Photos from The Truman Lecture Series & First Year Seminar

First year students chat with Truman Lecture speaker Richard Gergel during the interactive workshop immediately following the Truman Lecture. Kaliyah Meriwether, Coordinator for the Buchanan Initiative for Peace and Nonviolence, facilitated the workshop titled, Moving Forward.

Richard Gergel, United States District Judge and author of Unexampled Courage: The Blinding of Sgt. Woodard and the Awakening of America, shared details of the events and artifacts he discovered while writing the book.

Avila welcomed the 2021 Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecturer and author of Unexampled Courage: The Blinding of Sgt. Woodard and the Awakening of America, Richard Gergel. Pictured l to r: Moderator and Chair, Sue McCalley, Ph.D.; Richard Gergel; Ron Slepitza, Ph.D., President, Avila University; Ted Whapman, Ph.D., Vice President of Academic Affairs, Avila University.

Jabraan Pasha, MD, shared a message on Implicit Bias during First Year Seminar class. Dr. Pasha is a part of a diversity consulting firm called Lean In based in Tulsa, Oklahoma that specializes in implicit bias training.

Leslie Smith, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Chair of the Women’s and Gender Studies Department shares insights during First Year Seminar on the academic advising and registration process. Part of First Year Seminar is introducing students to skills and experiences that will help them be successful Avila students. First year Avila students listen intently to Dr. Pasha’s message on implicit bias.

There were a variety of large group sessions during First Year Seminar including an opportunity to hear from President Ron Slepitza, Ph.D. and J. Anthony Snorgrass, Ph.D., Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on issues related to student success.

As part of the First Year Experience, students participated in a variety of service projects the day before classes began. Students volunteered at various locations around Kansas City including Harvester’s, Jerusalem Farm and at the community garden located on Avila’s campus. Pictured are first year students Gavin Shipley, Jocelyn Barron and Ethan Moses harvesting raspberries.

Students volunteering at Harvester’s as part of the First Year Experience.

Blake Becker harvesting chard from the Community Garden at Avila University.

First-year students and First Year Seminar instructors gather at Jerusalem Farm to learn more about the organization and what they will be doing to help for the day.

Paige Illum, Ph.D., Director of Student Engagement and Success and Kaliyah Meriwether, Coordinator for the Buchanan Initiative for Peace and Nonviolence, join first-year students for an on-campus dinner to connect Avila students with the Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecturer and author of the 2021 Common Reading, Richard Gergel. First-year students enjoyed an engaging dinner with the Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecturer and author of the 2021 Common Reading, Richard Gergel. Pictured l to r: Michael Coffey-Crowder, Aprille Castaneda, Ellie Peoples, Richard Gergel, Brisa Campos, Angela Palma-Perez.