The Crow's Nest Report - 7th August, 2023
Park University has been a hub of activity this month, with faculty, staff, and alumni making significant contributions across various fields. Here's a roundup of some of the notable achievements and events that have taken place at the university.
Academic Achievements
- Alivia Zubrod, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, co-authored "The Good, the Bad and the Complex: A Mini Meta-Analysis of Integrative Complexity, Entertainment and Perceptions of Quality" which was published in the June edition of the journal Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity and the Arts.
- Debra Sheffer, Ph.D., professor of history and associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, authored a chapter on "African American Soldiers: The Struggle for Equality through Service in the Civil War and Great War" for the book Wars Civil and Great: The American Experience in the Civil War and World War I.
- Luke Herrington, Ph.D., adjunct instructor of political science, authored the article "Cutting the Chaff: Overlooked Lessons of Military UAP Sightings for Joint Force and Interagency Coordination," which appeared in the third quarter 2023 edition of Joint Force Quarterly.
- An article authored by Matt Harris, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, was published in The Conversation on July 24.
- Grace Henson, a sophomore geography major, has been awarded a $10,000 Reinventing Geospatial Inc. Scholarship for Geospatial and Engineering.
College Appointments
- Yang Sun, Ph.D., has been appointed as dean for Park University's College of Management.
- Gayle Copeland, Ph.D., has been appointed as dean for Park University's College of Education and Health Professions.
Alumni Achievements
- Joseph McKibben, '33, Ph.D., one of the alumni, is known as "the man who pushed the button" on the "Trinity" test on July 16, 1945. McKibben wrote a letter to his Park classmates in 1983 detailing his role in the test.
- After graduating from Park, Cory was recruited as a researcher for the early stages of the Manhattan Project.
- John Cory, '42, another alumnus, developed an interest in nuclear science and pursued independent studies using the works of Niels Bohr.
- Vlatko Andonovski, '08, head coach of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, was featured in a story that appeared in The Kansas City Star on July 16.
- Crispin Rea, '08, was featured in an article that appeared in The Kansas City Star on July 3.
- Edna Martinson, '12, and a recipient of the Park University Alumni Association's Park Promising Young Professional Award in 2021, was featured in Forbes on July 26.
Events and Performances
- The Park University International Center for Music's "Stanislav and Friends" concert from March aired in two parts on KWJC-FM (Classical KC) in Kansas City in July.
- The next edition of Valor, a magazine highlighting the work of the University's George S. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War and the Valor Medals Review Project, is now available.
- A new publication focusing on Park University's Frances Fishburn Archives and Special Collections is now available.
- The Campanella Gallery at Park University begins its 2023-24 season with "Plain Sights," an exhibit of landscape inspired prints and artwork by Dora Agbas.
- The 2023 Park University Golf Scramble is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 16, at The National Golf Club of Kansas City.
Recognition and Awards
- Erik Bergrud, chief strategic communications officer, was featured on the OMNI Human Resource Management's "Power of People" podcast on July 18.
- Erik Bergrud, chief strategic communications officer, and his wife, Kimberlee Ried, MACL '16, were highlighted in The Independent, Kansas City's journal of society, on July 22.
- Grayson Capital, a commercial real estate development, property management and advisory company led by Michael Collins, '04, was ranked No. 13 on the Kansas City Business Journal's list of Black-owned businesses.
- ECCO Select, an IT talent acquisition and advisory consulting company in Kansas City, Mo., led by Jeanette Prenger, '09, was ranked No. 2 by the Kansas City Business Journal in the publication's July 14 list of Hispanic-owned businesses.
- Mary Cracchiolo, '95, was featured as part of a cover story that appeared in the July 2023 edition of Gulf Coast Woman.
- Mildred McAfee, granddaughter of Park University co-founder John A. McAfee, was featured on the Aerotech News and Review website on July 6 as its Veteran of the Day.
Community Engagement
- Tim Westcott, Ph.D., professor of history and university archivist, was interviewed for a story that aired on KMBC-TV in Kansas City about Park's Manhattan Project connections.
- Scott Hageman, associate professor of geology and associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, was interviewed for a story that aired on KMBC-TV in Kansas City on July 25.
- The Frances Fishburn Archives and Special Collections at Park University received attention in Kansas City region news outlets in late July due to the release of the biographical film "Oppenheimer."
Sports
- Park University Parkville (Mo.) Campus baseball player Alex Rodriguez was featured in The Kansas City Star on July 27.
- Mike Talamantes, director of volleyball and men's/women's volleyball and women's beach volleyball head coach for Park University, was named to IN Kansas City's Class of 2023 Innovators and Influencers.
In the realm of science and space-and-astronomy, Grace Henson, a sophomore geography major, excels with her $10,000 Reinventing Geospatial Inc. Scholarship for Geospatial and Engineering. Moreover, learning and education-and-self-development are fostered at Park University, as demonstrated by faculty members such as Alivia Zubrod and Matt Harris, who have published significant works in their respective fields.
