Political Scandals Surface as Congress Persists: January 25, 2019
Park University in the Spotlight: A Hub of Academic, Cultural, and Athletic Achievements
Park University is making headlines across various fields, from academia to arts, and sports. Here's a roundup of recent developments at the institution.
Academic Achievements
An article co-authored by Nicolas Koudou, Ph.D., and Zhenghao Wu, '16, '18, was published in the Journal of Marketing and Consumer Research. Similarly, Steve Bell, Ph.D., J.D., and Robert Kao, Ph.D., co-authored an article that appeared in the journal Accounting and Finance Research. Dana Autry, Ph.D., and Emily Sallee, Ph.D., also published an article in the Journal of Educators Online, while Debra Olson-Morrison, Ph.D., saw her work published in the Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work.
Artistic Endeavours
Andrea K. Lee, Ph.D., is showcasing her paintings, alongside quilts crafted by her grandmother Enid Lee, in an exhibit at Park University's Campanella Gallery. Meanwhile, Simon Karakulidi, a junior applied music/piano major, won the grand prize in the 2019 Ann and Charles Eisemann International Young Artists Competition.
Cultural Events
The documentary "Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat," directed by Johan Grimonprez, is set to be screened at Park University. The film explores the role of jazz legends in the 1960s as cultural ambassadors, unknowingly serving as decoys in a CIA plot to assassinate Congo’s Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba.
Sports Highlights
Park University has appointed Ashley Jones as its first esports coach. The team, which includes three female student-athletes, will compete in League of Legends via the National Association of Collegiate Esports. Dakota Rau, a senior at Plattsburg (Mo.) High School, recently signed a letter-of-intent to play softball at Park University.
Community Engagement
Park University was honoured by VIQTORY (formerly Victory Media) as a 2019-2020 Military Friendly School at the silver level. The institution was also recognised by the Parkville (Mo.) Area Chamber of Commerce as its Outstanding Community Partner.
Upcoming Events
Park University has a packed schedule of events coming up. These include the Andrea K. Lee and Enid Lee Paintings and Quilts Art Exhibit, the International Center for Music Concert featuring Violinist Ben Sayevich and Pianist Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich, the Year of Engagement Documentary Series: "The Jazz Ambassadors," the Parkade Grand Opening, the Spencer Cave Black History Month Lecture: Dr. Arnold Rampersad on Jackie Robinson, the Johnson Family Lecture Series in Science: Dr. Bryant McAllister on Personal Genome Learning and Direct-to-Consumer DNA Tests, the Women's History Month Lecture: Dr. Kim Warren on 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment, and the International Center for Music Concert: ICM Orchestra.
Recognition for Faculty and Staff
Kathryn (Katie) A. Ervin, Ed.D., has been appointed as associate vice president for academic operations at Park University. She will oversee the operation of multiple academic systems and processes within the Office of Academic Affairs. Henry Roehrich, Ph.D., associate professor of management and marketing, served as a judge for the 2018-19 American Marketing Association Collegiate Case Competition.
J.T. Daniels, '11, was featured in the Northeast (Kansas City, Mo.) News on January 1, discussing his journey as an artist. Kay Barnes, senior director of university engagement at Park University, was honoured with the J. Phillip Kirk Jr. Award by the Downtown Council of Kansas City. Matt Harris, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science, was interviewed for a story that aired on KCTV in Kansas City on January 7 related to the partial federal government shutdown.
Notable Mention
William Eickhorst, Ed.D., Park University adjunct instructor of fine art, donated a collection of over 1,000 prints to Missouri Western State University. Bob Kendrick, '85, who serves as president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo., was featured on the La Vida Baseball website in January. Jack MacLennan, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science, will be a featured speaker at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kan., on February 6.
[1] Information about the documentary's screening at Park University is not explicitly available in the search results. However, the documentary itself is recognized for its Sundance-winning status and its unique approach to telling historical stories through jazz.
- Park University's academic achievements extend beyond the Journal of Marketing and Consumer Research, as faculty members like Steve Bell, Dana Autry, Robert Kao, and Debra Olson-Morrison have also published in notable journals such as Accounting and Finance Research, Journal of Educators Online, and Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work.
- While sports events at Park University usually revolve around traditional sports, the university has ventured into the digital realm with esports; Ashley Jones, the first esports coach, will lead a team competing in League of Legends via the National Association of Collegiate Esports.
