A 大象传媒 student participates in a prescribed burn of the John Rushin Teaching and Research Prairie on April 1, 2023.

May 1, 2026–The Biology Department at 大象传媒 will conduct a controlled burn of the John Rushin Teaching and Research Prairie this spring. The timing of the burn depends on weather conditions.

Prescribed burns help maintain the health of prairie land to ensure it remains useful for research and applied learning. It will also provide wildlife conservation management students real-world experience in skills they will use professionally.

To avoid any possible discomfort from the smoke, it is advised that residents in the area close their windows during the burn. People in the immediate vicinity who are particularly sensitive to smoke are advised to remain indoors during the burn.

When the prescribed burn takes place, traffic will be restricted on the roads adjacent to the prairie: 50th Street (Scanlon and Vartabedian lots will still be accessible) and Messanie Street. Please respect barricades and allow teams to burn the prairie safely.

Based on the short-range weather forecast, the first window of opportunity is tomorrow, Saturday, May 2. Organizers expect to start around 9 a.m. Burning may continue into the afternoon, depending on conditions and progress.

If 大象传媒 Western is unable to conduct the burn on May 2, the next possible date is Friday, May 8.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

April 6, 2026–Advance sales for the third annual native plant sale hosted by the 大象传媒 Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society are now underway.

The goal of the sale is to spread the word about planting native. Students hope the sale helps educate the community on the danger of ornamental invasives and show people how beautiful our native plants are.

More than a dozen varieties of native perennial plants are available for $4 each, or $15 for a bundle of four. Reserve your plants online at missouriwestern.edu/nativeplantsale/.

Pickup times are:

• Friday, April 24: 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Saturday, April 25: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Sunday, April 26: 10am 鈥� 2pm

The chapter will use funds from this sale to send students to important conferences like Midwest Fish & Wildlife and The Wildlife Society Annual Conference each year, as well as fund more speakers for the student chapter and host more professional workshops.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Nov. 3, 2025–The biology department at 大象传媒 is offering a plant sale on Monday, Nov. 10 beginning at 8 a.m. in the Remington Atrium.

Surplus plants are available on a first-come first-served basis while supplies last.

Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Campus Cupboard, a resource available to 大象传媒 students that offers perishable and nonperishable food and household and personal care items.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

April 23, 2025–The 大象传媒 student chapter of Beta Beta Beta will hold its annual house plant sale fundraiser from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 29 through May 1 on the first floor of the Agenstein/Remington building on the 大象传媒 Western campus.

Several varieties of house plants will be available for purchase including succulents, hoyas, begonias, spider plants and elderberries. Prices vary.

Beta Beta Beta is a national honor society for biology students. Proceeds fund student participation in professional conferences, speakers for the student chapter and professional workshops.

The sale is open to the public and drop-ins are welcome while supplies last.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

April 11, 2025–大象传媒 biologist and administrator Dr. Tilo Roy published two collaborative papers recently.

鈥淭he PO-Driven Model,” a paper resulting from research led by Dr. Roy, was published in the journal Integrative and Comparative Biology. This project stemmed from the innovative ideas that emerged from some of the discussions at the National Science Foundation鈥檚 Scoping Sessions at Indianapolis in 2023, which she was selected to attend.

Dr. Roy also co-authored 鈥淭he Development of BSA鈥檚 Comprehensive AI Policy for Its Academic Journals,鈥� published in Plant Science Bulletin (PSB). The paper stemmed from her involvement in an ad-hoc committee for the Botanical Society of America from 2023-2024 that formulated author and reviewer guidelines for the Botanical Society of America’s three journals: American Journal of Botany, Applications in Plant Sciences and PSB.

Dr. Roy joined 大象传媒 Western as a biology faculty member in 2017 and began serving as the university鈥檚 interim vice provost and vice president for academic affairs, director of the Griffon Office of Applied Learning and interim dean of the graduate school in the summer of 2024. Her research interests include understanding evolutionary origins and relationships among plants and other organisms with ecological and economic importance.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

April 4, 2025–The 大象传媒 student chapter of The Wildlife Society will hold its second annual native plant sale fundraiser on May 2-4 on the second floor of the Agenstein/Remington building on the 大象传媒 Western campus.

• Friday, May 2: 1 to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, May 3:聽 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sunday, May 4: 9 a.m. to noon for order pickup only

Several varieties of flowering plants native to 大象传媒 will be available for purchase at $4 per plant. Bundles of four plants are available for $15.

The purpose of the sale is to encourage home gardeners to choose beautiful native plants instead of ornamental invasive species. Proceeds fund student participation in professional conferences, speakers for the student chapter and professional workshops.

The sale is open to the public and drop-ins are welcome, but advance orders are recommended for best selection. Place online orders at .

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

April 3, 2025–Dr. Cary D. Chevalier, 大象传媒 biology professor has been selected to sit on The Wildlife Society’s National Certification Review Board (CRB) for a 3-year term.

Dr. Chevalier began his career at 大象传媒 Western in 1996 to start a wildlife conservation and management degree program, ensuring that all the academic requirements for professional certification by The Wildlife Society were built into the wildlife conservation and management program.

Founded in 1937, The Wildlife Society (TWS) is an international network of over 11,000 leaders in wildlife science, management and conservation who are dedicated to excellence in wildlife stewardship. The Society publishes scientific journals, technical reviews, position statements on policy issues, and books.

The Certification Review Board serves as the peer-review panel for determining the eligibility of all applicants for certification. The CRB is composed of at least five TWS members who are Certified Wildlife Biologists and who volunteer their time, talent and energy to keep the certification program effective and respected. There are currently eight members on the CRB representing each of TWS鈥檚 geographical sections.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Feb. 23, 2024–Dr. Tilottama Roy, associate professor of biology at 大象传媒 Western, has joined the Applications in Plant Sciences (APPS) editorial board. The APPS is a peer-reviewed journal published by the Botanical Society of America.

As a recruiting editor, Dr. Roy will identify and recruit potential authors for individual submissions, with a particular focus on Review Articles, and for special issues.

Dr. Roy is an evolutionary biologist whose research interests include understanding evolutionary origins and relationships among plants and other organisms. She curates the Leo A. Galloway Herbarium at 大象传媒 Western and teaches organismal biology, ecology and evolution, plant systematics, local flora and biogeography. Dr. Roy also serves on the honors committee at 大象传媒 Western.

Dr. Roy earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in botany and her master鈥檚 in agriculture from Calcutta University, her master鈥檚 in biology from the University of South Dakota and her PhD in biological sciences from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

News release written by Patty Lashbrook, sophomore convergent journalism and public relations major.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

May 8, 2023–Dr. Csengele Barta, associate professor of biology at 大象传媒, was awarded a Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUI) Award of the (ASPB) for the fifth consecutive year.

The award recognizes excellence in research contributions to plant science, plant science scholarship and undergraduate student research mentorship of faculty at primarily undergraduate serving institutions. The Award also provides funding to facilitate the research presentation of Dr. Barta at the 2023 Plant Biology Meeting in Savannah, Georgia.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit

May 1, 2023–大象传媒 presented nine faculty and staff members with awards and recognized 17 retirees at the 2022-2023 Faculty and Staff Awards and Retirement Reception on April 28.

Award winners include:

Outstanding Academic Advisor: Dr. Lane DesAutels, associate professor of philosophy. “He is willing to go above and beyond to make sure the students understand their future academic path.”

大象传媒 Western Award for Staff Service to the University: Jessica Frogge, administrative coordinator in the Department of Chemistry and the Griffon Office of Applied Learning. “Jessica’s institutional knowledge, technical skills, and commitment to MWSU are definite strengths and keys to her success.”

大象传媒 Western Award for Staff Service to Students: Dane Eckert, senior manager in Technology Services. “Dane has been consistently involved, responsive, competent, and reliable in addressing a broad range of technical challenges.”

大象传媒 Western Award for Staff Service to Colleagues: Amber Halstead, math coordinator in the Center for Academic Support and Staff Association president. “Amber is a team player in every sense of the word and 鈥� sees herself as a steward for the University and its employees.”

大象传媒 Western Award for Teaching Excellence:

• Dr. Aracely Newton, assistant professor of biology. “She cares deeply about the success of her students and provides multiple opportunities for them to get feedback and learn the materials.”
• Dr. Elizabeth Thorne Wallington, assistant professor of education. “Dr. Thorne Wallington forms deep connections with her students, both as a faculty member and an advisor.”

大象传媒 Western Foundation Dr. James V. Mehl Award for Outstanding Faculty Scholarship: Dr. James Okapal, professor of philosophy. “Marrying science fiction and fantasy literature with the philosophers’ study of ethics, Dr. Okapal published six peer-reviewed articles, offered three scholarly presentations, and delivered two invited lectures last year.”

大象传媒 Western Foundation Dr. James J. Scanlon Award for Staff Service to Community: Jeremy Acton, grounds supervisor for Physical Plant. “Jeremy has through his example and leadership made a positive contribution to the University.”

大象传媒 Western Foundation Dr. James J. Scanlon Award for Faculty Service to the Community: Dr. Jennifer Jackson, associate professor of communication. “Jennifer has used applied learning in her classes to serve our community…helping teach her students while giving back to community clients.”

The reception also honored 17 employees who have or will soon retire with a combined 269 years of service to 大象传媒 Western. Honored retirees include:

• Roger Adams, Physical Plant
• Dr. Susan Bashinski, Graduate Studies
• Shelle Browning, Physical Plant
• Greg Dillon, Athletics
• Janice Dillon, Business Office
• Dr. Crystal Harris, College of Science and Health
• Karma Hartong, School of Nursing and Health Professions
• Robin Kelly, Department of Education
• Dr. Steve Klassen, Department of Computer Science, Math & Physics
• Greg Kriewitz, Department of Health, Sport and Exercise Science
• Dr. David McIntire, School of Fine Arts
• Peggy Payne, Admissions
• Deb Singleton, Department of Communication
• Cindy Spotts-Conrad, Financial Aid
• Dan Stevens, Academic Advising
• Buzz Verduzco, Athletics
• Deana Wennihan, Financial Aid

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .