Monthly Updates from The Crow's Nest - March 4, 2025 Edition
In the world of education and arts, Park University continues to make headlines with a series of exciting developments.
Healthcare Administration Internship Panel
Alla Adams, an associate professor of healthcare administration, moderated a virtual Healthcare Administration Internship Panel for the American College of Healthcare Executives Southeast Texas Chapter. The event provided valuable insights and opportunities for students interested in the field.
Leadership Changes and Appointments
Shane Smeed, currently the President of Park University, has been appointed as the 19th president of Utah Tech University in St. George, Utah. The transition plan for his move from Park University to Utah Tech University is yet to be detailed publicly. John Huber has been appointed as the director of corporate development and admissions within the Office of Enrollment Management, effective Jan. 27. Scott Fergerson has been promoted to the role of chief financial officer, effective Feb. 2.
Arts and Culture
An art exhibit featuring RE: Generation Community Artists will be held at an unspecified location. A violinist and pianist duo will perform in concert on March 14 at the 1900 Building in Mission Woods, Kan. Two Park University International Center for Music students, Nikita Korzukhin and Ali Mammadoff, will perform a recital on March 27.
Sports and Scholarship
Abubakar Kromah, a junior on the Parkville Campus men's basketball team, was named first team all-conference in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Six Park-Gilbert student-athletes earned recognition as winter scholar-athletes in the Great Southwest Athletic Conference. Fifteen Park University student-athletes earned NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors for winter sports.
Academic Achievements
Alynna Palacios, a junior guard on the Gilbert Campus women's basketball team, was named the Great Southwest Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Gini Fite, an adjunct instructor of sport and exercise science, was recently honoured by the Missouri Athletic Trainers' Association as its Athletic Trainer of the Year.
Community Partnerships
The nursing department at Park University has formed a partnership with Veterans Community Project, a Missouri nonprofit organization that provides temporary housing and other strategic support services to veterans facing homelessness. One of the co-founders of VCP is Kevin Jamison, a 2014 Park graduate.
Public Engagement and Research
David Chesher, the senior director of technology, provided a list of tips and simple steps for a story about a recent influx of scam phone calls, especially those targeting family members of inmates in Leavenworth County, Kan. Amber Dailey-Hebert, the director of the Faculty Center for Innovation and professor of organizational leadership and adult learning, co-authored a paper titled "Understanding the Complexity of Centers for Teaching and Learning: Introducing a Four-Dimensional Model" that was published in Higher Education. Jack MacLennan, the senior director of strategic initiatives and communications, and special assistant to the president for governance, authored a chapter titled "Teaching Online 'Finding a Way Through Assessment Mirages: Teaching IR as a Toolset Online'" that was published in The Palgrave Handbook on the Pedagogy of International Relations Theory.
Upcoming Events
Upcoming events at Park University include an art exhibit, Women Transforming Criminal Justice Event, Board of Trustees meeting, International Center for Music Concert, Student Research and Creative Arts Symposium, and International Center for Music Concert with guest conductor Barbara Yahr. The concert will feature guest conductor Barbara Yahr and will take place in Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel on the University's flagship Parkville Campus. The event, which is open to the public, will also be livestreamed at Park University's website.
Notable Mentions
Courtney Wachal, J.D., municipal court presiding judge, Kansas City, Mo., Domestic Violence Court and Wellness Court, will be the featured speaker at Park University's 3rd annual Women Transforming Criminal Justice event. Tim Westcott, a professor of history and associate university archivist, was interviewed for stories related to the "Battle of Parkville" and the 83rd anniversary of President Franklin Roosevelt signing Executive Order 9066, which paved the way for the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. Melanie Clouser, a 2009 graduate, was featured in Kansas City magazine for her eclectic 1921 Craftsman house in the Valentine neighborhood of Kansas City, Mo. A story about Jordan DeNovellis, a senior at Sidney (Neb.) High School, signing a letter-of-intent to play women's basketball at Park University Gilbert (Ariz.) Campus appeared in the Sidney Sun-Telegraph. Kody Petersen, a 2024 graduate, was appointed as the veterans initiatives manager with the Branson (Mo.) Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau. Stephen Cox, a 1988 graduate and 2009 Distinguished Alumnus Award honoree, appeared on "The Frank and Jill Show" that aired on KTRS-AM in St. Louis. Tickets for the concert are available in advance through Eventbrite.
Conclusion
With a diverse range of events, partnerships, and academic achievements, Park University continues to make a significant impact in the fields of education, arts, and community service. Stay tuned for more updates from this vibrant institution.
- The Healthcare Administration Internship Panel, hosted by Park University, falls under the category of general news and education-and-self-development.
- In sports, Abubakar Kromah from the Parkville Campus men's basketball team received first team all-conference in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, making headlines for Park University.
