Newsletter of The Crow's Nest - November 5th, 2024 Edition
Park University in the Spotlight: A Look at Its Rich History and Current Achievements
Park University, a prestigious institution located in Parkville, Missouri, has been making headlines recently for a variety of reasons. The university's International Center for Music (ICM) was recently featured in the October edition of Kansas City magazine, with ICM artistic director Stanislav Ioudenitch being interviewed for the article.
The university's roots run deep, with its co-founder George S. Park playing a significant role in the early days of the institution. One of his lesser-known contributions was the co-publication of the Industrial Luminary newspaper, which served as an important platform during the industrial and local development of the period. The paper's significance lies in its connection to George S. Park, a key figure in founding Park University, and its role in documenting and supporting the industrial growth and community affairs in the area.
Unfortunately, detailed historical records about the exact content, dates of publication, and broader editorial influence of the Industrial Luminary are limited. However, the general context suggests it was part of the wave of 19th-century local newspapers that contributed to community cohesion and information sharing connected to industrial expansion and educational initiatives led by figures like Park.
In more recent news, the Industrial Luminary has been digitized and is now accessible online, providing a valuable resource for those interested in the history of Park University and the region.
Moving on to current achievements, the Parkville Symphonic Band will host a concert of heroic and Halloween music on Nov. 10 in Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel on the University's flagship Parkville Campus. Donations will be accepted for the Pirate Pantry.
Academically, Monica Brannon, Ph.D., interim assistant provost for student success and associate professor of sociology, authored an article on "Uranium Mining Remediation, Environmental Assessment and Bureaucratic Violence Environmental Sociology" that was published on Oct. 19 in Environmental Sociology.
Meanwhile, Yang Sun, Ph.D., dean of the College of Management, co-authored "Telehealth Strategies and Workforce Support in Applied Behavior Analysis Services During a Pandemic" that was published in a recent edition of the International Journal of Logistics Economics and Globalisation.
SmartyPal.com ranked Park University No. 19 on its "30 Best Online Healthcare Management Degree Programs" list.
Park University's students and faculty have also been recognised outside the university. Jose Madrid, a Park University graduate student pursuing a Master of Healthcare Administration degree, was named to the Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune's "20 Under 40" list in October. Madrid is the marketing and communications director at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital in Larned, Kan.
Camille Cook, director of library services, and Danielle Theiss, former director of library, academic and career success services, authored the book "The Small to Mid-Size Academic Library: Collaborations and Outreach".
In the field of politics, Matt Harris, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, provided comments for stories aired on KCTV in Kansas City during October related to various ballot issues, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker announcing a political action committee, and an "unprecedented" number of early voters in Jackson County, Mo.
Harris also authored an article titled "Trump's Musical Interlude is a Twist on the Long Tradition of Candidates Enlisting Musicians' Support, from Al Jolson to Springsteen to Swift" that was published on The Conversation's website on Oct. 14 and republished in news media outlets around the world.
In addition, Joshua Lewis, '14, and his Updown Nightlife app being acquired by BarGlance in a $5 million deal, was featured on the Startland News website on Oct. 17.
John Hamilton, Ph.D. (emeritus professor of criminal justice administration), and Tamera Jenkins, Ph.D. (assistant professor of criminal justice administration), co-authored the third edition of "Community Justice".
Matt Harris, Ph.D., provided comments for stories that aired on KMBZ-FM in Kansas City on Oct. 23 related to vague ballot language for Missouri's proposed Amendment 3.
Harris also provided comments for a story titled "Opponents Use Parental Rights and Anti-Trans Messages to Fight Abortion Ballot Measures" that was authored by the Associated Press on Oct. 31 and appeared in more than 300 news media outlets across the country.
Lt. Gen. Robert Skinner, '89, retired as the director of the Defense Information Systems Agency and the commander of Joint Force Headquarters - Department of Defense Information Network, two of the U.S. Department of Defense's most critical network, communications and information technology support agencies. This news was published in SIGNAL, a publication of Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association International, on Oct. 3.
Park University was well-represented in the September issue of Ingram's, a Kansas City business magazine, as part of the Ingram's 250, a list of the most powerful business leaders in Greater Kansas City. Among those selected were Mitzi Cardenas, executive chief administrative officer at University Health and member of Park's Board of Trustees; Matt Malott, '01, chief executive officer at Multivac USA; Jeanette Prenger, '09, founder and chief executive officer of ECCO Select, and past chair of Park's Board of Trustees; and Brad Skinner, '99, president/CEO of Milbank Manufacturing.
Matt Harris, Ph.D., was a panelist on a special "Kansas City Week in Review" program that aired on Kansas City PBS (KCPT-TV) on Oct. 18.
Greg Plumb, J.D., professor of criminal justice administration, provided comments for a story that was published in The Kansas City Star on Oct. 11 related to Platte County, Mo., town hall event that discussed a potential sales tax that would fund mental health services for children and teens in the county.
The Park University Parkville (Mo.) Campus women's golf program achieved its first-ever NAIA Women's Golf Coaches' Top 25 ranking, coming in at No. 25 on Oct. 17.
The Industrial Festival will be held on Park University's flagship Parkville (Mo.) Campus on Nov. 22, featuring cultural activities, performances, and an international buffet.
Finally, ten strings students studying in Park University's International Center for Music (ICM) will perform a recital concert on Nov. 14.
Brittanie Propes, '13, who serves as the websites and recreation director for the city of Parkville, Mo., was featured in the Mid-Continent Public Library's "Nice to Meet You" series on Oct. 8.
David Jackson, '02, was appointed as the chief of police in Englewood, Colo., on Oct. 4. He will begin his duties on Nov. 12.
Ten strings students studying in Park University's International Center for Music (ICM) will perform a recital concert on Nov. 14.
This is just a snapshot of the many exciting things happening at Park University. Stay tuned for more updates!
- Park University's rich history extends beyond its academic achievements, as evidenced by the digitization and accessibility online of the Industrial Luminary, a newspaper co-published by its co-founder George S. Park, which provided a platform for local development, industrial growth, and community affairs discussions.
- The university's influence extends beyond its Parkville, Missouri campus, with its students and faculty making headlines in diverse fields such as education-and-self-development (Monica Brannon's article on uranium mining remediation), general-news (Matt Harris' comments on various ballot issues and Trump's political music), sports (the Parkville Symphonic Band's concert), and lifestyle (Brittanie Propes' feature in the Mid-Continent Public Library's "Nice to Meet You" series).
