The Crow’s Nest — February 6, 2020
Park’s Spencer Cave Black History Month Lecture to Focus on Langston Hughes
A discussion spotlighting Langston Hughes (1902-67) will be the focus of Park University’s 19th annual Spencer Cave Black History Month Lecture on Monday, Feb. 24. The lecture will take place in the Jenkin and Barbara David Theater inside Alumni Hall on the University’s Parkville Campus starting at 7 p.m. Admission is free, but registration is requested at park.edu/2020spencercave.
The lecture, “Langston Hughes – The Crisis Magazine and the Harlem Renaissance,” will be presented by Shawn Alexander, Ph.D. (left), professor of African and African American studies and director of the Langston Hughes Center at the University of Kansas. Alexander’s discussion will focus on Hughes’ influential 1920s The Crisis pieces, particularly the more political and aesthetic works of the period. According to Alexander, Hughes had a longstanding relationship with the NAACP and the magazine, from his grandmother reading sections of The Crisis to him when he was a child, to the publication of the organization’s first history book, Fight for Freedom: The Story of the NAACP.
The Spencer Cave Black History Month Lecture Series is named for Cave, a man born into slavery at the start of the Civil War. After moving to Parkville, Mo., Cave worked for the University for more than 70 years before his death in 1947. In homage to Cave, Park University started this lecture series to expound on the many contributions African-Americans have made toward our nation’s success.
University Hosting Annual Fundraising Breakfast for Banneker School
The Banneker School Foundation will hold its annual fundraising breakfast on Monday, Feb. 24, at Park University. The event begins at 7:30 a.m. in the Park Distance Learning Conference Center within the Parkville Commercial Underground on the University’s Parkville Campus. The event, held in partnership with the University, will include an update related to the restoration and fundraising efforts of the historic one-room structure, located at 31 W. 8th Street in Parkville, Mo., built in 1885 to educate children of color. In addition, the breakfast will recognize the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Africans in Virginia in summer 1619 and the Banneker School’s resistance to slavery. 
Ajamu Webster (right), founder and chief executive officer of DuBois Consultants Inc., a civil and structural engineering firm based in Kansas City, Mo., will be the featured speaker.
Tickets for the event are $35 per person and can be purchased at 2020bannekerbreakfast.eventbrite.com or at the door the day of the event. Sponsorships are also available for $1,000 per table. For more information about the event or to purchase a table, contact Banneker School Foundation board member Adrian Singletary at singletaryad@gmail.com.
Park University Co-Hosting Screening of “True Justice” Documentary
The National Archives at Kansas City, in partnership with Park University and the Greater Kansas City Black History Study Group, will hold a screening of the HBO-produced documentary “True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality” on Tuesday, Feb. 18, beginning at 6 p.m. The program will take place at the National Archives at Kansas City, 400 W. Pershing Road in Kansas City, Mo. Admission to the event free and open to the public, but reservations are requested at kansascity.educate@nara.gov or (816) 268-8010. In addition, John Hamilton, Ph.D., associate professor of criminal justice administration, will offer his perspective of the film during the event.
“True Justice” explores the life and most memorable cases of Stevenson, an Alabama public interest lawyer, advocate for incarcerated people and founder/executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative where he continues his decades-long effort to eradicate racial discrimination in the criminal justice system. This film sparks critical conversations about the history of racial injustice in America and compels viewers to confront the ways it continues to permeate American society in both obvious and covert ways. Read more about the documentary at park.edu/news/true-justice-screening.
Discussion on Racism and Sexism Set for Feb. 27
Park University’s Department of History, Political Science and Interdisciplinary Studies will host a lecture by Ron Mallon, Ph.D., discussing racism and sexism on Thursday, Feb. 27, starting at 3:30 p.m. in the Jenkin and Barbara David Theater within Alumni Hall on the University’s Parkville Campus. Admission to the event is free and open to the public.
Mallon (left), chair and professor of philosophy and philosophy-neuroscience-psychology at Washington University in St. Louis, said the talk is an exploration of two different ways contemporary Americans use moral terms like “racist,” “sexist” and “cultural appropriation” in ordinary and theoretical social morality. “In one use, such terms are position neutral and apply to people regardless of their location in a social structure. On a second use, such terms are appropriately applied only when they reinforce existing social equalities or historic social injustices,” Mallon said. He added that the discussion will aim to recognize and clarify these two uses, and consider how individuals might go about deciding between them. Read more about the event at park.edu/news/mallon-lecture.
“Park Stories” Initiative Showcases Park Family
The heart and soul of Park University lies within the spirit of the people who represent the institution in the classroom and community. The Office of University Engagement’s “Park Stories” initiative showcases fun and inspiring features highlighting Park University students, faculty, staff and alumni. These stories are shared periodically in The Crow’s Nest. This edition’s installment highlights Brittany Wagner (right), a December 2019 graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in social psychology.
University Honored by Park Hill School District
Park University was recognized by the Park Hill (Mo.) School District as its Partner of the Year during the school district’s annual Hall of Fame induction dinner on Jan. 27. The University received the award for “being a top-notch university right in our backyard and a popular choice for many of our graduates. Park University has been a longtime partner with the (PHSD) Education Foundation and a district advertising partner. It also invests in our high school students in the Professional Studies program through the University’s nursing, education, social work, academic enrollment and sports departments.” Jamie Pasley, Ph.D., dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, accepted the award on behalf of the University from Jeanette Cowherd, Ed.D., superintendent of the PHSD.
Campanella Gallery Hosting Digital Photography Exhibit
The current art exhibit in Park University’s 2019-20 Campanella Gallery exhibition season features a display of digital photography by Masoom Khawaja. The exhibit is on display through Friday, Feb. 28, in the Gallery, located within Norrington Center on the University’s Parkville Campus. Admission is free. A reception for the artist will be held on Friday, Feb. 7, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Gallery.
Khawaja, an adjunct instructor of fine art and graphic design at Park, said that she prefers to take photos with a plain lens and does not manipulate or alter the images digitally, rather through the use of filters and using an old style gelatin silver process. “My aim in photography is to work as a middle person, to capture a scene, portrait, or landscape the way it comes through my camera lens and translate or bring that onto photographic paper,” she said. “Angles and shapes are another favorite theme which I explore through architectural photography. I try to develop a dynamic relationship between the viewer and the subject. Because of my background in graphic design, I try to assemble visual appealing compositions and try to communicate emotions and moods that can stay with the viewer for a long time.”
The Campanella Gallery is open during Norrington Center’s regular business hours as follows: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, 4 to 9:30 p.m. The building will be closed on Monday, Feb. 17, for the President’s Day holiday.
Faculty, Staff, Student News
Jason Kline, Parkville Campus men’s basketball head coach, earned his 400th career victory on Dec. 21 in the Pirates win over St. Louis College of Pharmacy. The victory brought his career record to 400-250 (as of that date) and 260-166 in his 15 years at the helm of the Pirates.
Jeanette Prenger, ’09 (left), chair of Park University’s Board of Trustees, was appointed as vice chair of Visit KC, an economic development organization dedicated to tourism in the Kansas City region, effective Jan. 1. In addition, Bob Kendrick, ’85, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and Teresa Loar, ’94, a member of the Kansas City, Mo., City Council, were appointed to the organization’s Board of Directors.
Virginia Brackett, Ph.D., professor emerita of English, will be interviewed as part of a presentation on her recently published nonfiction exploration of her relationship with her father, In the Company of Patriots. The presentation, on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 6:30 p.m. at the Johnson County (Kan.) Library’s Central Resource Library in Overland Park, will be recorded for the program “New Letters on the Air” on KCUR-FM in Kansas City at a future date.
Patty Ryberg, Ph.D., associate professor of biology and director of the Honors Academy, is among the scientists featured in a film set to premier in February. “Dinosaurs of Antarctica” (Giant Screen Films) tells the story of two National Science Foundation funded research expeditions to Shackleton Glacier, including one Ryberg was a part of in December 2017-January 2018. Ryberg spent five weeks about 300 miles from the South Pole to collect fossil plants and trees to research the possible landscape of Antarctica 260 million years ago. For more information about the film and to watch the official trailer, visit gsfilms.com/nsf-supports-dinosaurs-of-antarctica-2-2-2.
Henry Roehrich, Ph.D., associate professor of management and marketing, served as a judge for the 2019-20 American Marketing Association Collegiate Case Competition. The program is a year-long event showcasing students working on a marketing challenge submitted by a sponsoring organization, with the sponsor providing a detailed marketing problem for students to develop a marketing strategy.
Igor Khukhua, a student in the International Center for Music, placed third at the Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition, held Jan. 14-26 in Boca Raton, Fla. Khukhua received a $10,000 cash prize and a silver-mounted bow.
Mya Lawrence, director of director of student engagement, was recognized by the Lenexa (Kan.) Chamber of Commerce as the recipient of its 2020 Rising Star Award during the Chamber’s annual dinner on Jan. 17. The award honors a new member representative who has quickly integrated and involved in the Chamber in a variety of ways. Lawrence, who previously served as the director of Park’s Lenexa Campus, serves on the Lenexa Chamber’s Board of Directors.
Alla Adams, Ph.D., assistant professor of healthcare administration, and Harold Griffin, Ph.D., adjunct instructor of healthcare administration, co-presented a webinar on “Developing Soft Skills in Future Entrepreneurial Leaders” for members of the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs on Jan. 28.
Jolene Lampton, Ph.D., associate professor of management/accounting, co-authored an article titled “Ethics Must Be Global” that was published on the Strategic Finance magazine (publication for the Institute of Management Accountants) website on Feb. 1.
Park in the News
A story about a new restaurant opening in the Westport area of Kansas City, Mo., owned by two Park University alumni appeared on Feast magazine’s website on Dec. 18. The restaurant, Sweet Combforts and Wingman Kitchen, owned by Quincy Crutchfield, ’03, and Rayan Azab, ’05, was on the publication’s “Kansas City’s Most Anticipated Restaurants of 2020” list.
A story about James Ross, ’10, being appointed the inaugural women’s soccer coach at Highland (Kan.) Community College appeared on the Sunflower State Radio website on Dec. 19. The program will begin this fall.
A story about Kaily Mayhugh, ’16, being appointed the softball head coach at Smithville (Mo.) High School appeared in the Courier-Tribune newspaper of Clay County, Mo., on Dec. 20.
Vlatko Andonovski, ’08, who was appointed head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team in late October 2019, appeared on WDAF-TV in Kansas City in a live interview segment on Dec. 30.
Steve Youngblood, associate professor of communication arts and director of the Center for Global Peace Journalism, authored an article titled “Northern Ireland Journalists, Do Yourselves a Favour: Don’t Call Yourself a Peace Journalist” that appeared on the SluggerOToole website on Dec. 31.
A story focusing on Park University’s connections to the Kansas City Comets of the Major Arena Soccer League appeared on the MASL website on Jan. 4. The article included comments from Efrem Shimlis, Park men’s soccer head coach, Erik Bergrud, associate vice president for university engagement, and Ignacio (Nacho) Flores, ’18, one of seven former Park soccer players on the team.
Vini Baigan, ’12, MBA ’15, was selected to VolleyballMag.com’s list of “Under 40 Coaching Hotshots” posted on Jan. 6. Baigan is the women’s volleyball assistant coach at the University of Texas Rio Grand Valley.
A story about Kevin Freeman, ’94, ’07 MPA, being appointed chief of police in North Kansas City, Mo., appeared in the Platte County (Mo.) Citizen on Jan. 10. Freeman began his duties on Jan. 13.
Jocelyn Clayton, senior English and secondary education major, was featured in a story related to the importance of donating blood that appeared in the Nodaway (County, Mo.) News Leader on Jan. 18. Clayton, who was born prematurely, grew up wanting to give back to others who had donated blood and saved her life.
Boddle Learning, a business founded by Edna Martinson, ’12, and her husband Clarence Tan, was selected as one of “10 Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2020” according to an article that appeared on the Startland News website on Jan. 22.
Lendell Hood, ’05, was announced as the 2019 recipient of the Chris Smith Award by the Michigan City, Ind., Police Department. A story about Hood appeared on the WIMS AM-FM website on Jan. 22. The award honors an officer who embodies the passion and love for law enforcement as well as a love for life.
Park University was recognized by U.S. News & World Report in the magazine’s annual rankings of best online programs for 2020 published on Jan. 14. Park’s online bachelor’s degree programs ranked No. 223 (tie) in the country, rising 36 spots from 2019, and the online graduate education programs ranked No. 161 (tie), a jump of 53 spots from 2019. In addition, Park’s online Master of Business Administration degree program ranked No. 213 (tie), and the graduate business programs (non-MBA) ranked No. 110 (tie).
Park University was ranked No. 4 on the Kansas City Business Journal’s list of the top Kansas City area colleges and universities in the Dec. 20 edition, based on total local fall 2019 enrollment.
Park University received the following rankings by various websites:
• The University was ranked No. 1 by ValueColleges.com on its “Best Online Colleges in Missouri for 2020” list.
• The University was ranked No. 2 by StudentLoanHero.com on its “100 Private Colleges That Have Reduced Student Borrowing the Most” list.
• The University was ranked No. 59 on Intelligent.com’s “Best Online Military Friendly Colleges” list and received its “Best for Multiple Locations” recognition.
• Undergraduate Certificate in Industrial and Organizational Psychology ranked No. 1 on OrganizationalPsychologyDegrees.com’s “Top 15 Industrial/Organizational Certificate Programs 2020” list.
• Online Master of Business Administration degree ranked No. 2 on BestCollegesOnline.org’s “Top 50 Affordable Accelerated MBA Programs Online 2020” list.
• Online Bachelor of Science degree in geography ranked No. 3 on OnlineSchoolsReport.com’s “5 Best Online Geography Degrees for 2020” list.
• Online Master of Business Administration degree in Human Resource Management ranked No. 3 on BestCollegesOnline.com’s “30 Affordable Accelerated MBA in Human Resources Online Programs 2020” list.
• Online Bachelor of Public Administration degree in fire service management ranked No. 6 on OnlineSchoolsReport.com’s “15 Best Online Fire Services Administration Degrees for 2020” list.
• Online Master of Healthcare Administration degree ranked No. 11 on OnlineSchoolsReport.com’s “20 Best Online Master’s in Health Services for 2020” list.”
• Online Bachelor of Science degree in Management/Human Resources ranked No. 16 on HumanResourcesMBA.net’s “30 Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s in Human Resource Management 2020” list.
• Bachelor of Science degree in geography ranked No. 27 on AffordableSchools.net’s “40 Best Affordable Bachelor’s in Geography 2020” list.
• Bachelor of Science degree in economics ranked No. 45 on GreatValueColleges.net’s “50 Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Economics Programs for 2020” list.
Upcoming Events
(All events are Central time)
• Through February 28 — Masoom Khawaja Digital Photography Art Exhibit, Campanella Gallery (Norrington Center) (Reception: Feb. 7, 2:30-4:30 p.m.)
• February 7 — Board of Trustees Meeting, Gilbert (Ariz.) Campus
• February 14 — International Center for Music Concert: ICM Orchestra, 7:30 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
• February 16 — Northland Community Choir Concert, 3 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
• February 17 — President’s Day Holiday (all University offices closed nationwide; Parkville Daytime classes cancelled; Spring I classes held as scheduled)
• February 18 — Documentary Screening — “True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality,” 6 p.m., National Archives at Kansas City, Kansas City, Mo.
• February 24 — Spencer Cave Black History Month Lecture: Dr. Shawn Alexander, “Langston Hughes – The Crisis Magazine and the Harlem Renaissance,” 7 p.m., David Theater (Alumni Hall)
• February 27 — Racism/Sexism Lecture, Dr. Ron Mallon, 3:30 p.m., David Theater (Alumni Hall)
• March 8 — Spring I Term ends
• March 9-15 — Spring Recess
• March 16 — Spring II Term begins
• March 20 — International Center for Music Concert: ICM Orchestra, 7:30 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
• March 25 — International Center for Music Concert: Pianist Behzod Abduraimov, 7:30 p.m., 1900 Building, Mission Woods, Kan.
Note: To view a comprehensive schedule for all events, including athletics and student life, visit park.edu/calendars/park-events-calendar.