The Crow’s Nest — June 9, 2025
海角乱伦社区 Celebrates 150th Anniversary
On May 12, 海角乱伦社区鈥檚 flagship Parkville (Mo.) Campus and campuses across the country celebrated 150 years of fides et labor (Latin for faith and work, the University鈥檚 motto) as part of the University鈥檚 Founders Day commemoration. In the adjacent photo, Kathrine Swanson, Ed.D., 海角乱伦社区 interim president (center), is shown with Emily Sallee, Ph.D., acting provost (left) and Terry Calaway, Ed.D. (right), Board of Trustees chair, during the cake-cutting ceremony. For a century and a half, 海角乱伦社区 has stood as a beacon of academic excellence, grounded in the enduring values of accountability, civility and respect, excellence, global citizenship, inclusivity and integrity. Founded by George S. Park (the University鈥檚 namesake), John A. McAfee and Rev. Elisha B. Sherwood, Park College for Training Christian Workers began classes on May 12, 1875, with 17 students, including one student who served in the Civil War. A list of 150 years of 海角乱伦社区 historical events can be found at park.edu/news/150-years-historical-highlights.
Among the highlights during the Parkville Campus event, Missouri State Senator Tony Luetkemeyer (R-District 34) provided the University with two framed Missouri Senate resolutions. One saluted the faculty, staff, administration and students of 海角乱伦社区 on the illustrious occasion of its 150th anniversary of academic excellence. The second congratulated Kathrine Swanson, Ed.D., for serving as Park’s interim president with its best wishes for her success. In the adjacent photo, Swanson is shown with Wyatt Fletcher, district director with Luetkemeyer’s office.
Curtis Wins NAIA National Long Jump Title
Rosjai Curtis, a freshman on the 海角乱伦社区 , won the women鈥檚 long jump at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships on May 21 in Marion, Ind. Curtis鈥� leap of 5.84 meters (approximately 19 feet, 2 inches) topped the second place competitor by just one centimeter (approximately 4/10ths of an inch). In fact, the top three jumpers finished within just two centimeters (3/4ths of an inch) of each other. Curtis鈥� national title was Park鈥檚 first in outdoor track and field since 2012 when Daniel Tubei won the men鈥檚 marathon.
Curtis also placed sixth in the national meet in the women鈥檚 triple jump with leap of 12.15 meters (approximately 39 feet, 10录 inches) and was a part of the women鈥檚 4×100 meter relay team, along with sophomores Mya Charles and Hannah Mand, and freshman Alexandria Sherman, which finished sixth with a school record time of 46.56. Read more at .
Dr. Adrian James Appointed Interim Dean of the College of Management
Adrian James, Ph.D., was appointed as the interim dean of 海角乱伦社区鈥檚 College of Management, effective May 1. As the interim dean of the College of Management, James will be the chief administrative, fiscal and academic officer of the College. She will be responsible for implementing the College of Management鈥檚 policies and procedures in concert with the University鈥檚 policies, as well as the strategic, programmatic, financial and management operations that support the mission of the College and its role within the University. The College of Management includes the Robert W. Plaster School of Business.
James has been with Park since August 2018, most recently as associate dean and associate professor of management within the College of Management since August 2021. She previously held roles as assistant professor of management and as a department chair. Read more about James at park.edu/news/adrian-james-interim.
Faculty, Staff, Student News
Two pianists from 海角乱伦社区鈥檚 participated in the 17th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, May 21-June 7 in Fort Worth, Texas. Yangrui Cai (left), ICM graduate student seeking a Master of Music degree in piano performance, was one of 12 pianists to advance to the semifinals of this quadrennial event, while Jiarui Cheng (right), freshman music performance/piano major, was a part of the preliminary round, but did not advance. Cai received the Beverley Taylor Smith Award for Best Performance of a New Work, earning a $5,000 prize, and as semifinalist, an additional $5,000 award. Cheng, as a preliminary competitor, received a $1,000 prize. Cai鈥檚 and Cheng鈥檚 Cliburn performances can be viewed at youtube.com/@TheCliburn.
Ilya Shmukler, graduate piano student in 海角乱伦社区鈥檚 , is featured in the recently released documentary 鈥淐rescendo,鈥� a behind-the-scenes look at the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Shmukler was one of the six finalists in the event and earned a prize for 鈥淏est Performance of a Mozart Concerto.鈥� The documentary is available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime, Apple TV and Google Play.
海角乱伦社区 player Alex Rodriguez was recognized by the Missouri Senate in May as District 32 Senator Tony Luetkemeyer presented a resolution honoring the third baseman for the career milestones he accomplished as a Pirate. Rodriguez ended his Park career as the school record holder in hits, runs scored and at-bats. Read more at .
The 海角乱伦社区 Parkville (Mo.) Campus team, team and teams were honored by the Parkville Board of Aldermen on May 6 with a certificate of recognition for their accomplishments during the spring season. The women鈥檚 beach volleyball team advanced to the NAIA National Invitational Tournament semifinals for the first time in school history; the competitive cheer team placed third at the National Cheerleaders Association College Nationals in the intermediate small coed NAIA division; and the men鈥檚 volleyball team once again advanced to the NAIA national tournament. Read more at .
Jack MacLennan, Ph.D., senior director for strategic initiatives and communications, and special assistant to the president for governance, authored the article that was published May 6 in Global Studies Quarterly. The paper offers a supplementary 鈥渞udimentary鈥� model of practice theory useful for understanding broad, diffuse patterns of international politics.
Tim Westcott, Ph.D., professor of history, associate university archivist and director of the , served on the naming committee and submitted for consideration the name Angeline Washington Elementary School, which on May 15 became the newest school in the Park Hill (Mo.) School District. Washington was a 9-year-old slave purchased by George S. Park in 1844 for a sum of $350. Park manumitted Washington sometime in the 1850s and she married William Washington, a freed man from Pennsylvania who resided in Weston, Mo., in 1855. The couple were instrumental in establishing the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in Parkville, Mo., which is now named for them 鈥� Washington Chapel CME Church. A .
Brittany Moser, director of digital learning, is a co-founder of Synchony, a social app exclusively for neurodivergent adults. The app emphasizes inclusive features, thoughtful design and safe, welcoming community-building, filling a long-overlooked gap in the digital space. Learn more about the app at .
Park in the News
Photos from the 海角乱伦社区 鈥檚 Stanislav and Friends concert held March 1 .
Merrick Henry, assistant teaching professor of graphic design, was as part of the online publication鈥檚 spotlight on local businesses and creatives.
Matt Harris, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, was interviewed for stories that aired on KMBZ-FM in Kansas City on May 9 about Missouri Lt. Gov. David Wasinger saying he needs more power, but state legislators don鈥檛 agree.
Harris was related to Missouri lawmakers passing measures calling for a new vote on abortion rights and another that would repeat parts of a minimum wage and paid sick leave proposal. Harris did a similar interview for stories that aired on KMBC-TV in Kansas City on May 28.
Harris was related to the Missouri Senate holding a special session and how it could be an 鈥渁bsolute mess.鈥�
Upcoming Events
(All events are Central time and on the flagship Parkville [Mo.] Campus unless noted)
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� Through July 11 鈥� Art Exhibit: 海角乱伦社区 Senior Showcase (Lucie Garrett, Rhiannon Lewis and Danielle Smith), Campanella Gallery (Norrington Center)
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� June 19 鈥� Juneteenth Holiday (all University offices nationwide closed; Summer Session and Junemester classes held as scheduled)
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� July 4 鈥� Independence Day Holiday (all University offices nationwide closed; Summer Session and Junemester classes held as scheduled)
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� July 7 鈥� Julymester Classes Begin
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥⒙� July 24 鈥� Barstow (Calif.) Community College Campus Commencement Ceremony, 7:30 p.m., BCC Performing Arts Center
To view a comprehensive schedule for all events, including athletics and student life, visit park.edu/calendars/park-events-calendar.