June 2026 News at UCM

Director of Residence Life Honored with International Leadership Award

Alan Nordyke, director of Residence Life, received the James C. Grimm Leadership and Service Award at the Association of College and University Housing Officers - International (ACUHO-I) conference June 21-24 in Orlando, Florida.

The award recognizes individuals who have served ACUHO-I and advanced the association's goals throughout their careers with exceptional dedication, outstanding leadership and devoted service. 

Nordyke began his career with UCM in 1988 as the coordinator of Greek Affairs. Since that time, he has advanced through University Housing. In his current role, Nordyke oversees the hiring, training and supervision of residence hall and apartment staff and collaborates with academic partners on Living Learning Communities.

“In his time, Alan has had a significant impact on the lives of thousands of students and staff,” said Brenda Moeder, senior director of Housing. “His dedication to the university and to the Housing profession is outstanding. UCM is proud of and lucky to have Alan!”

Pictured, from left, are ACUHO-I CEO Mary DeNiro, Nordyke and 2026 ACUHO-I President Olan Garrett during the ACUHO-I Awards Dinner ahead of the 2026 Campus Home. LIVE! conference. 

Director of Community Standards & Support Serves as Facilitator for Fraternity’s Leadership Academy

Ed Wirthwein, director of Community Standards and Support and advisor for the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity chapter at UCM, recently completed a dedicated term of service as a small group facilitator at the XXIX session of the Charles R. Walgreen Jr. TKE Leadership Academy. The highly competitive, immersive summer program is designed by Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) to develop collegiate men into values-driven leaders who positively impact their campuses and communities.

In his role as a facilitator, Wirthwein was instrumental in guiding a cohort of young men through a structured curriculum that blended rigorous workshops, small-group discussions and outdoor team-building challenges. Working directly with attendees, he provided mentorship and insight to help participants grow individually and return home as confident chapter leaders.

The XXIX session challenged participants to reflect deeply on their personal values while exploring the fraternity's essential pillars: Scholarship, Character, Leadership, Teamwork, Service and Brotherhood.

"Serving as a small group facilitator for the XXIX Leadership Academy was an incredibly rewarding experience," said Wirthwein, who is pictured in the second row, second from the right. "Watching these young men tackle complex challenges, embrace the ideals of our founders, and define a shared vision for the future of the fraternity is a powerful reminder of what it means to be a Teke for life. I am honored to have played a role in empowering the next generation of values-driven leaders."

Rural Schools Initiative Hosts Grandparents University

UCM recently welcomed rural middle school students and their grandparents to campus for an engaging and memorable Grandparents University experience. Organized by the Rural Schools Initiative in the College of Education, the event provided students from rural communities with an early introduction to college life while strengthening intergenerational connections through shared learning experiences.

Designed to inspire educational aspirations, Grandparents University offered participants a full day of hands-on activities led by faculty and staff across campus. Students and their grandparents explored a variety of academic disciplines and potential career pathways through interactive workshops.

Participants had the opportunity to design and print their own T-shirts in a Fashion and Design workshop. The Criminal Justice session allowed them to experience forensic techniques by being fingerprinted and having mugshots taken. In the Art and Library Science workshop, families worked together to create pop-up books, encouraging creativity and collaboration across generations.

In addition to the academic experiences, participants enjoyed lunch in a campus dining facility, toured a residence hall room, and explored several academic and recreational buildings across campus. These experiences provided students with a firsthand look at university life and helped demystify the college experience at an early age.

"Grandparents University is about more than introducing students to a college campus," said Charlene Atkins, Rural Schools Initiative coordinator. "It creates meaningful intergenerational experiences while helping rural students envision themselves as future college students."

Grandparents University was made possible by funding from a Strategic Opportunity Grant. The event reflects the Rural Schools Initiative's ongoing commitment to expanding educational opportunities, strengthening rural communities and encouraging college and career exploration among rural youth.

Faculty, Students Attend American Library Association Conference

UCM faculty members and students shared their expertise at the 150th American Library Association’s (ALA) annual conference on June 25-29 in Chicago.

Several faculty members and students presented posters at the conference. Jenna Kammer, Ph.D., associate professor and program coordinator of Library Science and Information Services; Nabat Erdogan, Ph.D., associate professor and program coordinator of Literacy and English Language Learners; and Christina Kitson, associate professor of English and graduate program coordinator of English Language Learners (ELL) and Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), presented “An Interdisciplinary Fellowship to Prepare Librarians to Serve Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Populations.” Amanda Harrison, Ph.D., assistant professor of Library Science and Information Services, presented “Librarians at International Schools: An Exploratory Study.” Library Science graduate students Lizz Bishop and Lindsey Jones-Renaud presented “How Public Libraries Support Immigrants and Refugees in the United States.”

Faculty also participated in national leadership meetings. Harrison is chair-elect of the Library Research Round Table, and Kammer is chair of the Educators of School Librarians Section (ESLS). Rene Burress, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Educational Technology and Library Science, is the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) National Recognition chair.

Pictured, from left, are Jones-Renaud, Bishop, Harrison, Kammer and Burress at the ALA Poster Symposium on June 28.

Assistant Professor of Biology Publishes Book Chapter, Journal Article

Dawn Pauling, Ph.D., assistant professor of Biology, published two scientific articles in the last month. 

Pauling authored a chapter titled "Visual and molecular methods for studying pathogen persistence in flea vectors" in the book “Methods in Microbiology, Volume 58: Vector-Borne Diseases.” She also had an independent article published in the journal Pathogens titled "Environmental and Host Blood Interactions Shape Yersinia pestis Dynamics in the Rat Flea, Xenopsylla cheopis." 

Listen to Central Speaks to learn more about Pauling’s work in wildlife disease research and her role at UCM. 

Nursing Professor Emerita Advocates at the Capitol

Janice Putnam, Ph.D., R.N., adjunct instructor and professor emerita of Nursing and Health, had an exceptional month of scholarship and national advocacy. 

In addition, Putnam published her first textbook chapter this month, "Cannabis Nursing Administration: U.S. Workplace Regulations and Cannabis Case Management" in “Comprehensive Approaches to Cannabis Nursing.”

On June 26-27, Putnam attended the American Nurses Association (ANA) Member Assembly and Hill Day in Washington, D.C. Advocating with more than 400 other nurses, she served to educate and inform lawmakers regarding impactful legislation such as The Nursing Is a Professional Degree Act, The Improving Care and Access to Nurses Act, Workplace Violence Prevention, and Title VIII Nursing Workforce Programs. Serving as a delegate to set national priorities, along with the Missouri Nurses Association president-elect, executive director, and ANA membership delegate, she met with the offices of Senators Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt to discuss pivotal healthcare challenges. 

Furthermore, a policy proposal she co-authored with the American Cannabis Nurses Association, titled "Advancing Nursing Education and Patient Safety Through National Integration of Cannabis Nursing Competencies," was chosen as one of only three national policy issues formally adopted to be supported by the ANA this year.

Criminal Justice Faculty Published in Journal of Gang Research

Peculiar Awa, Ph.D., associate professor and graduate coordinator of Criminal Justice and Criminology, and Gregg Etter Sr., Ed.D., professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology, published an article in the spring edition of the Journal of Gang Research titled, "Nigerian Organized Crime: Historical Evolution, Networked Structures, and Implications for National and Global Strategy." 

The article describes organized crime and transnational criminal networks in Nigeria. Extensive research was done through Interpol and Europol, and Awa did field research in Nigeria for the article.

Honors College Course Culminates in Tour of Italy

Jasmine Cloud, Ph.D., professor of Art History, and students in her Honors College course, The Center of the World: The Idea of Rome, traded their campus classroom for the cobblestone streets of Italy from May 12-22. 

Throughout the spring semester, the students prepared by studying Rome’s history, diving into its culture and practicing their Italian. Cloud, a veteran traveler to the region, noted before departure that this cohort’s energy was unique. 

“I've taken students to Rome several times before, but I am absolutely thrilled for this trip because we've gotten to prepare for it together throughout the spring semester," she said. "Their excitement and enthusiasm for Rome's history and culture make me think this might be my best trip yet!”

Upon landing in Rome, local guides led the group on a walking tour of the neighborhood, the Pantheon and the city's church-lined piazzas before a traditional welcome dinner. In the following days, the group climbed to the top of St. Peter’s Basilica Dome for a panoramic view of the city, navigated the vast collections of the Vatican Museums, and explored the layered history of San Clemente and the Capitoline Museums.

At historic landmarks like the Ara Pacis and the Borghese Gallery and during an exclusive tour of Monte Testaccio, students took turns teaching their peers. The itinerary bridged grand monuments with intimate, sobering histories, taking the class from a day-long train excursion to the ancient, preserved streets of Pompeii, to the underground tunnels of the Catacombs of Domitilla and the historic Fosse Ardeatine.

International Students Attend Annual Good Neighbor Award Luncheon

Five international students from UCM were selected to attend the 54th annual Good Neighbor Award Luncheon, hosted in memory of President Harry S. Truman on May 12 at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. 

The students were chosen through a competitive application process that required applicants to submit essays describing how their prior experiences and contributions at UCM would enable them to benefit from the luncheon and its unique networking opportunities.

Hosted annually by the Truman Foundation, the luncheon recognizes individuals whose achievements have strengthened international understanding and goodwill. This year’s honoree was Wynton Marsalis, a world-renowned trumpeter, composer, educator, nine-time Grammy Award winner and Pulitzer Prize recipient who serves as managing and artistic director of jazz at Lincoln Center, promoting arts education, preserving America’s musical heritage and fostering cultural exchange around the world.

The Truman Foundation invites international students from colleges and universities across the region to participate in the event, providing them the opportunity to engage with distinguished leaders and professionals while gaining insight into the importance of global citizenship and community engagement.

A highlight of the luncheon was the opportunity for each student to meet personally with Marsalis during a commemorative photograph session. The photographs were shared with students, their families and hometown news media as a symbol of international friendship and the enduring value of being a good neighbor.

Pictured are, from left, Abiodun Adebola Omoike, Occupational Safety Management graduate student from Ibadan, Nigeria; Richard Opoku, Nursing undergraduate student from Ashanti Region (Kumasi), Ghana; Franklin Cochran, international student advisor; Raqshanda Siddiqua, Computer Science graduate student from Hyderabad, India; Wynton Marsalis; Mohan Vamsi Pusaala, Computer Science graduate student from Hyderabad, India; Mohammad Saifuzzaman, Cybersecurity and Information Assurance graduate student from Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Emily de Melo, assistant director of International Student Services.