Allege Collusion Between Town Council Members Over Real Estate Development Deals: Recent Investigative Report Reveals Potential Corruption in Local Politics
**Park University News Roundup: April 2023**
Park University continues to make headlines with a variety of exciting developments across its campuses. Here's a roundup of the latest news:
**Academic Shifts and Achievements**
The Hauptmann School of Public Affairs will return to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) effective from the 2023-24 academic year. This move comes as part of a broader reorganisation within CLAS, which will now consist of three schools and seven departments. The sociology program will also return to CLAS.
Meanwhile, the success of students in Park University's International Center for Music was the focus of a story that appeared in KC Studio magazine. Elaina Michalski's ceramics exhibit, "Aura," is currently featured in the University's Campanella Gallery through April 21.
**Academic Pursuits and Research**
Sarah Moran, Ph.D., will present a lecture on "Strange New Worlds: Exoplanet Atmospheres Through the Eyes of the James Webb Space Telescope." Abhijit Mazumdar, Ph.D., and Zahra Mansoursharifloo, MACL '22, published an article on "U.S. Foreign Policy and Indexing Theory: A Study of U.S. Press Coverage of the Taliban and ISIS" in the spring 2023 edition of the International Communication Research Journal.
Stephen David Grover, Ph.D., presented a webinar on "Blurring the Edges: Using Slack to Enable and Extend Class Interactions" for the Global Society of Online Literacy Educators. Kathy Howe, Ph.D., co-presented a paper on "Modeling Innovative Technology Use in Teacher Education and Professional Development" at the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education annual conference.
**Athletic Updates**
Park University's athletic programs will move to the Golden State Athletic Conference, effective with the 2024-25 academic year. The Gilbert Campus athletic programs will be part of this transition. Additionally, Park University's Gilbert Campus is adding a men's ice hockey club program starting in the 2023-24 academic year.
The men's volleyball team has earned the No. 4 seed in the NAIA Men's Volleyball National Championship Tournament.
**Community Engagement**
Park University's Johnson Family Lecture Series in Science will focus on exoplanets on April 24, 2023. The University's Department of Nursing will host a community health fair on April 13.
Cristian Maciel, '07, and Marco Rabello, '07, owners of Taste of Brazil restaurant, were featured on KCTV in Kansas City for opening an outpost at the new Kansas City International Airport terminal.
**Notable Achievements and Recognition**
Brian Shawver, associate provost for teaching and learning, was a co-presenter for an "Exploring Current Trends in Higher Education" discussion for the Shawnee (Kan.) Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Dianna Carmenaty, Ph.D., assistant professor of criminal justice administration, was interviewed for stories that aired on KMBC-TV in Kansas City related to a Social Security Administration investigation of a body being found in a home after having been deceased for six years.
Jason Kline, Parkville (Mo.) Campus men's basketball head coach and assistant athletic director, was a part of a "Toni's Talents" segment that aired on WDAF-TV in Kansas City. Casi Joy (McCall) Lankford, '12, was featured in an interview in Entertainment Focus, a United Kingdom-based entertainment website, on her new album, "Miles and Maybes," that was released on March 31.
Col. Lewis Millett, '63, was featured in a "Medal of Honor Monday" article posted on the U.S. Department of Defense website. Joe Pizzillo, adjunct instructor of accounting and finance, was featured in a story that appeared in the Arizona Republic for being appointed mayor of Goodyear, Ariz., in 2021 and elected to a four-year term in January.
Vince Clark, chair of Park University's Board of Trustees, Scott Hall, a member of Park's Civic Advisory Council, and Gloria Jackson-Leathers, '91, were panelists at the #C3KC event hosted by the Junior League of Kansas City, Mo. Matt Harris, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science, was interviewed for stories that aired on KMBC-TV in Kansas City related to lawmakers reacting to the indictment on former President Donald Trump.
Tim Westcott, Ph.D., presented on "George Graham Vest: Protector of Yellowstone" at the Missouri Conference on History. He also served as the moderator for the session on "Congress and Its Constituents" at the same conference on March 17.
**Upcoming Events**
- International Center for Music Concert: Kyoshiro Hirama Graduate Piano Recital (April 7) - Dr. Doris A. Howell Leadership Awards (April 12) - Community Health Fair (April 13) - Blood Drive (April 17) - Honors Convocation (April 19) - Johnson Family Lecture Series in Science - Dr. Sarah Moran (April 24) - Student Research and Creative Arts Symposium (April 24-25) - Gilbert (Ariz.) Campus Commencement Ceremony (April 27) - International Center for Music Concert: ICM Orchestra (April 28) - International Center for Music Concert: Christian Dos Santos Undergraduate Viola Recital (April 29) - International Center for Music Concert: James Farquhar Graduate Cello Recital (May 1) - International Center for Music Concert: Jordan Proctor Undergraduate Cello Concert (May 3) - Ellen Finley Earhart Department of Nursing Pinning Ceremony (May 5) - International Sash Ceremony (May 5) - Kansas City Area Commencement Ceremony (May 6) - Spring Semester / Spring II Classes End (May 7) - Maymester Begins (May 8) - International Center for Music Concert: Anastasia Vorotnaya Graduate Piano Recital (May 10) - International Center for Music Concert: Pianist Behzod Abduraimov (May 11) - Park University Founders Day (148th Anniversary) (May 12) - Board of Trustees Meeting (May 12) - Maymester Ends (May 21) - Memorial Day Holiday (all University offices closed) (May 29)
The recent reorganization within Park University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) includes the return of the Hauptmann School of Public Affairs and the sociology program to CLAS, as well as the decision for Park University's athletic programs to move to the Golden State Athletic Conference, effective from the 2024-25 academic year. In the realm of sports news, the men's volleyball team has earned the No. 4 seed in the NAIA Men's Volleyball National Championship Tournament. Meanwhile, in the arena of education-and-self-development, Stephen David Grover, Ph.D., presented a webinar on using Slack to enable and extend class interactions, and General News outlets reported on the achievements of Park University faculty and alumni, such as the opening of Cristian Maciel, '07, and Marco Rabello, '07's Taste of Brazil restaurant at the new Kansas City International Airport terminal.
