
To say Amanda Herriman-Reichel is passionate about life would be quite the understatement.
The three-time graduate of William Woods (B.S. in Elementary Education/Art Education 2009; Master’s in Athletic/Activities Administration 2011, and Specialist Degree in School Superintendency 2013) has always been super involved, going back to her days at The Woods when she was active in her sorority, campus organizations, theatre productions, and the LEAD and Freshman Advantage programs.
Fast-forward to 2022, and we find the Eldon, Missouri native still doing it all. She currently teaches third grade in the Moniteau County R-1 School District in California, Missouri. She creates art and has sold her original acrylic, oil and watercolor paintings locally. She is a wife and mom to three children, and lives on a 50-acre farm, also in California, Missouri.
And in her spare time in the past year, Amanda added another labor of love when she became a published author for the first time.
“I always had hopes of becoming an educator, artist and author one day,” said Herriman-Reichel.
“After graduating from WWU, I became an educator. Four years ago, I became an artist. I knew in my heart that God would put an idea for writing in my heart when the time was right.”
That time turned out to be 2021, when Amanda lived an inspirational goal-setting story that she felt needed to be shared to in turn inspire others. What resulted was “My Word Of The Year,” a book she self-published on Amazon in December 2021 that is now available in paperback and e-book. “My Word Of The Year” is about goal-setting and then taking action steps to achieve results. Using the theme of One Word, Three Goals and One Year, the heartwarming and humorous non-fiction book details the truth about a hardworking, rural American family of educators who strive to serve others.
“It’s an inspirational journey of a year of prayer where I set goals, take action steps and achieve results, all in God’s perfect timing,” she said.
As it turned out, Amanda had a pretty strong source of inspiration herself along the way on her life’s journey.
You might say that Herriman-Reichel’s decision to attend The Woods was a foregone conclusion, even before she was born. Long before she ever set foot on the Fulton campus, her family’s ties were already deep in the William Woods soil. Her mother Clare Dowling-Herriman, class of 1981, attended WWU on a full-ride athletic scholarship, competing on the Owls’ basketball, volleyball, tennis and softball teams before embarking on a 41-year career teaching physical education and working in administration in the Eldon public schools. She also spent 12 years teaching in the William Woods Athletic/Activities Administration graduate program, and even got married to her husband of 39 years (Amanda’s father) in the William Woods campus chapel.
“During my senior year of high school, my mom and I toured the beautiful WWU campus, and I knew I was home,” Amanda said. “Like my mom, I wanted to pursue an education degree, and I knew that William Woods has one of the very best teaching programs in the region.”
What followed were memorable years at The Woods, making lifelong friends with her Chi Omega sisters, serving as Vice-President of the Education Club and on the Greek Panhellenic Board, and participating in LEAD events and Freshman Advantage. That’s not to mention the academic experience she benefitted from at WWU.
“The WWU Art and Education Departments equipped me with the knowledge needed and the steadfast ‘with-it-ness’ to pursue my career as an educator,” she said. “I have spent half my career as an Art teacher and half my time as an elementary school teacher, and I credit the late Sharon Means for going above and beyond, assisting me with readiness throughout my education courses at WWU. I also credit my professor and influential artist, Terry Martin, for the time he spent believing in his students.”
Overall, having the smaller class sizes at The Woods where everyone knew you on a first-name basis was a huge plus. As was another “unofficial” minor Amanda picked up at WWU in Theatre, which was a hobby but ended up being an asset in her teaching.
“In today’s teaching world, you must captivate your audience with interactive learning that entertains,” she said. “My theatre training was interwoven within my career path as every day educating children is much like performing in a theatrical production!”
After graduating from William Woods, Herriman-Reichel settled into her busy life of teaching, creating art, and being a mom and wife. But the dream of becoming an author was never far away.
“I have applied the practice of having a word of the year to my life since 2017, a concept that allows my mind to hyperfocus on one central theme for an entire year,” she said. “Eventually, I paired goal setting with my word of the year, and it set my journey along a unique path to which I am forever grateful.”
Amanda began 2021 with her word for the year
being “Prayer.” She coupled the word with three goals for the year, one for her mind, one for her body, and one for her spirit. For the mind, her goal was to read one book per week and complete 52 books by the end of the year. For her body, her goal was to set a nutrition plan in place for weight loss and train and compete in a half marathon. For spirit, her goal was to read the Bible from beginning to end.
Using her theme of Prayer, Amanda was able to surpass her limitations and meet her goals, and near the end of 2021 became inspired to use the experience to write her book. Spending every spare available moment working on the project between October and December, including several late nights and all of her Thanksgiving break from school, she was able to self-publish “My Word Of The Year” by the end of the year.
“My biggest challenge with writing this book was finding the necessary time to actively engage with my creative writing process,” she said. “It was essential for me to work on my book without stealing time away from my ultimate priorities of being a wife, mother and teacher. I did not take one day off from my teaching duties while writing this book, and would often tuck my children into bed at night and stay up until the wee hours writing.”
“I ultimately had to give up some family time to meet my deadline, but in my heart, I know that when my children read my book, they will understand why I chose to pursue this goal during the time that I did, and hopefully, my message will leave them inspired.”
During her very full and active life, Amanda Herriman-Reichel has been inspired by many – her own mother, mentors on the William Woods University faculty, the lifelong friends she gained at WWU, among others. But now, it is Amanda who is doing the inspiring, impacting her children, her students, art lovers and those who read her book. For someone who has always taken great joy in being involved with others, there is no greater proof of a life well-lived.
A fable, as Webster’s Dictionary defines it, is a “short fictional story that conveys a moral.”
Fable is also the name of the direct-to-consumer dinnerware start-up business that was co-founded by Joe Parenteau ’13, in 2019. But there is nothing fictional about Fable’s impressive success since its founding by the former William Woods student-athlete, which includes substantial growth in both revenue and employees added in just the past three years.
And if there is a moral to Parenteau’s story, it is that sometimes a vexing problem can prompt one to solve it, which can in turn lead to a marketable, profitable business venture. That is pretty much what caused Parenteau, a native of Canada, to brainstorm his new idea.
“Fable started out as a personal problem,” Parenteau said. “I was looking to upgrade my home décor into something of higher quality, but the traditional retail stores left me feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. Personally, I felt that premium home shopping should not feel this way. So we created a brand to make it easy to upgrade your home, focusing on sustainability, ethical craftsmanship, and transparency.”
It has been just nine short years since Parenteau graduated from WWU with a Bachelor’s of Science while double-majoring in Economics and Finance, and already, he is demonstrating what outstanding start-up business achievement can look like. You could say that when Parenteau left the “Great White North” to attend The Woods, he officially began setting the table, if you will, for that future professional success.
As a native of Regina, Saskatchewan, Parenteau probably never envisioned spending his college years several hundred miles to the south in Fulton, Missouri. But an opportunity to play intercollegiate golf opened the new door for him.
“After I met the golf coach at William Woods, I was sold on joining the team,” he remembered. “During the recruitment process, I was also able to meet some members of the team, and also became really excited about the Greek Life scene at WWU.”
So with that, Parenteau came to The Woods, where instead of a touch of international culture shock, he found a real home as an Owl.
“Greek Life, as I had anticipated, was certainly a highlight of my time at William Woods,” Parenteau said. “From formals to philanthropies to bid days, it was all a blast! I made lifelong friends and made incredible memories during my time as a Pike (Pi Kappa Alpha).
In addition to the academics and faculty he encoun-
tered at WWU, Parenteau was able to take away valuable leadership and social skills from his William Woods experience.
“I graduated from WWU a better, more complete person, and I owe a lot of that to my Greek Life experience when I was there.”
He departed William Woods after his graduation in 2013, and found work immediately at an accounting firm. A year later, he was back to Canada in Vancouver, where he began what would be his life’s work –new business start-ups and tech space. It was just a matter of time before this bright young man would take everything he had learned and experienced and put it to good use for the average consumer.
From his earliest memories, Parenteau loved to create things.
“I always loved to build things from scratch,” he said. “Dating back to building with Legos, then later cooking at home, or whatever it may be, I love to create. And I knew that building a company would allow me to do that every day.”
The company he created is a direct-to-consumer dinnerware brand that focuses on quality craftsmanship (products are designed by Parenteau and his team in Vancouver and then hand-finished by a team of talented artisans in Portugal) and ethical business practices. The company motto is that life’s greatest moments are shared around the dinner table, so it aims to create high-quality products that make setting a beautiful dinner table easy.
Overall, Fable is different from other dinnerware companies, solving the dinnerware-buying frustrations Parenteau first experienced years ago.
“We avoid traditional retail markups while offering uniquely crafted dinnerware pieces,” he said. “Our goal has been to make outfitting your home a seamless process while providing our customers with options outside of traditional tableware retailers.”
By all accounts, both Fable and Parenteau are wildly succeeding at meeting their goals. Since the company was founded in 2019, it has grown from two to 40 employees while sales revenues have skyrocketed – up eight times the company’s intake for all of 2021 thus far in 2022.
Perhaps, his company will achieve the status of household name one day. And when that day comes, he won’t soon forget where he came from.
“Take a leap of faith to do new things outside of your comfort zone,” said the man who left Canada for William Woods over a decade ago. “The amount of growth you will see in three or four years at William Woods is extraordinary.”
1943
Betty (Kaiser) Wolfangle
1945
Emma (Barrow) Pierce
1946
Mary (Underwood) Thach 1947
Ellen (Feagin) Hyndman
Ruby (Gattermeir) Moss 1948
Sarah (Langston) Moore 1949
Doris (Birdsong) Abel Molly (Leeper) Stewart
Pat (Miller) Williams Tenney 1950 Patricia (Ward) Walton 1951 Sue (Link) Cobble
Babs (Peterson) Frieze 1952 Betsy (Hoerning) Charlson 1954
Darlene (Saling) Gubler 1957
Virginia (O’ Connell) Klinke 1963
Jeanne (Murphy) Graeser
1965 Linda (Penninger) Henry 1970 Ann Hernly 1973 Susan Howard 1975 Linda (Peterson) Campbell 1978 Beth (Isabel) Lullman 1979 Melissa (Waller) Waller 1981 Cathy (Easley) Morgan 1982 Susan (Schalk) Schalk 1990 Dawn (Byrd) Knoderer 2002 Shanna (Thurston) Schopp Johanning 2008 Stephen Huffmon 2021 Michele (McComb) Offord
One of the newest landmarks that was added to the William Woods landscape in 2022 was the W-W-U letters statue, which in it’s short existence has already emerged as the go-to spot for iconic campus photographs.
champion travis traylor, jr a former long-time member of the William Woods Board of Trustees, died at his home in Houston, Texas on September 9, 2022. He was 98 years old.
Mr. Traylor was a member on the board for nearly 25 years, serving at a time of significant change at William Woods. During his tenure, the University hired the longest serving president in University history in Dr. Jahnae Barnett, transitioned from a college to a university, became a co-ed institution and launched its inaugural online and graduate degree programs.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Anne Pirtle Traylor, and is survived by his five children, 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Mr. Traylor attended Westminster College in Fulton, and later attended the University of Houston, graduating with a BBA. He was a veteran of the United States Navy, joining in 1942 and discharged in 1946. He started his business career in mortgage banking with American General Investment Corporation, and later organized the Union Mortgage Investment Company with two other partners. He merged Union Mortgage with First Mortgage Company of Texas where he later became Chairman and CEO of First General Realty Company. He stayed active in the world of real estate investments throughout his entire life.
Mr. Traylor was founder of Parkway National Bank, Texas Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trust, Clear Lake Savings Association and was the owner of Robinson Traylor Insurance Agency. Travis served as President of The Houston Mortgage Bankers Association, The Texas Mortgage Bankers Association and was a member of the Board of Mortgage Bankers Association of Texas. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the TMBA. He was also active on the Board of Trustees of Westminster for 40 years, where he received the Alumni Achievement Award, and was also a member on the board of the University of Houston School of Business, where he received the Distinguished Alumni Award.
March 19, 1953 – September 12, 2022
linda charlene peterson campbell was born to charles Peterson and Reba Peterson in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was the second of six children. She attended William Woods College to earn a degree in interior design, and also received some credits at Westminster College.
For four years, Linda was employed as an interior designer with Sherwin Williams, where her husband, Jim Campbell was a district manager. In 1981, Jim and Linda moved to Dallas, Texas where they started their own sales agency called J.T. Campbell & Company. This business survived for thirty years and then was sold to a business partner.
From 1986 to 2002, Linda was primarily a stay-athome mom and after her youngest child graduated from high school, she went to work as Director of Christian Education and Youth Director at First Presbyterian Church of Mesquite and later at Bentwood Trail Presbyterian Church in Plano, Texas.
In 2018, she decided to start using her college education again and resumed her career as an interior designer. A friend of hers owned Exciting Décor, a brokerage for floor coverings and window treatments and Linda joined his team. It is obvious that Linda was exactly what this market needed, and the business prospered quickly. She also became very active with the Royse City Chamber of Commerce; various board positions with several charities and the public schools and their bond issues. It has amazed so many people that in a relatively brief time, she became something of an icon in her community and surrounding area. Her smile warmed boardrooms and client’s homes, her amazing abilities endeared her to almost everyone who came in contact with her, and her integrity gained trust from so many. Though was very busy, she never wavered in her participation and support of her church and family.
Her family will testify that they have never seen Linda happier than these last three or four years. She loved life and life loved her. She will be sorely missed and can never be replaced.
William Woods University promotes a studentcentered learning enviroment valuing inclusion, creativity and intellectual inquiry with the goal of preparing learners for success.
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