Local Update: August 8, 2024
Park University News Roundup
Ilya Shmukler, a graduate piano student at Park University's International Center for Music, has been featured in The Kansas City Star on July 7.
On July 16, 66 student-athletes from Park University's Parkville Campus were recognised as 2023-24 Heart Scholar-Athletes.
Camille Cook has been promoted to the role of director of library services at Park University, starting on Aug. 1. Cook will be responsible for the development and management of the University's McAfee Memorial Library.
Debra Sheffer, Ph.D., associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and professor of history, has been appointed as the chair of the Society for Military History's Book Award Committee for 2024-25.
Molly Pierson has been appointed as the dean of students at Park University, starting on July 25. Pierson will oversee residence life, student leadership and engagement, counselling, student conduct, crises and advocacy, new student and parent programs, and the Park Student Government Association. She will also serve as the chief judicial officer for Park University students nationwide and serve as the deputy Title IX coordinator for students.
Kim Albertus and Micaela Suhl, two Park University Parkville (Mo.) Campus women's golfers, were named to the Women's Golf Coaches Association's 2023-34 All-American Scholar Team on July 1. Joao Friedrich, a Parkville Campus men's volleyball player, was honored on July 17 by the College Sports Communicators on the NAIA Academic All-America At-Large Team for 2023-24. Both the women's volleyball and beach volleyball teams were recognised by the American Volleyball Coaches Association on July 17 with the AVCA Team Academic Award.
Mike Stolte, '14, was appointed as the chief of the Maryville (Mo.) Police Department. Steve Wilson, '13 MPA, was promoted to the position of vice president of student engagement and intercollegiate athletics at William Woods University.
The 2024 Park University Golf Scramble, a four-person tournament that benefits the University's Parkville Campus athletics programs, is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 14, at The National Golf Club of Kansas City.
John Hamilton, Ph.D., professor emeritus of criminal justice administration, was interviewed by KSHB-TV in Kansas City on July 24 for a story related to an Illinois deputy being indicted for a shooting death of a woman earlier in the month. Matt Harris, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, was interviewed for several news stories related to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, political violence, and political ads, between July 13 and July 23.
Park University's Parkville (Mo.) Campus and Gilbert (Ariz.) Campus athletic departments were both recognised on July 31 as a 2023-24 NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star institution at the gold level.
Yang Sun, Ph.D., dean of the College of Management, presented the keynote speech for the Five-Ring (Olympics) Management Summit of China held virtually on July 12. Jack MacLennan, Ph.D., has been appointed to the role of senior director for strategic initiatives and communications, and special assistant to the president for governance, starting on Aug. 1. MacLennan will support key stakeholders in the development, communication, and implementation of plans for the future of Park University.
Lauren Montgomery Gist, '12, was honoured by the Kansas City (Mo.) Police Department on July 15 with a Life-Saving Award. Rob Duggan, MPA '21, was highlighted by the Gilbert (Ariz.) Chamber of Commerce on its website on July 9.
ECCO Select, an IT talent acquisition and advisory consulting company in Kansas City, Mo., led by Jeanette Prenger, '09, was ranked No. 6 on Ingram's list of top Kansas City area women-owned businesses, and No. 5 on Ingram's list of top Kansas City area minority-owned businesses, ranked by 2023 gross revenue.
- In the ongoing saga of education-and-self-development news at Park University, Camille Cook has been promoted to the director of library services, focusing on the development and management of the University's McAfee Memorial Library, starting August 1st.
- Amidst the flurry of general-news updates, Park University's athletic departments received recognition as a 2023-24 NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star institution at the gold level, further highlighting their commitment to sports excellence and character development.
