park alumniad, fall 2005
DESCRIPTION
Park University alumni magazine, published Fall 2005TRANSCRIPT
PARKU N I V E R S I T Y
ALUMNIAD
BELLISSIMA ITALIA! • CALENDAR CONTEST WINNERS • CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
FALL 2005
ManuchairEbadi
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Researching a cure for
Parkinson’s disease
PARKU N I V E R S I T Y
ALUMNIADFALL 2005
Park University AlumniadVolume 95, Number 1
President of Park UniversityBeverley Byers-Pevitts, Ph.D.
Vice President for UniversityAdvancementCaren Handleman
Associate Vice Presidentfor CommunicationRita Weighill
Communication CoordinatorSummer Evans
Staff LiaisonDirector of Alumni RelationsJulie McCollum (816) 584-6206(800) 488-PARK (7275)Fax (816) [email protected]@park.edu
Alumni Relations AssistantAlisha Coggins, ’03(816) [email protected]
EditorKathy Walker
Assistant EditorJohn Dycus
Art DirectorJennifer Henderson
We would like to hear from you!Please send your comments toRita Weighill [email protected].
www.park.edu2004-05 Park University
Alumni CouncilJim Peeke, ’65, [email protected]
Mark Braden, ’93, vice [email protected]
David Oswald, x65, [email protected]@juno.com
Harold Smith, ’44, Ph.D., treasurer,council [email protected]
Richard Kelleher, ’02, M.P.A. ’03,[email protected]
Darrel Campbell, ’[email protected]
Jane Turner Dodson, ’[email protected]
Matt Dodson, ’[email protected]
Karen Peters Frankenfeld, ’59 [email protected]
Neal McGregor, ’[email protected]
Established in 1875, ParkUniversity is a national leaderin higher education and is dis-tinguished by its innovativeadult-degree completion pro-grams. The University has24,272 students enrolled inundergraduate and graduatedegree programs at 42 cam-puses located in 21 states andOnline.
See www.park.edu for more information about Park University.
The Alumniad is published three times a year by the Office of University Advancement for Park University alumni andfriends. Send all comments and address corrections to: Office of University Advancement, Park University, 8700 N.W.River Park Drive, Parkville, MO 64152, or call (816) 584-6816 or e-mail [email protected].
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Cover photo by Chuck Kimmerle, university photographerUniversity of North Dakota
Fall 2005 ‹‹ 1
O U R M I S S I O N :The mission of Park University, an entrepreneurial institution oflearning, is to provide access to academic excellence which willprepare learners to think critically, communicate effectively andengage in lifelong learning while serving a global community.
Table of ContentsFeatures3 Bellissima Italia!
From Tuscany to Monaco to Nice, France, alumni experi-ence Old-World beauty.
4 Fort BlissFocus on Park University: Fort BlissThe 1.1 million-acre training facility has 2,623 studentsand can accommodate every Army weapon system.
5 Democracy DayGreater Kansas City-area high school seniors win prizesfor essays on “The Constitution as a Living Document.”
6-9 Researching a Cure Manuchair Ebadi, ’60, Ph.D., heads up Parkinson’s diseaseresearch at the University of North Dakota’s School ofHealth and Sciences.
10 Park Goes International Park maintains a vibrant presence on the international scene.
11 Amazing IndiaChemistry Professor Sapna Gupta, Ph.D., shares the won-ders of her travels.
16-17 Calendar Contest WinnersAlumni and friends provide outstanding pictures to fillthe 2006 Park University Calendar.
26 On-The-Wall ArtArtist, wife, mother and business owner Melissa Feris, ’02,creates life-size murals for clients and family.
32 Making Saves, Saving LivesPirates goalkeeper Michelle Egler protects and defendsboth on and off the field.
Departments18 Support for Park
19 Tribute Gift Recognition
12-15 Campus News
20-22 In Academia
24-31 Alumni Section
25 Alumni Bulletin Board
27 Golf Scramble Scorecard
28-29 Class Notes
30 Call for Nominations
31 Alumni Events
33 2005-06 Pirates Schedule
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Dear Friends,There is much to celebrate as we progress into this new academic year. The suc-
cesses I share with you are indicators of the energy and commitment of Universityemployees, whose dedication is evident in their mission to promote excellence at Park.
Among the most celebrated events was the recent notification received from theHigher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges andSchools that gave Park its highest endorsement by granting a 10-year reaccreditation— the top level of approval for an institution of higher learning.
Distinctive accomplishments outlined in the HLC report included:• Authorization for the University to add, without seeking commission approval,
master’s degree programs in any area where it currently offers baccalaureatedegrees.
• Authorization to add campuses at military bases as approved by the appropriateagencies.
• Authorization to offer additional off-campus academic programs without seekingcommission approval.
Other significant measures of success at Park: • The endowment fund has experienced growth for the fourth consecutive year.
That’s a 65 percent increase since 2002.• An annual external audit of Park’s operating budget continues to reveal practical
application resulting in balanced revenues and expenditures. • The University invested 66 percent of its capital expenditures into technology to
benefit all campus centers nationwide.• Total Park enrollment increased 7 percent, bringing the unduplicated student
headcount to 24,272.• The fastest-growing student population is represented in the Online academic
programs, which have grown 81 percent since 2002.• Park was ranked second in the U.S. News and World Report “Best Colleges” issue
in the Midwest Region for its African-American diversity.• Another national recognition came from Diverse Magazine, which listed Park as
one of 100 colleges and universities in the nation to graduate ethnic students. Parkhas a 42 percent ethnic student population.
Much has been accomplished, yet there remains much on which to focus attention.Future chapters written about Park University will include challenging, exciting andextraordinary achievements — which appropriately is the imagery that illustrates Park’sremarkable heritage.
Beverley Byers Pevitts, Ph.DPresident
Gree
tings
President’s
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Seated: Carol Lamphier, Gail McMahon Batchelor, ’56; Barbara Bellamy,Florence Heacock Strange, ’39; Linda Fung, ’93Middle row: Jake Marshall, Rhona Noel, ’92; Cherie Coll (Global Holidays TourGuide), Brenda Phillips, Julie McCollum (Director of Alumni Relations)Back row: Derrick Carpenter, Shari Youngman, Ann Marshall, Dee Maharg-West,Ernie West, ’98; Bob Batchelor, ’52; Marcia Cannata, Vickie Hammer, MikeLamphier, ’90
Nothing like a little Tuscan sun to make people smile. by Jake Marshall, publications graphic designer
Eighteen University alumni and friends flew to Italy on Oct. 15for a weeklong tour sponsored by Park’s Alumni Association. Ledby Alumni Relations Director Julie McCollum, the Park travelersincluded alumni Rhona Noel, ’92; Linda Fung, ’93; Ernie West,’98; Gail McMahon Batchelor, ’56; Bob Batchelor, ’52; MikeLamphier, ’90; Florence Heacock Strange, ’39; and staff mem-ber Jake Marshall from the Office of University Advancement.They represented campus centers across the country, as well astraditional and non-traditional programs.
In addition to enjoying Tuscany, the alumni and their spouses,family and friends visited a French mountain village, Saint Paul deVence, and the beautiful city of Nice. On a day trip to Monaco thevisitors admired the scenery of the Riviera and the Mediterranean,sampled local cuisine and tried their luck at a glamorous casino.
They enjoyed a drive along the Italian Riviera, a Ligurian din-ner of wild boar, and a visit to Florence, where a guide providedhistorical and artistic insights into Michelangelo’s sculpture ofDavid and the famous Duomo and Baptistry. Other highlights ofthe journey included excursions to Pisa, home of the famous lean-ing tower, Siena and the medieval mountain village of SanGimignano.
“Everyone had a fabulous time — it wasn’t just the red wine andall the lattes,” McCollum observed. “We had excellent guides toshow us around, and the hotels were lovely. Everywhere we wentthe food was great, and the Italians were so nice to us. I’m ready togo back!”
Next up: trips to Ireland (2006) and China (2007). For moreinformation, contact McCollum at (800) 488-PARK (7275) [email protected].
CONTACT:Park UniversityFort Bliss Campus Center639 Merritt St.Fort Bliss, TX 79916(915) 562-8450 [email protected]
CENTER COORDINATOR: James Boofter
CAMPUS CENTER DIRECTOR: Donna Zumwalt
STUDENT COUNT (2004-05) : 2,623
ACADEMIC HOURS: 40,417
DEGREES OFFERED: Associate of Science: computer science, management and social psychology
Bachelor of Science: computer science, criminal justice administration, management, management/computer information systems, management/health care, management/humanresources and social psychology
WHAT IS FORT BLISS?Established in 1848, Fort Bliss is one of the oldest U.S. Army posts in the nation. Oncehome to both infantry and cavalry soldiers, Fort Bliss today houses the U.S. Army AirDefense Artillery School, four combat ADA brigades, the William Beaumont Army MedicalCenter, the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Joint Task Force Six, the GermanAir Force Command (United States/Canada) and the German Air Defense School.
Fort Bliss is an important post partially because of its size. At 1.1 million acres, it is larger than Rhode Island. A premier training facility, Fort Bliss can accomodate every weapon system in the Army.
NOTABLE: General-of-the-Army Omar Nelson Bradley received an honorary doctorate from Park in 19__.
Focus on Park UniversityFort Bliss Campus CenterEl Paso, TexasEstablished August 1975
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Fall 2005 ‹‹ 5
“The Constitution as a Living Document”
Paul Mintner, Lafayette County C-1 High School An oak tree lives to offer refuge to wildlife and shade
for all who pass by. Similarly, the US Constitution lives tooffer American people security, not unlike a gentle oaktree. The Constitution stands strong thanks to its lan-guage, and the people, both military and civilian, who havefought to uphold its ideals.
Our forefathers knew that when they wrote the constitution, it wouldhave to be flexible enough to weather the changes of time. They were certainthat America would face many unimaginable challenges, so they includedthe Elastic Clause, which gives Congress the power to make laws that allowthem to carry out the powers of the Constitution. Likewise, they made sureto leave the Constitution open for interpretation so necessary changes couldbe made. Just as a newly planted tree needs nourishment to guaranteegrowth, our forefathers guaranteed that the constitution would be able to pro-vide safety for the American people for hundreds of years to come.
Chloé Abel, Southwest Charter School What if Martin Luther King wasn't allowed to deliver
his famous I Have a Dream speech? What if there wasn't aCivil Rights movement? What if men were the only peopleallowed to vote? The Constitution of the United States ofAmerica defines what and who we are as a prosperousnation. Since adopted in 1787, the Constitution continues to govern and pro-tect the civil rights and liberties which are granted to every citizen in accor-dance to the Preamble of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
The Constitution truly exemplifies how alive it is when it's utilized everyday by all Americans. Countries around the world have been striving foryears to get where our nation is today, and we are only where we are becausethe Constitution has been flexible enough to change with the times. TheConstitution is the “supreme law of the land” and will continue to thrive forgenerations to come.
Laura Eisenbeis, Park Hill High School The U.S. Constitution is a living document because it
adapts to the times, adjusting to American issues withoutchanging its original structure. Article V states thatCongress can propose amendments to the Constitutionwhenever necessary. This was important during theVietnam conflict. Young men were drafted into the army and losing theirlives, yet were too young to vote. The need for change was apparent. In 1971,the 26th Amendment was added to the Constitution, allowing eighteen-year-olds to vote. Even with formal “updating,” the Constitution maintains itsbasic structure. [It] is the backbone of our government. It is a “living docu-ment” because it allows for flexibility yet maintains the original intent of
our founding fathers. It can be adapted by actual amendment or by personalinterpretation; either way, it ensures that “we the people” live in a free nation.
Steven McKee, Park Hill High School Plain in name, intricately detailed in every other facet,
the Constitution was fashioned so that it is still the founda-tion of American life today. The Constitution is a docu-ment that is unlike any other. Its ability to be amended setsit apart from other ruling documents.
The Constitution was changed to protect blacks byabolishing slavery after the Dred-Scott case legalized the practice. Womenfinally bucked the traditional view of being domestic housewives and weregranted suffrage via the nineteenth amendment.
Rather than being a document written in the past for the past, theConstitution was structured to be as effective today as it was during the ageof our founding fathers.
Loren Roberts, Park Hill High School Should we look at the Constitution as a living docu-
ment? Should we mold and change our Constitution as oursociety evolves and challenges the existing laws? If theConstitution is changed to benefit each new generation,will the order and unity of the nation be lost?
I feel it is dangerous to view our Constitution as a livingdocument. Its intent is clear, and it has built a great nation and should remainas it was written. Referring to this document as living invites politicallawyering to satisfy administration’s policies or special interest groups’agendas. Our Constitution is meant to serve as a base line to ensure acohesive society.
The nation is ever changing from one generation to the next. Technologyis changing faster than society can adapt. Let’s keep it simple and not rush tojudgment or change. Our forefathers should be given the credit they deserveby acknowledging and celebrating our Constitution.
Carl Werner, Park Hill High School Indeed, [the U.S. Constitution’s] greatest attribute is that it is flexible,
which is how it has survived the test of time. It is a mark of the brilliance ofthe founding fathers. Twenty-seven amendments have been added to guar-antee that the rights of all citizens are protected, and one would be foolish tothink that there will not be more. Constitutional amendments were neededto guarantee voting rights to non-property holders, blacks and women. Asthe country’s social landscape changes, so does the Constitution.
The Constitution may be printed on hemp paper that is now decaying,but it is as dynamic as ever. Despite the criticisms of those who do not appre-ciate its beauty, the U.S. Constitution is alive and well.
D E M O C R ACY DAY
President Beverley Byers-Pevitts declared Tuesday, Nov. 8, “Democracy Day” as a civic literacy effort supporting federal legislation that pro-claims Sept. 17 as Constitution Day.
Park University and Presidents Park in Williamsburg, Va., sponsored an essay contest for high school seniors in the Greater Kansas City areaand in Virginia. Students explored “The Constitution as a Living Document,” considering ways the Constitution is important to Americans andthe world. Essays were judged by panels of scholars and public officials in Missouri and Virginia.
Grand Prize was a $2,000 Park University scholarship or a $1,000 scholarship to the college or university of the winner’s choice. Five KansasCity-area first-place winners received $100 each.
Grand PrizeWinner
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Dr. ManuchairEbadi’s quest to solve the deadlyriddle that isParkinson’s disease
Researching a Cure
by Caren Handleman,vice president for advancementand Kathy Walker, editor
Manuchair Ebadi, ’60, Ph.D., interna-tionally respected researcher of Parkinson’sdisease, predicts a cure by 2017. The world’ssecond-most-common progressive neurode-generative disease, Parkinson’s results fromdegeneration of neurons in a region of thebrain that controls movement. Millions ofpeople worldwide are affected.
Parkinson’s, Ebadi explains, is the resultof damaged dopamine transporters.
“Consider a household dishwasher thatwashes a plate and prepares it for reuse,” hesaid. “If the dishwasher becomes damaged,it can no longer wash the plate, preventingit from being used again. Dopamine [achemical naturally produced by the body] isused again and again. In the brain it func-tions as a neurotransmitter, activatingdopamine receptors. If the dopamine trans-porter becomes damaged, the dopaminecannot be reused.”
Ebadi’s career in Parkinson’s researchgrew out of an interest in the brain’s chem-istry. As associate vice president for health
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Ebadi’s research of Parkinson’s provides a glimpse into possible
cures. ... One important discovery is that drug-induced
Parkinson’s is a side effect of long-term addiction to ampheta-
mines and cocaine. In addition to seeking the cure for
Parkinson’s, Ebadi’s research is making advances that one
day could lead to the prevention of drug addiction.
Fall 2005 ‹‹ 7
affairs in medical research at theUniversity of North Dakota in GrandForks, he heads the university’s Center ofExcellence in Neuroscience, coordinatingcooperative interaction across all of UND’shealth programs. The UND research insti-tute has a worldwide influence in thehealth sciences, focusing on illnessesprevalent in today’s society.
“When we were looking for a new chairof the pharmacology department, I wantedthe best,” said H. David Wilson, dean of theSchool of Medicine and Health Sciences.Ebadi “has recruited a team of researchersthat has put UND at the forefront of neuro-science research.”
Ebadi and his research associates examinethe effect of Parkinson’s on the brains of mice
that have been genetically engineered eitherto have neural resistance or neural propen-sity for the disease. (Aging studies also arebeing conducted on mice bred to live twiceas long.)
Sophisticated equipment allows measur-ing physiological changes without sacrificingthe animals. An added advantage is that theresearchers can follow the progression of the
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disease in the animal, enabling additional discoveries along the way.
A positron emission tomography scanner(microPET) — a sophisticated “brain cam-era” that does magnetic resonance imagingon the mice — is located in UND’s new $4million Positron Imaging ResearchLaboratory in the Center of Excellence inNeuroscience.
A breakthrough finding was the discoveryof a protein in the brain that provides neuralprotection against Parkinson’s. The findingcame through a three-year grant, one of sev-eral Ebadi is conducting concurrently atUND. Since he joined the UND faculty, theuniversity’s health science funding hasgrown from $4 million in grants to $50 mil-lion, many in support of his research.
“By bringing his research program here,[Ebadi] instantly added a whole dimension ofemphasis in the neurosciences: somethingrelevant today, something important toNorth Dakota and to all people,” UNDPresident Charles E. Kupchella said. “Histextbook in pharmacology lit up that wholecorner of the scientific enterprise, not only
by his work but by the people he recruited. ...By his initiative he added a capacity to deepbrain research that did not exist before.”
Ebadi’s research of Parkinson’s provides aglimpse into possible cures. His Web page,www.med.und.nodak.edu/users/mebadi/bio/,lists results of his research teams’ efforts.
One important discovery is that drug-induced Parkinson’s is a side effect of long-term addiction to amphetamines andcocaine. In addition to seeking the cure forParkinson’s, Ebadi’s research is makingadvances that one day could lead to the pre-vention of drug addiction. The technology inthe Positron Imaging Research Laboratorywill help researchers determine if the actionof dopamine, which produces the euphoriceffect, can be blocked.
“Dopamine is a transmitter that bringsthe agony as well as the ecstasy of cocaineaddiction,” Ebadi said. “People don’t takecocaine to become addicted; they like thegood feeling, and in the process they becomeaddicted. We want to prevent the addictionto cocaine by interrupting the euphoria[blocking the dopamine] it produces. If you
can prevent addiction, then technically youcan prevent the drug-seeking behavior andthe crime associated with it.”
Parkinson’s is related to other diseases,including Alzheimer’s and amyotrophic lat-eral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease),but it involves different parts of the brain.Parkinson’s affects the area that involvesmovement (initial symptoms are limbtremors, especially when the body is at rest),while Alzheimer’s affects the area thatinvolves memory. With ALS, the damage hasoccurred in the spinal cord.
“The mechanism is the same,” Ebadiexplained, “but if your roof leaks and it leaksin your bedroom, then your clothes get wet.If it leaks in your kitchen, then your dishesget wet. It is the same water, but it dependson where the leaks come from and where thedamage is done.”
PATH TO SUCCESSEbadi came to the United States from Iran
as one of 100 academically talented studentswho received scholarships from the shah foruse in foreign schools. What began as a boy’squest for knowledge, fueled by hours of freetime spent in the local library close to hishome — to this day, books on AbrahamLincoln remain a favorite — has evolved intoa lifetime of dedicated medical research.
He arrived in Parkville through sponsor-ship by the American Society for Friends ofthe Middle East and was matched with Parkbecause he requested a university in a smalltown outside a major city. He was the first inhis family to earn a college education, and hecompleted his degree in 3 1/2 years. While atPark he participated in a variety of organiza-tions, including the Natural ScienceColloquium; the Biology, French, Economics,Cosmopolitan and Anthony-Cleopatraclubs; and club sports.
Following his graduation in 1960 with abachelor of science in chemistry, Ebadiearned a master of science in pharmacologyat the University of Missouri-Kansas CityCollege of Pharmacy in 1962 and a doctoratein pharmacology from the University ofMissouri-Columbia School of Medicine in1967. He completed postdoctoral training atthe Laboratory of Preclinical Pharmacology
Ebadi’s research associates utilize the positron emission tomography scanner to examine the effect ofParkinson’s disease on the brains mice.
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at the National Institute of Mental Health inWashington, D.C.
Ebadi joined the faculty at the Universityof Nebraska College of Medicine in Omaha,where he was chairman of the department ofpharmacology and then became professor ofpharmacology, neurology and psychiatry.After being recruited by UND in 1999, hewas appointed chairman of the Departmentof Pharmacology and Toxicology in UND’sSchool of Medicine and Health Sciences inGrand Forks.
In September 1999 he became professorand chairman of the newly createdDepartment of Pharmacology, Physiologyand Therapeutics. In November 1999 hebecame professor of neuroscience, and inDecember 1999 he was appointed associatedean for research and program development.He was appointed director of the Center ofExcellence in Neuroscience in UND’s Schoolof Medicine in September 2000 and associatevice president for health affairs in medicalresearch in March 2002.
PASSION FOR SCHOLARSHIP,RESPECT FOR STUDENTS
Ebadi’s love of teaching is evident in the34 academic awards he has received, includ-ing the Burlington Northern FacultyAchievement Award in 1987 and theUniversity of Nebraska’s system-wideOutstanding Teaching and Creative ActivityAward in 1995. At UND he was inductedinto the Golden Apple Hall of Fame for hav-ing received 11 Golden Apple awards.
He attributes his teaching success tothree principles.
“Teaching is an immortal, honorable pro-fession,” he said. “To be a good teacher it isabsolutely essential that you care for your stu-dents, stay knowledgeable — medical studentsare very bright — and be very organized. Youmust also make complex subjects very easy toremember.”
Ebadi has demonstrated his passion forscholarship and his respect for students bycreating and funding the Avicenna AcademicAward, for medical students with top gradesin neurology and the neurosciences, and theThomas Jefferson Ingenuity Award for grad-uate students who demonstrate ingenuity incompleting research projects.
Ebadi’s staff consider him creative, hard-working (365 days a year) and demanding ofhimself and them, yet they acknowledge hiscaring attitude. In the short time he has beenat UND, he has created and funded threeawards: the Hippocratic Dignity Award forfaculty members who treat all students andtheir educational programs in a dignifiedfashion; the H. David Wilson Award for fac-ulty members who exhibit a sustained recordof accomplishment in any area of the neuro-sciences; and Charles E. Kupchella’s Award,which recognizes individuals and organiza-tions in North Dakota and surroundingregions who contribute significantly to dis-ease prevention and healthy living.
These awards mirror the Park UniversityDistinguished Faculty Scholar Award thatEbadi created and funded in 1997 in honor ofDr. Delta Gier, former chair of theDepartment of Chemistry.
“The teachers at Park were very caring,but I especially loved Dr. Gier. He taught me
the ethics and value of hard work,” Ebadisaid.
The award is presented annually at thespring Honors Convocation to “members offaculty who have exhibited evidence of com-mitment to high standards of excellence inthe scholarship of teaching, research andservice.”
“Park College is my home,” said the recip-ient of Park’s 1999 Distinguished AlumnusAward. He met his wife, PariMaherronaghsh, ’62, now a retired medicaltechnologist, at Park. They wed in 1958 andare the parents of three accomplished chil-dren: John F. Ebadi, Ph.D., a doctor ofOriental medicine practicing in SantaBarbara, Calif.; Michelle McCormick, MissNebraska 1990, wife of an attorney andmother of twin daughters, living inHoldredge, Neb.; and Mark A. Ebadi, M.D.,twice board certified and a diplomat in inter-nal medicine and allergy and immunologypracticing in Denver, Colo.
n Fellow of the American College of ClinicalPharmacology.
n Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor ofPharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience.
n Member of 18 research and scholarly societies,including Alpha Omega Alpha Honors MedicalSociety.
n 2004 recipient of the UND Foundation Thomas J.Clifford Faculty Achievement Award forExcellence in Research.
n Author of 10 books, including Pharmacology,which was translated into Japanese in 1987(Medical Science International LTD, Tokyo); CoreConcepts in Pharmacology, which was translatedinto Chinese in 2002 (Ho-Chi Book Publishing ofTaiwan); and Pharmacodynamic Basis of HerbalMedicine (CRC Press 2002), a best-seller in itsfield, now undergoing a second revision.
n Co-author with Ronald F. Pfeiffer, M.D., ofParkinson’s Disease (Taylor and Francis, London,2005), a comprehensive reference book.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Dr.
Man
ucha
irEb
adi
Park goes international
Professors Lecture in ChinaCarol Getty, Ph.D., associate professor of criminal justice, and
Steven Youngblood, assistant professor of communication arts,
traveled to China in June and July, where they lectured, attended
seminars and made a presentation at the International Conference
on Diversity in Beijing. Getty and Youngblood’s Media and Criminal
Justice session explored the ways that the media cover crime and
corrections, and how this coverage shapes the criminal justice
agenda. They also attended conference sessions with topics rang-
ing from pedagogy to cultural adaptability. “The conference was
beneficial because of the diversity of topics presented and the
backgrounds, race and ethnicity of the presenters — all set in a
rapidly changing China,” Getty said.
The professors visited Xi’an, China, home to the Terracotta
Warriors, thousands of life-size figures guarding the mausoleum of
Qin Shi Huang, the first
emperor of all China.
While in Xi’an,
Youngblood gave the
keynote address,
Participatory and
Cooperative Learning,
at the National
Conference of Foreign
Language Professors.
Youngblood and
Getty also addressed
classes at Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xi’an, with Getty
discussing American law with Chinese law students and Youngblood
giving lectures to two student/faculty groups on Indecency and the
FCC. “I loved the Chinese students,”
Youngblood said. “They were reticent
at first, but once prodded, they were
articulate, insightful and energetic.”
He also presented a session, Public
Speaking for Model U.N., with
Northwest Polytechnical University’s
award-winning Model U.N. team from
Xi’an.
Both professors joined the Park
faculty in 1997. Getty taught at two
Taiwan universities in the fall 2004
semester. Youngblood, a 2001 Fulbright
Scholar, has taught in Brazil, South
Africa, Russia and Moldova.
Park Collaborates With Mexico Educational Research Psychology Associate Professor Dennis D. Kerkman, Ph.D., collabo-
rated with the Mexican government to evaluate a new hands-on
science education program for elementary school children. The
program involves more than
4,000 children in the north-
eastern Mexican state of
Tamaulipas. Kerkman and
David Stea, Ph.D., a psychology
professor at Texas State
University in San Marcos,
Texas, have worked on the
project for two years with
Héctor M. Cappello from the
National University of Mexico.
“These kids are great! Our
part of the project is to be
external evaluators, to see if
their basic attitudes and ways
of thinking about the world are
becoming more scientific as a result of this new program where
they get to do their own experiments, instead of just reading about
somebody else’s,” Kerkman said. He and Park psychology students
will analyze data from the project and present a final report to
Cappello during the fall semester.
Directors Represent Park on China Mission Erik Bergrud, M.P.A. ’94, director of the International Center for
Civic Engagement, and Olga Ganzen, M.P.A. ’99, director of
International Education and Study Abroad, represented Park at the
Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s 10-day trade mission
to China in August. They met with Chinese business and civic
leaders and U.S. government officials in Shanghai and Beijing to
explore partnerships and
to learn about U.S. visa
requirements for Chinese
students. Park Trustee
Benny Lee joined them for
part of the trip.
Representatives from the
University of Kansas in
Lawrence, Kan., and the
University of Missouri-
Kansas City also partici-
pated in the mission.
Yang Yuan Ping, left, chief executive officerof the Shanghai Jinjiang InternationalIndustrial Investment Co., hosted OlgaGanzen, Benny Lee and Erik Bergrud at a dinnerin Shanghai.
Steven Youngblood discusses U.S. media withstudents at Northwestern PolytechnicalUniversity in Xi’an, China.
Dennis D. Kerkman, Ph.D., (r) associateprofessor of psychology, and Texas StateUniversity Professor David Stea (l) visitchildren in the northeastern Mexicanstate of Tamaulipas.
Steven Youngblood and son Alexenjoy the splendor of the GreatWall of China.
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Park University will be a renowned international leader in providing innovative educational opportunities for learners within the global society.
For the fall 2004 semester, historyProfessor Ron Miriani, Ph.D., and I createdand now co-teach a Multicultural LiberalLearning course, India: Its People, Cultureand History. Our purpose was to addressPark’s mission to “prepare learners to thinkcritically, communicate effectively and engagein lifelong learning while serving a globalcommunity.” As part of my spring 2005 sab-batical, I visited India to conduct moreresearch for this course.
This three-month sojourn only whettedmy appetite for India and its natural beauty,unique architecture, ancient stories and cere-monies — and the unbeatable diverse cuisine.
Indian by birth, I grew up in Nigeria andreturned for my undergraduate and graduatework at Meerut University, Meerut, UttarPradesh. After moving to the United States in1989, I traveled to India to visit family, butsince creating this course with Dr. Miriani, Ihave toured extensively, gathering informationfor the class. What I learn has buoyed my pas-sion for India’s people, culture and history.
The 24-hour trip and 10-hour jet lag are soenervating that my father and I started ourjourney in Dehra Dun, my birthplace andhometown, located in a valley at the foot ofthe Himalayan Mountains. From there ouritinerary featured an eight-day pilgrimage in
the Himalayas to see the headwaters of theYamuna, Yamunotri; the start of the Ganges,Gangotri; Kedarnath, the abode of Shiva,Hindu god of destruction and the third aspectof the Hindu trinity; and Badrinath, the abodeof Vishnu, Hindu preserver of the universe.
We spent one week in an ashram, a reli-gious/spiritual retreat, in Rishikesh; visited theforts and palaces of Rajasthan; saw the birth-place of Mahatma Ghandi in Porbandar; andexperienced Bangalore, the information tech-nology outsourcing hub of the world.
I wish I could fully describe the beauty ofthe mountains. I was so busy taking picturesthat I never even napped. The mountainranges kept coming one after another, and thesnowmelt from summer temperatures createdwondrous waterfalls on the four rivers we saw.
We indulged our senses in an ashram inRishkesh on the banks of the Ganges, whereGeeta, the book on the philosophy of life, wasbeing taught. One week with SwamiAtmaanand was not nearly enough to satisfymy curiosity of Geeta.
From the snow-capped mountains, wedescended to the 110-degree desert ofRajasthan. Some of India’s architectural differ-ences are uniquely represented by the forts andpalaces built by Hindu rajas and those built byMugals, Muslim rulers for 250 years, in Agra
and Delhi to the north. Incredibly detailedmosaics inside the palaces represent theindigenous elephants, camels and peacocks.
We also visited ancient temples in Ujjainand Madhya Pradesh that, in contrast toBangalore, depict the ultimate East-meets-West culture clash. Large British-style build-ings stand side by side with Indian templesand American malls and restaurants.
We then visited three temples outside the city:Shravanabelagola, a Jain temple (Jainism is one ofthe world’s oldest religions); Belur, a Vishnu tem-ple; and Halebidu, a Shiva temple. The templesare covered with jaw-dropping carvings and sur-rounded by walls, small buildings and statues thathave been added to the original temples by thekings who ruled for six centuries.
Despite its increasing population and envi-ronmental issues, India moves ahead at asteady pace and remains full of contradictions.As ancient as it is modern in architecture andculture, it has the local dhabas (restaurants forthe common people), but it also has theAmerican Pizza Huts and McDonald’s. Itspeople may have the conveniences of moderntimes, but they do not forget the ancient reli-gious ceremonies that govern their lives.
It is almost impossible to write about myexperiences in such a short space. However, thisI can say — India never ceases to amaze me.
Spring 2005 ‹‹ 11
Amazing India
Sapna Gupta, Ph.D., is an associate professor of chemistry.
Gupta at Amer Fort in Jaipur, Rajasthan
BEAUFORT MCAS CAMPUS CENTERPark Student Wins All-Marine GolfTournamentThe Beaufort (S.C.) Marine Corps Air
Station newspaper, The Jet Stream, fea-
tured Cpl. Chris Garrity, above, in its Sept.
23 edition for winning the All-Marine Golf
Tournament, Sept. 11-17. A junior majoring
in social psychology, he competed against
some of the corps’ best golfers at the
Legends Golf Course on Marine Corps
Recruit Depot Parris Island. Garrity is an
aviation operations specialist in Marine
Fighter Attach Squadron 122.
PARKVILLE CAMPUSHauptmann Draws Crowd in Washington, D.C.Park alumni, some traveling from as far as
Arizona and Tennessee, gathered in
Washington, D.C., on Sept. 8 to hear
Professor Emeritus Jerzy Hauptmann,
Ph.D., present 60 Years After World War II:
Personal Reflections on Europe and the
United States.
In his 52 years at Park, Hauptmann
taught political science and public affairs,
and established the Graduate School of
Public Affairs. Upon his retirement, the
school was renamed the Hauptmann
School of Public Affairs. His son, daughter-
in-law and granddaughter, from the
Washington, D.C., area, also attended
the event.
Alumni Credit Park Education for SuccessesHauptmann School of Public Affairs alumni
presented Park University Education and Its
Relevance for Platte County Law Enforcement
Leaders at the October Brown Bag Luncheon
Series Oct. 18. Speakers included Parkville
Police Chief Bill Hudson, M.P.A. ’95; Platte
City Police Chief Joe McHale, ’89, M.P.A. ’96;
and Riverside Director of Public Safety Greg
Mills, M.P.A. ’97.
“For more than 20 years, the Hauptmann
School ofPublic Affairs has provided excel-
lent graduate-level education to individuals
seeking to advance their professional
careers,” said Erik Bergrud, M.P.A. ’94,
director of the International Center for Civic
Engagement and public management pro-
gram coordinator for the Hauptmann
School. “The graduate school’s motto is
‘Preparing for Service,’ and the three
alumni who presented typify the qualities
we expect of our alumni, including profes-
sionalism and outstanding leadership
capacity.”
Luncheon sponsors included Park’s
International Center for Civic Engagement,
the Department of Public Safety, the
Criminal Justice Department, the Peacock
Society and the alumni chapter of the
Hauptmann School of Public Affairs.
Graphic Designer Lectures at ParkScott Boylston, professor of graphic design
at the Savannah College of Art and Design,
presented Broadening the Boundaries of
Design: How Social Research, Process and
Multidisciplinary Exploration Can Expand
the Scope of Graphic Design on Sept. 30 at
the Parkville Campus.
“Professor Boylston’s presentation
demonstrated new directions for intellectual
design,” said Masoom Khawaja, associate
professor of art and design. “Through his
thought-provoking poem Anchor Point, he
touched some of our very sensitive national-
level environmental issues, showing how a
graphic designer, through sensitivity and
awareness, can combine writing and
designing together into a single cohesive
theme.”
12 >> www.park.edu
Campus News
caption
Jerzy Hauptmann, Ph.D., visits with GregoryByard, M.P.A. ’97, the first M.P.A. student tobe accepted into the prestigious PresidentialManagement Fellows Program.
Student Athlete ReceivesScholarship for Character Incoming freshman Melissa Gardner was
named a 2005 Champion of Character
scholarship recipient by the National
Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and
the National Research Center for College
and University Admissions. This is NRCCUA
and NAIA’s inaugural year to award a
$1,000 scholarship to five graduating high
school seniors who are enrolling in NAIA
institutions in the fall.
Gardner, a graduate of Lee’s Summit
North High School in Lee’s Summit, Mo.,
was one of five winners selected for exem-
plifying the NAIA’s Champion of Character
core values — respect, responsibility,
integrity, servant leadership and sports-
manship — in competition and in daily life.
“This scholarship honor is both a tribute
and a reward ... for how they have lived their
lives and the character values they possess,”
said Larry Erenberger, NRCCUA vice president
for national projects. “NRCCUA is proud to
support young people with the core values
for a Champion of Character.”
Gardner will attend Park University at the
Parkville Campus in fall 2005 and will be on
the women’s soccer team.
Corporate Express BoostsScholarship Fund Corporate Express of Kansas City, Mo.,
donated $12,203 to Park’s scholarship
fund Sept. 1. James Crum, ’83, Corporate
Express director of business affairs, and
Donna Gifford, ’04, assistant director of
purchasing, presented the check to
President Beverley Byers-Pevitts on behalf
of the Kansas City Regional Council for
Higher Education.
Brown Bag Luncheon SeriesLinda Trout, executive director of the
International Relations Council, was the
inaugural speaker at the September Brown
Bag Luncheon Series sponsored by Park’s
International Center for Civic Engagement at
the Parkville Campus on Sept. 20.
Trout addressed The Relevance of
International Affairs for the Greater Kansas
City Area and described how international
issues affect local residents. She also dis-
cussed IRC collaboration with Park interna-
tional students through the Coming to
America series, at which the students
speak four times a year at a North Kansas
City, Mo., school.
WSU, International Student Services toExplore IslamThe World Student Union and International
Student Services at the Parkville Campus
explored the question What is Islam? on
Sept. 30. Fisal Hammouda, a well-known
inspirational speaker, teacher, counselor,
engineer and Muslim scholar, led a discus-
sion on common misconceptions regarding
the religion. The Islamic School and
Cultural Center of Greater Kansas City was
another sponsor.
Fall 2005 ‹‹ 13
<< CAMPUS NEWS
James Crum, ’83,and Donna Gifford,’04, present checkon behalf of KCRCHEto PresidentBeverley Byers-Pevitts. (photo bySummer Evans)
Freshman Robert Dingman (l) receives a $250 scholarship from the NationalWild Turkey Federation Platte County Longspurs chapter.
Student Wins Wild Turkey Scholarship The Platte County Longspurs chapter of the National Wild Turkey
Federation awarded Park freshman Robert Dingman the National
Wild Turkey Federation Scholarship on Sept. 18 at its annual
fund-raising banquet. Scholarship applicants are judged on
scholastic achievements, leadership and community involve-
ment. As the local chapter scholarship winner of $250, Dingman
is eligible for consideration of the $1,000 state award. He is seek-
ing a bachelor’s degree in athletic training at the Parkville
Campus.
For more information about the scholarship and the National
Wild Turkey Federation, see www.NWTF.org or contact Tim Gabor,
Ph.D., associate professor of biology, at (816) 584-6869.
Welcome Week an MTV HitParkville Campus students received a special presentation by
Syrus from MTV’s The Real World Boston on Aug. 24 during
Welcome Week. Syrus told students about his road to success,
from his struggles to find a job after college to his travels around
the country as an inspirational speaker. He encouraged students
to seek opportunities for internships and volunteer positions
related to their studies before they graduate.
Immediately following, students attended an activities fair to
learn more about campus organizations, clubs and local busi-
nesses. A picnic lunch was served on the Graham Tyler Memorial
Chapel lawn.
14 >> www.park.edu
CAMPUS NEWS >>
Students and staffvolunteer for art@parkIn preparation for the
sixth annual art@park
weekend on the Parkville
Campus, Michael
Fitzmorris’ MK 351:
Principles of Marketing
class volunteered to
install the flamingoes on
the Graham Tyler
Memorial Chapel lawn.
Approximately 5,000
people attended this
year’s event Oct. 8-9.
James D. McNiven from Dalhousie University discusses the truck-ing corridors between the U.S., Canada and Mexico at the “NorthAmerican Economic Integration seminar.”
Syrus ofMTV’s RealWorld Boston
Glenda, the Good Flamingo
Park Hosts Economic Integration Seminar The International Center for Civic Engagement and the Study
Abroad program hosted a seminar Oct. 13 on “North American
Economic Integration” in conjunction with the North America
Works conference in Kansas City, Mo. James D. McNiven, who
holds the R.A. Jodrey Chair of Commerce in the School of
Business Administration at Dalhousie University, discussed
implications of the North American Free Trade Agreement. The
seminar was held in the College for Distance Learning on the
Parkville Campus, and Park students attended on scholar-
ships from Western Forms, a Kansas City-based company.
TINKER AFB CAMPUS CENTERManagement Student Wins National ScholarshipStaff Sgt. Douglas Picard, a senior pursuing a management degree at
Tinker AFB Campus Center, won the national grand-prize $2,000 college
scholarship from the Logistics Officer Association. Picard first won a
competition at the Tinker Crossroads chapter of the LOA, which earned
him $300 toward his higher education and the right to compete for the
national LOA award. The national scholarship committee considers aca-
demic background, leadership and duty performance, base and com-
munity involvement, awards and decorations, and a personal narrative
describing the individual’s career aspirations and why he/she
deserves the award.
The Crossroads Chapter LOA works to enhance the professional
stature of the logistics officer and improve the global logistics environ-
ment. All military and civilian logisticians may participate in the chap-
ter, regardless of military service affiliation.
The scholarship announcement is posted at
www.loanational.org/tinker.
Management Student ReenlistsAfter serving in the Air Force for 16
years, Tinker Campus Center Tech Sgt.
Kelly Papineau was featured in the
Sept. 30 edition of Tinker Take Off, the
newspaper of the Oklahoma City Air
Logistics Center, for reenlisting for
another five years and three months. A
senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in
management from Park, Papineau is
the noncommissioned officer in charge of customer service for her
squadron. Her husband, Capt. Scott Papineau, conducted the reenlist-
ment ceremony Sept. 16 in the 72nd Comptroller Squadron at Tinker Air
Force Base in Oklahoma City.
Fall 2005 ‹‹ 15
<< CAMPUS NEWS
WENTWORTH CAMPUS CENTERPark Announces 42nd Campus Center Wentworth Junior College in Lexington, Mo., became Park’s newest campus
center with a grand opening Aug. 22, followed by a ribbon cutting and for-
mal-agreement signing and the Sounding of the Cannon ceremony. Rep. Ike
Skelton annonced at the ceremony that his hometown “now has a four-year
university.”
Wentworth Campus Center offers associate’s degrees at a convenient
location for residents of Lexington and surrounding communities. Classes are
offered in the traditional face-to-face format of day, evening or Saturday
classes; the Online format; or a combination. Freshman and sophomore
courses can be transferred to Park for upper-level undergraduate and gradu-
ate study. Both institutions provide educational counseling, guidance and
financial aid.
For more information about the Wentworth Campus Center, contact
Director Mike Woods at (660) 259-2374 or [email protected].
Capt. Scott Papineau conductsreenlistment ceremony for hiswife, Tech Sgt. Kelly Papineau.
Roger Hamilton, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs;Maj. Gen. John Little, president of Wentworth Junior College;U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo.; Beverley Byers-Pevitts, Ph.D.,president of Park University; and Mike Woods, director ofWentworth Campus Center, attended the official signing cere-mony Aug. 22 in Lexington, Mo.
HELPING OUR FELLOW AMERICANSThe past months have challenged the United States.
We join hearts with alumni, students and friends whowere significantly affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
The Park community in various ways addressed the needsof storm victims along the Gulf Coast:
• The athletic department contributed revenue from ticketsales plus donations at three games to assist NAIA univer-sities Dillard, Loyola, SUNO, Xavier and the New Orleansand Mississippi Gulf Coast campuses of William Carey.
• Freshmen, led by Professors Andy Johnson and TimWestcott, and the Campus Activities Board raised $3,000with their Helping Our Fellow Americans — One Freshmanat a Time campaign. Donations went to Heart to HeartInternational, a global humanitarian organization based inOlathe, Kan.
• Parkville adopted a sister city, Ocean Springs Miss., andPark faculty, staff and students donated relief supplies.
• The University will facilitate a dialogue, Civic Engagementin the Aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, at theAmerican Society for Public Administration’s nationalconference in April.
• The University waived fall semester tuition for studentsenrolled at accredited colleges and universities in hurri-cane-affected areas. A hotline let displaced students con-tact Park to enroll in up to six tuition-free credit hours ofOnline or face-to-face classes. Credits completed at Parkwill transfer to home educational intuitions.
• The Sloan Foundation awarded Park a $__ grant for hurri-cane relief efforts.
Many of you have participated in giving opportunitiesfocused on hurricane relief, demonstrating the generous andcompassionate character of the Park community.
16 >> www.park.edu
Tulips received the most votes and will appear on the cover of the 2006 Park University Calendar.Photographer: Emilio Servigon, student, Parkville CampusSubject: tulip garden at Anheuser-Busch brewery, St. Louis, Mo.
For Old Times’ SakePhotographer: Karim Dawani, student,Parkville CampusSubject: seniors Paulina Pawlik, HaleyDaniel, Kasey Scott and Liza Ruud in one lastpicture before graduation
My Best Friend Submitted by: William Valencia, student,
MCAS Cherry Point Campus CenterSubject: My wife, Vanessa Van Dyke
(U.S. Marine Corps), a student at MCASCherry Point Campus Center, deployed in Iraq
Zion MarPhotographer: CoreyPerez, student, HillAFB, Utah CampusCenterSubject: waterfall inZion National Park,Utah
LighthousePhotographer: Karla Fliger,
Online studentSubject: lighthouse on Lake
Michigan in Charlevoix, Mich.
Photos to represent the 12 calendar months:
The Park Family Photo Contestattracted choice pictures by tal-ented camera bugs from aroundthe nation.
Fall 2005 ‹‹ 17
Fog ValleyPhotographer:
Corey Perez, stu-dent, Hill AFB,
Utah CampusCenter
Subject: fog restingon PineviewReservoir inOgden, Utah
Antarctic IcebergPhotographer: Robert
Rundus, ’50Subject: iceberg along
cruise south toAntarctica
Graduates ’05Photographer: Anthony Krewson, friendSubject: members of the 2005 graduating classat Grand Forks AFB Campus Center, N.D., fromleft, Jennifer Liddle, Richele Kosmowski, DennisHerbeck (academic director), Mikki Helling andElizabeth Seydel
Gathering of NationsPhotographer: Lorie Schmitz,’04, staff, Fort Bliss CampusCenter, El Paso, TexasSubject: the largest annualgathering of North AmericanNative Americans, inAlbuquerque, N.M.
Plaza FountainPhotographer: Bonnie Horn, student,Parkville CampusSubject: son playing inCountry Club Plaza fountainin Kansas City, Mo.
Dillard MillPhotographer: Bruce Miller, ’02Subject: Dillard Mill, Davisville, Mo.
WindmillPhotographer: Angela Fickess, student,Downtown Campus, Kansas CitySubject: Kansas windmill
Inside to Out: Color and Winter SnowPhotographer: Marlyn Stuart McAlice, ’73
Subject: A still-life study in contrast,Reston, Va.
Calendars are given as
thank-you gifts to alumni
and friends who are
donors to the University.
18 >> www.park.edu
J. Malcolm Good Math ChairJ. Malcolm Good, ’39, created an endowment fund during his life
and completed it through his estate to support a student award and afaculty chair in mathematics.
Good’s interest in mathematics should be no surprise to anyonewho knew him during his days at Park, as evidenced by this entry inthe 1939 Narva, adjacent to his senior photograph:
“Good, J. Malcolm — Man with his eyes on the stars — main ambition to travel —
main conversation math and its function in society.”
The J. Malcolm Good student award is given annually in recogni-tion of the best paper presented in mathematics. The paper can be onany topic related to mathematics, and the papers are evaluated basedon creativity and originality.
The J. Malcolm Good Chair in mathematics recognizes an out-standing faculty member who demonstrates excellence in teachingand service to students.
Good was a long-standing Park supporter, and through histhoughtful gifts, his name will be honored by students and facultywell into the future.
Wonder Who’sCalling?Tucked away in the Alumni House is a roomwhere students and alumni connect andlearn from each other. Each fall and springsemester students contact University alumni.
The mission: to build relationships,inform alumni about the University andmake the case for financial support.Taking time to speak with a Park FundPhonathon student caller means:• You will hear updates about the University.• You can ask questions and pass along com-
ments.• You can update your address, phone and
e-mail information to ensure that you arereceiving information from the University.
• You can support the University’s academicprograms, student scholarships and profes-sorships.
Phonathon Fast Facts• Calling hours are 6-9 p.m. Monday-
Thursday.• Callers earn $7 an hour, plus prizes for top
performance.• There are nine calling stations, 25 student
callers and two student supervisors.
This photo of Dr. Harry Crull, left, math department chair and Astronomy Programdirector, and J. Malcolm Good, cum laude alumnus, appeared on the cover of theNovember 1940 Alumniad. Good, who had won senior honors in math andastronomy, revisited the campus and spent time in the observatory with Dr. Crull.
Supportfor Park
Phonathon callers: Front Row: Virginia Kagotho, JacquelineOrwa, Ivy Wambui, Liz Ndegwa Back Row: Sunny Alvi, KwilasaRazafinjatovo, Abdul Hakeem Bbumba, Bek Yuldashev, FestusRono, Alfred Bognar