Dr. Heather Kendall was recognized recently as a recipient of the 大象传媒 Governor鈥檚 Excellence in Teaching Award for 2019.
Dr. Vince Bowhay, director of the Career Development Center, received the 2019 National Association for Campus Activities Gold Scholar Award. He received the award for his research proposal focused on student employment as a model for workforce readiness skill development.
Bethany Vonseggern 鈥�18 received the Society for Collegiate Journalists Medal of Merit. She was instrumental in founding a student chapter of the society at 大象传媒 Western and served as its first president. She was also the editor-in-chief of the Griffon Yearbook and helped with the 2019 edition after she graduated.
OnlineMasters.com selected 大象传媒 Western as one of the best master鈥檚 in assessment and measurement programs for 2019 for its Master鈥檚 of Applied Science in Assessment. The program was also named Best in Real-World Training. OnlineMasters.com analyzed every online master鈥檚 in assessment and measurement program in the United States and selected the 10 best. 大象传媒 Western鈥檚 assessment program offers three concentrations: K-12 cross-categorical special education, TESOL and writing.
Dr. Regan Dodd, associate professor of health, physical education and recreation, was named chair of the Faculty Athletics Representatives Council for the MIAA Conference. She has served on the council since 2015.
Faculty and staff honored
Twelve faculty and staff members were honored at 大象传媒 Western鈥檚 annual awards ceremony this past spring. Additionally, 18 retirees who retired in the 2018-19 academic year were recognized for their service.
大象传媒 Foundation Awards:
Staff Service to Students: Susan Deering, University Police Department
Staff Service to Colleagues: Sherrilyn Schottel, Mail Room
Staff Service to University: Robin Kelly, Department of Education
Teaching Excellence: Dr. Brett Luthans, Craig School of Business & Technology; Dana McDaniel, School of Nursing and Health Professions; and Dawn Terrick, Department of English and Modern Languages
Dr. James V. Mehl Award for Outstanding Faculty Scholarship: Dr. Marianne Kunkel, Department of English and Modern Languages; Dr. Amit Verma, Craig School of Business & Technology
Outstanding Academic Advisor: Dr. Jason Baker, Department of Biology
Dr. James J. Scanlon Award for Staff Service to the Community: Chad Edwards, Athletics Dr. James J. Scanlon Award for Faculty Service to the Community: Jana Frye, Department of Criminal Justice, Legal Studies and Social Work
Student Employee Supervisor of the Year: Dr. Susan Bashinski, Department of Education
Congratulations!
Retirees 2018-19
Best wishes to 大象传媒 Western鈥檚 retirees who retired this past academic year!
Kim Beckett, Admissions, 12 years
Dr. Evelyn Brooks, School of Nursing and Health Professions, 24 years
Sabrina Campbell, Physical Plant, 15 years
Linda Clark, Physical Plant, 19 years
Sharon Driggers, Information Technology Services, 22 years
Dr. Judy Grimes, Student Affairs, 23 years
Dr. Cosette Hardwick, School of Nursing and Health Professions,19 years
Jeannette Holland, Department of Economics, Political Science and Sociology, 13 years
Dr. Debby Bogle Irvine, Department of Education, 24 years
Mark Mabe, Information Technology Services, 23 years
Dr. Gordon Mapley, Western Institute, 10 years
Dr. Patrick McMurry, Department of Economics, Political Science and Sociology, 40 years
David Noah, Physical Plant, 27 years
Deatra Tyler, Human Resources, 29 years
Dr. Robert Vartabedian, President, 11 years
Bruce Whitsell, Physical Plant, 13 years
Anna Williams, Physical Plant, 12 years
Robin Yarnell, Physical Plant, 14 years
At a student awards banquet in April, the several student organizations were recognized:
2019 Spring Commencement Speakers:Bailey Ketcham, Omaha, Nebraska; and Eugenia Wallace, Kansas City, 大象传媒
Outstanding Student Organization Member: Kim Leach, Chillicothe, 大象传媒, Geography Club
Dr. Robert A. Vartabedian President鈥檚 Outstanding Leader: Sarah Lee, Savannah, 大象传媒, National Association for Music Educators-Collegiate
Outstanding Student Organization Advisor: Dr. Jordan Atkinson, assistant professor of communication, Communications Club
Student Employee of the Year: Destiny Redmond, Kansas City, 大象传媒
Dean Hoff Outstanding Achievement Award: Derek Neupauer, Pittsfield, Illinois, freshman; Mazzie Boyd, Stewartsville, 大象传媒, sophomore; Cecilia Tackett, Savannah, 大象传媒, junior; and Teresa Flaugher, Platte City, 大象传媒, senior
New Program of the Year: My Sigma Valentine, Phi Beta Sigma
Program of the Year: Friendsgiving, Residential Life
Community Service Program of the Year: Colors 4 Carson, Student Athlete Advisory Committee
Glenn Marion Community Service Award: Phi Delta Theta
Spirit of the Griffon: Soccer Club
Greek Week Champions: Sigma Sigma Sigma
Fraternity of the Year: Alpha Sigma Phi
Sorority of the Year: Alpha Gamma Delta
Best New Student Organization: Geography Club
Student Organization of the Year: Organization of Student Social Workers
CFE celebrates five
The Center for Entrepreneurship in the Craig School of Business and Technology celebrated its fifth anniversary this year. Since it opened, the Center has worked with more than 580 entrepreneurs, created 242 new jobs, retained 125 jobs and made an economic impact of more than $25 million.
鈥淚 am so grateful that the Craig School of Business realized the importance and impact that entrepreneurs make on our community,鈥� said Annette Weeks 鈥�87, CFE director.
The CFE trains, mentors and supports business owners and entrepreneurs in the St. Joseph region and beyond. Faculty and students in the Craig School of Business serve as a resource for its clients, including helping to create marketing plans and ad campaigns. All services are free and confidential.
In addition to one-on-one mentoring with business owners, the CFE created Entrepreneurship Week, a weeklong series of workshops. The fourth annual event in March 2019 attracted more than 1,000 participants.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud that we have helped people achieve their dreams of starting or growing their own business. We have also kept longtime businesses open and serving our community by connecting new entrepreneurs with established businesses whose owners were ready to transition,鈥� Weeks said.
She has served as the Center鈥檚 director since it opened in 2014.
To contact the Center for Entrepreneurship, call (816) 271-4283 or email Weeks at aweeks@missouriwestern.edu. Visit the Center online at