TODAY — Winter 2014

TODAY U N I V E R S I T Y

O F

C E N T R A L

M I S S O U R I

M A G A Z I N E

Show AND Tell Vol. 13, No. 3 | ucmo.edu/today

Make Your “Benjamins” Go Further Benjamin Franklin was one of America’s wisest founders. He gave us the famous advice that ”a penny saved is a penny earned” AND he started the first matching gift program.

Benjamin is still around on the $100 bill AND so are matching gift programs. If your employer sponsors a matching gift program, your gift to UCM can go further without an extra penny from you.

Unsure if your company sponsors a matching gift program? Check with your HR office or use our searchable database at matchinggifts.com/ucmo.

CONTACT:

Fund for

U C M F o u n d at i on

Your gift to the Fund for Excellence directly impacts students’ lives and their education experience. It also strengthens UCM’s reputation for excellence and legacy of achievement so that the value of your degree remains strong! Show your support today.

UCM FOUNDATION EMAIL: GIVING@UCMO.EDU PHONE: 660-543-8000 TOLL-FREE: 866-752-7257

TODAY UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI MAGAZINE

ON THE COVER 2 SHOW AND TELL Brian Nickl’s passion for African art provides an opportunity to educate.

On the Cover: A Yoruba Gelede mask from Nigeria

6

A Home away from home

8

treating diabetes one step at a time

Six UCM students travel to Poland with Global Vision and experience the culture firsthand.

The Willard North Research Awards provide an opportunity for important undergraduate research.

10

class notes

11

in memoriam

TODAY 2014, VOL. 13, NO. 3 Published by the offices of University Relations and Alumni and Constituent Relations and the UCM Foundation. ©2014 by University of Central Missouri. All rights reserved.

Contact the editor at today@ucmo.edu or 660-543-4640.

Send your address updates to alumni@ucmo.edu or call 660-543-8000 or toll-free, 866-752-7257.

Editor Mike Greife ‘74 Design Sarah Murrill ‘97 PhotographY Bryan Tebbenkamp ’03 Class Notes Tina (Tock) Bell (fs) Today (USPS 019-888) is published quarterly by the University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO 64093.

Printed by The Ovid-Bell Press, Inc., 1201 Bluff Street, Fulton Mo. 65251. Periodicals postage paid at Warrensburg, MO, and additional offices.

A Letter from the President Staying Connected with UCM One of my priorities as University of Central Missouri president is to work with appropriate campus units to ensure accurate, timely information reaches campus stakeholders by using a variety of communication tools. As part of this effort, it has been my pleasure to reach out to different audiences through annual Tweet Chats with the President via Twitter.

I want to thank many UCM alumni who connected with me during my Tweet Chat Jan. 30 that was conducted in cooperation with University Relations staff. This was the second year for this event, and I was touched by the interest shown, not only by students who are frequent Twitter users, but by a number of alumni and other interested individuals. They posed thoughtful questions about the university and retweeted information about UCM to those who follow them on social media.

I am extremely grateful for your interest and participation and look forward to hearing from you in future events.

While Tweet Chats are one way to reach UCM constituents, our university alumni tell us that Today magazine continues to be among their primary sources of information related to their alma mater.

We are excited to share this issue with you, and we hope you continue to enjoy the success stories about our many graduates. Through Today, we also want to keep you in the loop about other important happenings at UCM that we hope you will share with others.

Joining you in service, Chuck Ambrose, President

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Today, Smiser Alumni Center, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO 64093.

To view the University of Central Missouri’s Nondiscrimination/Equal Opportunity Statement, visit ucmo.edu/nondiscrimination.

University of Central Missouri | today

1

Show AND Tell

Brian Nickl’s Passion for Collecting African Art Offers an Opportunity to Educate

By Mike Greife For Brian Nickl, art has been a lifelong passion. While it has allowed him to build a career as a graphic artist, it also has allowed him to express his appreciation for fine art in all forms by building an extensive collection of African tribal art over a period of 20 years.

After graduation from high school in St. Louis, Nickl entered the University of Central Missouri as a fine arts major. He changed his major to commercial art when he realized it might be difficult to make a living in the Midwest with a degree in fine art and received his degree from UCM in 2004.

Nickl’s interest in African art started in high school and continued during college. It was during a spring break trip to New Orleans that he purchased his first piece—an Asante Akua’ba doll— through the Charles Davis Gallery and began collecting in earnest.

“I conducted research on the piece and discovered the real purpose behind its creation was not for the aesthetic value, but for use in maternity rituals,” Nickl said. “That’s when it dawned on me that African art had not really been considered art because it didn’t adhere to classic aesthetics. It was dismissed as a mere primitive craft.”

Nickl’s collection began to grow, and he credits the avant-garde movement in modern art with bringing African art to the forefront as an aesthetic art form.

“I began to talk to people about African art, and I discovered so much that they didn’t know,” he said. “Once they understood the background and purpose of it, it made a connection in their lives, and it made more sense to them.” (continued to page 4) Brian Nickl 2

VOL. 13, NO. 3 | ucmo.edu/today

University of Central Missouri | today

3

Sheets also noted that paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson, whose work has been focused on the African continent, visited the UCM campus during one of the Nickl’s exhibits.

“Dr. Johanson walked into the museum and stopped in his tracks,” Sheets said. “He spent quite a bit of time during his visit examining the pieces in Brian’s collection. He was impressed by what he saw.”

While Nickl has yet to meet Johanson, an autographed photo of Johanson, taken while he was examining Nickl’s exhibit, hangs on the wall of Nickl’s office.

Nickl has considered additional exhibitions, but preparing for an exhibit can take three to six months. With a full-time career and a family, time for that kind of preparation can be scarce. He also noted that creating the UCM exhibits is based on the ability to present fresh pieces in each exhibit.

“Two years ago, the UCM exhibit was at least 75 percent new material from the previous exhibit,” he said. “This year’s exhibit includes about 50 percent new material.” (continued from page 3)

Nickl realized that the value of his collection was not only in the aesthetic and historic value of each piece, but also in the value it held as an opportunity to educate about the art form. He discussed the idea of an exhibit of his collection at UCM with professor emerita Neva Wood, who was then a member of the Department of Art and Design faculty. She was supportive of the idea, but the UCM Gallery of Art and Design was undergoing a renovation at that time.

“She suggested I contact Dr. John Sheets, director of the McClure Archives and UCM Museum,” Nickl said.

“John and Vivian (Richardson, assistant director and UCM’s archivist) saw the potential in an exhibit.” The first exhibit opened to the public in 2008, and since that time, Nickl has created four exhibits for the UCM Museum, one every other year.

“Brian’s exhibits have brought to campus an extraordinary example of sub-Saharan African material,” Sheets said. “He brings remarkable examples that reflect the culture of the region, along with detailed research and information. We now have faculty who work his biennial exhibits into the curriculum, and we have a large number of students who come into the museum with specific assignments about specific items.”

4

VOL. 13, NO. 3 | ucmo.edu/today

Nickl’s collection also may lead to a television appearance. When the PBS program Antiques Roadshow recently conducted an open call in Kansas City, Nickl attended with an example of a Yoruba Gelede mask from Nigeria.

“I try to stay away from the large tribal art sales,” he said. “They tend to draw museums, gallery owners and prominent collectors with deep pockets. Occasionally, the small estate sales will include a few quality pieces that I can acquire at a very reasonable price.”

“They pulled me out of the line, and several experts examined the piece and discussed it. They then took me to makeup and recorded the segment with the expert,” Nickl said. “They are to let me know when it will be broadcast.”

In an office surrounded by only a portion of his collection of an estimated 400 pieces, Nickl also notes that he works to keep new pieces coming into the collection by selling to other collectors.

Nickl noted that there isn’t a great deal of written history about the African continent.

“Much of the cultural history was either passed down verbally through folklore or depicted on ceremonial art,” he said. “As more research is being presented about these art forms, new information is coming to light.”

Throughout his two decades as a collector, Nickl acquired many pieces through galleries, museum deaccessions and estate auctions. He maintains a list of contacts and auction specialists, and he works through an online network where he can search the auction houses.

“As I acquire new artwork—pieces with welldocumented provenance or more historically significant pieces—I’m always looking for that one classic work,” he said. “I have a list of people who occasionally purchase from me, and I also supply galleries. I started collecting for aesthetic purposes, and then the personal education became the driving force for collecting. Now, I hope I’m not only educating myself, but I’m using my collection to educate others. Having all this art is wonderful, but it would be a shame not to share it with others.”

University of Central Missouri | today

5

A HOME Away

FROM

HOME

by Chelsey Buseck

6

VOL. 13, NO. 2 | ucmo.edu/today

“The eager sun rose over Reymontowka at its usual 4:30 a.m. Slowly the muffled, comforting sounds of the camp starting another day echoed down the halls – in a charming mix of Polish and English – bringing us gently out of sleep,” wrote Shelby Wells, a public relations major at the University of Central Missouri.

Wells was one of five UCM students who, along with faculty adviser Amy Jammeh, spent two weeks during summer 2013 living in Reymontowka, a manor in Poland, with the UCM Global Vision Service Learning Program. The team members taught American culture to Polish children, experienced the local customs, and were forever changed by visiting the historic site of Auschwitz.

This was Jammeh’s fourth trip leading students in volunteer missions with Global Vision. An endowment provided by an anonymous donor through the UCM Foundation created the opportunity for students to gain an international perspective while learning through service. On each Global Vision trip, Jammeh has worked with the host organization, Global Volunteers, to coordinate the opportunity.

Jammeh and a small committee look for specific traits in selecting students to make the trip. Along with good academic standing, each student needs to be committed to service and leadership. Meetings and discussions prepared the students for the trip, and the students conducted research about the country and cultures they would soon encounter.

“I attempted to learn a little of the Polish language.

I also looked over some of the teaching methods from my education courses,” noted Amanda Johnston, special education major.

Upon arrival in Poland, the students were introduced to their first Polish custom, the salt and bread welcome greeting.

Meals also were substantial and memorable, starting Polish favorites of potatoes, vegetables, meat and Nutella.

“We had pickle soup and hot dogs for breakfast, and pasta a whipped cream and blueberries,” said Megan Riff.

The food wasn’t the only thing surprising in Poland.

“We were led blind-folded into a tent, had to crawl on our knees, eat a piece of bread covered in ‘stuff’ and drink blood-colored sweet syrup,” Jammeh said.

Once the UCM students completed this summer camp

initiation created by the children, they received a diploma and began meeting and interacting with the children they would be teaching.

“The kids were so well behaved and wanted to learn everything they could about America,” said Vanessa Valdez, a computer science major. The children were enthusiastic about the arrival of the students and being able to meet “real Americans.”

The children were engaged and informed about “hot topics” in the United States. “They were very interested in what Americans consider ‘adult-like’ conversation.

Political discussion was not out of range with my 11-year-olds. They had real and factually based opinions…more so than many of my peers in the United States,” Wells said.

One of the most popular events was the Talent Show.

The UCM students put together a dance routine to the popular song “Single Ladies,” hoping to get a laugh from the audience.

A visit to the city of Siedlce provided the opportunity to meet with the county governor, Zygmunt Wielogorski.

During a trip to Warsaw, the capital of Poland, the students shopped, visited the Royal Palace and learned about the history of the city. The group then spent the evening in Krakow.

As part of the UCM Global Vision Service Learning Program, and in accordance with the wishes of the anonymous donor, the two-week agenda also included a day trip to Auschwitz, the Nazi concentration camp.

“To me, the most memorable part included the seven hundred tons of hair on display from the shaved heads of the victims,” said Erica Coats, social studies education major. The group spent three hours touring, observing and comprehending the massive amount of history at the site 37 miles outside of Krakow. “To see history so bluntly in front of you is very real and heavy,” Johnston said.

The students agreed they had gained a better understanding of the history of Poland.

“This experience made me realize that this kind of thing is still going on. I want to get more involved with organizations trying to stop this hate; I never want this to happen again,” Wells said.

For a few of the students, the trip to Poland was their first time out of the United States. Now, all five have had the opportunity to gain a new perspective of the world, creating memories and learning lessons on the way. “I view traveling different now. Simply being a tourist seems ordinary compared to serving alongside the native people,” Johnston said.

University of Central Missouri | today

7

Treating Diabetes: One Step at a Time Willard North Research Award Opens Up Possibilities

By Chelsey Buseck

W

hen researching one of the most prevalent and deadly diseases of our time, Anna Schwartz was determined to hurdle every obstacle to find a solution.

Schwartz’s goal as a graduate student in the University of Central Missouri’s nutrition Anna Schwartz and kinesiology program was to scrutinize the effects of exercise on diabetes, a silent killer of 231,404 Americans annually. First, she needed a faculty member’s oversight; next she needed funding.

She achieved her first goal quickly, recruiting faculty member Steve Burns, the department’s graduate coordinator, who has an extensive background in researching diabetes and exercise in older adults.

Funding was a different story. At Burns’ suggestion, Schwartz applied for a Willard North Graduate Research Award.

Sponsored by the UCM Foundation, the official fundraising arm of the university, these competitive grants are the only campus research funding source for graduate students. Gifts to the UCM Foundation

8

VOL. 13, NO. 3 | ucmo.edu/today

started the awards in 1989 in memory of Willard “Will” North, professor emeritus of psychology and quite possibly the university’s first research director.

North came to campus in 1961, after serving as a psychological researcher for the U.S. Air Force Willard North from 1951-1957. Soon after, he received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a master’s degree in industrial psychology from Purdue University. He retired in 1989 and died a few months later.

Harold Sampson, dean emeritus of the School of Graduates Studies and Extended Campus, remembers North for his honesty and kindness.

“When advising graduate research projects, Dr. North was extremely knowledgeable in the area of statistics.

When it came to working with a student or staff member, he was a good listener and was always willing to find time to work with them,” Sampson said.

North’s daughter, Kendra Brandes, recalled her father “loved helping others with research design. His passion was making sense of the data. That is why the award was established. It was a way of continuing his desire to help others.”

Brandes graduated from University High in 1969, completed a bachelor’s degree from UCM in 1974 and is now an associate professor of family and consumer sciences at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. Another daughter, Michele North Easterling, remembered an encounter with one of her father’s former students.

“I met a person in North Carolina about 15 years ago who had my dad for a professor, and he could not say enough about him. This man went on about how much my dad helped him in school, what a great person he was, and that he had made a great impact on his life.

That made me happy to hear as his daughter,” she said.

Easterling, who graduated from University High in 1972 and earned a bachelor’s degree in 1976 in foods and nutrition, is now a dietitian with the Durham County Health Department in North Carolina.

The award was established by gifts from North’s wife, Alice, his family, friends and colleagues to promote and encourage the “highest levels of graduate research and scholarship investigation.”

The awards have provided funding for such graduate student research topics as differences in reporting HIV

status, the presence and location of microorganisms, female preferences in mate selection, and aerobic training on insulin sensitivity. One of the latest projects is communication major Carli Wrisinger’s project, “Linking Monomyth and Video Games: How the Legend of ‘Zelda’ Connects Myth to Modern Media.”

Schwartz’s study, “Moderate Intensity Exercise and Postprandial Glucose Excursions in Diabetic Individuals,” examined the effects of exercise in diabetic people compared to a lack of exercise in healthy individuals.

“Diabetes occurs when your body cannot produce a sufficient amount of insulin – causing blood glucose (sugar) levels to rise higher than normal,” said Schwartz, whose research and two UCM degrees, a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education in 2010 and a Master of Science in Kinesiology in 2012, helped her become fitness and wellness coordinator at the University of Kansas.

For her study, participants wore a glucose monitor for three to four days. “During that time, they closely monitored what they ate and their blood glucose values,” she said. “Then, each subject began an eight-week period where they performed moderate intensity aerobic exercises three to five days a week for 30 to 45 minutes.

“The monitors and testing strips were expensive, and we needed so many of them! I have done studies in the past where I have had to fund parts of it myself. Receiving this grant helped my study out tremendously,” she noted.

Diabetes is often referred to as the silent disease. If left untreated, it can cause damaging effects on the body such as heart and kidney disease, high blood pressure, blindness or even a stroke. Researchers have found that type II diabetes can be managed through moderate exercise and a healthy diet.

“I wanted to show that even just walking keeps you healthy and prevents this kind of disease from progressing,” said Schwartz, who found something unexpected when she analyzed her survey results after 18 months.

“Though there was no statistical significance in my results, what we did find was that those participating in exercise were able to decrease the amount of medicine they were taking for their blood glucose to be stabilized,” she explained.

“Exercise is important for all shapes and sizes regardless if you are diabetic or not,” she said. “If anything, the results of my study found that if you are not physically active you are at a greater risk for developing a type of diabetes.”

University of Central Missouri | today

9

AWARDS & HONORS

CLASS NOTES

1950-1959 Dick Edwards ’54 and his wife, Elda (Haile) ’54, reside at Turkey Creek Ranch Resort in Theodosia, Mo. They celebrated their 60th anniversary in August 2013.

1960-1969 Stephen Corey ’69 retired from his practice as a psychologist. He and his wife, Cathy, now reside in Cape Coral, Fla.

1970-1979 Daniel Huggins ’71 has been in the lawn service industry for more than 40 years. He and his wife, Mary, have one grandson. They reside in Florissant, Mo. Linda Edwards-Paul ’73, ’78 is the academic coordinator at 500 Reach Community Learning Center in Kansas City, Kan. 500 Reach is a high school diploma completion program for adults. She and her husband, Kevin, and son, Jake, reside in Raytown, Mo. Penny Koerner ’78, ’80 is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel. She is now the director of curriculum for the Theater Logistics Officers course at the Army Logistics University in Fort Lee, Va. She resides in Richmond, Va.

1980-1989 Ronald Walker ’81, ’84 had a painting, Barbie Q, published in the fall edition of the Minetta Review, a publication of New York University. He also has artwork published in the Hidden Treasure Art Magazine Yearbook 2014, has three works published in the magazine, Gambling the Aisle, and one piece published in the Spring 2014 Minetta Review. His three person show of miniature works opened in February at the Mesa Gallery 10

VOL. 13, NO. 3 | ucmo.edu/today

in Citrus Heights, Calif., and a solo exhibit opened in March in Ventura, Calif. He resides in Orangevale, Calif.

Frank Rodman ’85 is loan compliance officer at The Bank of Missouri in Perryville, Mo. He spent 24 years in public service, the last 12 with the Missouri Attorney General. He was recently promoted to the rank of colonel in the Missouri Air National Guard. where he serves as the state staff judge advocate. He and his wife, Lisa, reside in Jackson, Mo. Buck Sommerkamp ’87 is a senior user experience designer/ developer at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. He and his partner, John, reside in Kansas City, Mo.

1990-1999 Craig Hacker ’90 works for CMP Specialty Products in Charlotte, N.C. He focuses on driving sales through education and on-site project support.

Eric Walkenbach ’97 married Holly Wolfe in 2010.

He is assistant grocery manager at Gerbes Super Store in Jefferson City, Mo. He has two sons, Nicholas and Andrew.

2000-2009 Melissa (Lien) Henderson ’00 received her Master of Arts and Reading Specialist certificate from Lindenwood University in December. Her husband, Scott ’00, recently started the MBA program at Lindenwood University. They reside in O’Fallon, Mo. Melissa (Watrous) Huenefeldt ’02, ’06 received the designation of Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society.

She has been promoted at Lockton Companies to assistant manager of casualty analytics.

She and her husband, Shawn, reside in Olathe, Kan.

Kristin Fitzsimmons ’05 is the co-producer and host of the comedic YouTube series, What Did You Look Up on Wikipedia?

She resides in Minneapolis, Minn.

Ian Kuklenski ’06 owns a furniture company, Unlocked Furniture, which donates desks and chairs to areas of need around the world. He resides in Kansas City, Mo. Megan Wellborn ’07 married Michael Freese on Oct. 4, 2013. She is the assistant director of sports marketing with the University of Missouri. The couple resides in Glasgow, Mo. Nikki Redington ’07 and Mark Sweigard were married on Sept. 27, 2013. Mark works for a construction company and Nikki is a designer at Sheppard’s Business Interiors in Omaha.

Stacy (Calcote) Williamson ’07 was elected as the state president elect of the Missouri State Teachers Association at their convention in November.

She will serve three years. She and her husband, Shawn, reside in Kansas City.

Ryan Vossen ’08 is vice president and credit administration officer of The Callaway Bank in Fulton, Mo. He and his wife, Jessica, and son, Cale, live in Jefferson City.

Kaitlin (Gants) Cruise ’09 and her husband, Doug, announce the birth of Ethan Douglas. The family resides in Clarksville, Tenn.

Maria Mendoza ’10 is a support analyst for Cerner Corporation. She resides in Kansas City, Mo. Amy Spoede ’11 married Oliver Bamaca Rodriguez on Aug. 17, 2013. The couple resides in Kansas City, Mo.

1970-1979 Joyce Kinkead ’75, ’77 is a professor of English at Utah State University. She was named the 2013 Professor of the Year for the state of Utah at a ceremony on Nov. 14 in Washington, D.C. She was one of 300 nominated and among 30 that were given the award.

She resides in Hyde Park, Utah.

In Memoriam

1940-1949

Carole A. Ladd ’78, ’87

Friends

Ken R. Brown

Clint J.F. Hammer ’41

David V. Pearson ’78, ’84

Fern Beardsley

Kenneth Roger Brown, 75, Warsaw, Mo., died Dec. 26, 2013. He was the father of the late Bart Brown, an esteemed flight instructor at UCM who died in 2008.

Cornelius J. Koester ’48

David V. Brydon

1980-1989

Emil B. Feutz

1950-1959

Launa L. Boston ’80

B. Stephen Gallo

Richard D. Price ’50

Rhonda L. Manthei ’80

Patricia L. Geren

W. Richard Zink ’50

Bruce M. Thezan ’80

Ira L. Hall

Winifred Strahan ’53

Gary W. Armstrong ’81

Milfred E. Hall

Glenn A. Thomas ’55

Donald S. Caccamise ’81

Ruth Ann Hall

Virginia L. McDonald ’56

Kristi M. Bjerrum ’85

Ronald R. Hudgens

Harold L. Myers ’57

Alan L. Bolin ’88

Ethel D. Jackson

Mary F. Rogers ’59

Launa L. Boston ’88

William E. James

Susan E. West ’88

John P. Kennedy

Paula S. Rumsey ’89, ’96

Lashley T. McDaniel Jr.

1960-1969

Geraldine Mergener

Etha E. Andruss ’60 Stanley H. Wilbers ’60

1990-1999

Hilda Eileen Middleton

William H. Wingfield ’60

Ralph David Talik ’94

Eileen Moeller

Ken Brown ’61

Wendell Booker ’99, ’00, ’02

Jack L. Pinkston Joyce E. Ralston

Blanche Haines ’61 Eula J. Miller ’62

2000-2009

John P. Simon

Marilyn S. Colster ’63

Doris M. Whitlock

Lorene McCue ’63

Thomas Casey McCausland ’04

Daniel J Byrne ’64

Andrew John Hoehne ’05

Sara Jeannie Foster ’64

Steven C. Larimore ’05

Richard J. Sporleder ’65

Trenton L. Rhea ’06

William A. Geis Jr. ’67

Shawna Jeane Branam ’07 Casey Stundebeck ’09

1970-1979 Sharon Kay O’Laughlin ’70

Current Students

Terry P. Weyant ’70

Erin Hook

David B. Ephland ’71

Natalie A. Niavarani

Susan E. Reavis ’71

Jennifer Reeder

Glenn R. Swalm ’71, ’74 Thomas C. Hayes ’72

College High Alumni

James T. Brown ’73

Katherine S. Kridler ’43

Steve E. Koroch ’74

Anna Lee Rider ’49

John W. Browning ’75

Dorothy Ellen Brockhaus ’51

Shirley L. Moles ’75

Mary L. Landers ’54

Rebecca G. Allred ’76 Sharon L. Click ’77

Former Students

John David Haldiman ’77

C. Scott Duffey

Wallace F. Misterek ’77

Dewey N. Ohms

Robert A. Blackhall ’78

Ernest B. Porter

Victor E. Williams

Ken Brown was born Dec. 27, 1937, to Earl and Inez Adair Brown. He graduated from Leeton High School in 1956 and received a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from UCM in 1961.

On Nov. 29, 1958, he married Martha Burford. They made their home in Warrensburg, moving to Warsaw in 1960. Ken was the industrial arts instructor for Warsaw High School for eight years. In 1968, he obtained his real estate broker’s license and began Village Realty in Warsaw.

Ken was very civic minded and loved his home of Warsaw, having served as city alderman and mayor. He was a member of the Warsaw Lion’s Club and had been a Cub Scout leader and Eagle Scout. He also was involved in politics, including serving as chair of the Benton County Democratic Committee, on the Senatorial District #21 Democratic and the Missouri State Democratic Board.

He served as chair of the Whiteman Base Community Council for 12 years and was a member of the State Fair Community College Board of Trustees.

He is survived by his wife, Martha, of the home; one brother, Dennis Brown of Stover, Mo.; several nieces and nephews; and other relatives and many friends.

Memorials are suggested to the Bart Brown Scholarship Fund, UCM Foundation, Smiser Alumni Center, Warrensburg, Mo. 64093 or online at ucmo.edu/giveonline.

University of Central Missouri | today

11

In Memoriam

Jackie Hultquist Jacqueline Ann “Jackie” Hultquist, 89, professor emerita of teacher education, died Jan. 20, 2014, at her home in Bakersfield, Calif.

She was born Sept. 15, 1924, in Washington, Iowa, to Cecil and Helen Korf. She married Glen F. Hultquist in 1945. They later divorced. She attended Olds consolidated school and graduated from Olds High School in 1942.

Hultquist received a bachelor’s degree in history from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1945, then taught 19 years at Olds and WACO high schools in Iowa. She next earned a master’s degree in social studies and a doctorate in educational curriculum at the University of Northern Colorado in Greely.

She joined the UCM faculty in 1972, eventually serving as chair of the teacher education department. She retired in 1988.

In addition to her professional education, Hultquist was a member of the Olds American Legion Auxiliary from 1945 until she died. She was Iowa State Legion Auxiliary president from 1959 to 1960, Central Division National vice president, education director of Iowa Girl’s State and director Girl’s Nation in Washington, D.C. She also was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority.

After retiring in Bakersfield, she was active in the 60+ Club of California State University. She is survived by her special friend of 40 years, Marie Ice of Bakersfield.

Patricia M. Kamerman Patricia M. Kamerman, 89, professor emerita of English and former College High teacher, died Nov. 8, 2013.

She earned an associate degree in 1944 from Cottey College in Nevada, Mo., before studying at the University of Arkansas where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 1949 and a master’s degree in 1963. She also received a doctorate degree from Oklahoma State University and an education specialist degree from UCM in 1970.

For 10 years, she taught at the university’s College High, joining the UCM faculty in 1974 as coordinator of the learning center and assistant professor of English. She retired as professor emeritus of English in the Educational Development Center in 1985.

Chi-Ling Lee Chi Ling Lee, retired professor of economics, died Dec. 24, 2013.

Lee earned an undergraduate degree in 1944 from the National Central University of China and a doctorate degree in 1957 from the University of Wisconsin. After teaching 12

VOL. 13, NO. 3 | ucmo.edu/today

six years at the University of Wisconsin, he joined the UCM faculty in 1966.

He retired from UCM in 1986. His primary research interest was the flexible exchange rate system.

Timothy D. Murdock Timothy D. Murdock, 66, Warrensburg, Mo., a 1971 UCM alumnus and former president of the UCM Alumni Association Board of Directors, died Jan. 3, 2014.

Murdock was born April 27, 1947, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of Charles A. and Virginia (Gatchell) Murdock III. As a student at UCM, he sold his first insurance policy. After he graduated in sociology, he worked two years for Dun and Bradstreet before returning to Warrensburg in 1973 to join the financial services industry.

He founded Murdock Banner Financial Group, which was recognized by Barron’s magazine as one of the nation’s top independent advisers. He was the senior partner and wellknown for advising many UCM staff and faculty on retirement planning. He was an active community volunteer, serving as chair of the local United Way and American Red Cross.

He also served on the board of the Western Missouri Medical Center.

He was united in marriage to Paula J. (Erwin) Neal in 1974.

They resided in the country just outside of Warrensburg, where they raised two children, Brian and Tiffany.

Survivors include his wife Paula; son Brian Neal of Overland Park; daughter Tiffany Driver of Pleasant Hill, Mo.; two brothers, Charles A. Murdock IV of Springfield, Mo.; and Dan Murdock of Liberty, Mo.; six grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Susan Lee Pentlin Susan Lee Pentlin, professor emerita of modern languages, died Dec. 25, 2013. She was known for her work in the classroom and her research on the history of German teaching and the Holocaust. She dedicated more than 34 years to UCM and its students.

Pentlin graduated summa cum laude from UCM in 1968, majoring in French. She earned a master’s degree in German language and literature from the University of MissouriColumbia and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of Kansas in Lawrence.

She joined the faculty at UCM in 1970 and retired in 2005.

She was a Fulbright Exchange Teacher in Freising, West Germany, from 1973 to 1974, a Fulbright Summer Seminar presenter in 1977; and a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence in 1986-1987.

In addition to teaching in the modern languages department, she was an active participant in numerous university committees, scholarly research and professional service activities.

Pentlin was a champion for human rights issues and spoke out against racism and sexism as it applied to the collegiate atmosphere. Pentlin took pride in having been at the first campus meetings on women’s issues and serving on the first women’s studies committee. She was involved in the “Women in Contemporary Society” symposium series that brought the Nobel Prize for Peace winner Betty Williams and Pulitzer Prizewinning poet Carolyn Kizer to campus in 1986.

She served from 1996 through 2012 on the 4th District, Missouri Commission of Human Rights and became its longest serving commissioner. Her abiding research interest was the Jewish Holocaust, an area in which she worked on for more than 60 years. She presented papers nationally and internationally: twice at Oxford as well as in Berlin, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Prague. She was a prolific scholar of articles and reviews in numerous journals as well as having edited a book and was working on a biography at the time of her death. She was particularly interested in the story of Holocaust survivor Bronia Roslawowski and wrote extensively about Holocaust denial.

Survivors include her husband, Floyd; a sister Linda Pietila of Carrolton, Texas; brother Mark Riddle; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Joseph J. Snoble Joseph J. Snoble, 82, retired UCM professor, died Nov. 19, 2013.

He was born Feb. 11, 1931, in Center Point, Iowa, the son of Joseph and Rose (Novak) Snoble. He graduated in 1949 from Hazelton High School in Iowa. In 1951 he volunteered in the U.S. Army First Calvary Division during the Korean War and spent two years overseas.

In 1958 he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls.

In 1960, he returned to Iowa State Teachers College where he earned a master’s degree in education before continuing at the University of Iowa where he received a doctorate in science education in 1967. That fall he moved his family to Warrensburg and started his teaching career at Central Missouri. He retired as a full professor in 1997.

workshops for the teachers where he provided knowledge and materials that were used to create inexpensive teaching apparatus.

Joe is survived by his wife of 58 years, Georgia (Meyer) Snoble; daughter Kris of Lawson, Mo., son Scott of West Lafayette, Ind.; two sisters, Elizabeth Walker of Crescent, Okla., and Julia Tschopp of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, along with several nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the UCM Foundation, Smiser Alumni Center, Warrensburg, MO 64093.

Harold B. Van Cleave Harold Buford Van Cleave, 85, professor emeritus of agriculture, died Dec.18, 2013.

He was born Nov. 27, 1928, son of Kenneth and Margaret Robinson Van Cleave. He married Erma Jean Beeney in 1951, and they had four children: Lanus, Marcia, Connie and Michael.

A member of the National Agricultural Mechanics Teachers Association, he earned two degrees from Kansas State University: a bachelor’s in 1950 and master’s in 1963. In 1972, he earned a doctorate in education from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Van Cleave dedicated more than 40 years of his life to teaching agriculture, retiring after 27 years as professor emeritus of agriculture. Prior to UCM, he taught high school vocational agriculture in Erie and Arkansas City.

From 1951 to 1953, he was a counter intelligence special agent in the U.S. Army. He was also a judge for the FFA National Agriculture Mechanics Contest, where his service and expertise were acknowledged with honorary degrees by local, state and national chapters of the FFA. He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Erma, and his daughter Marcia.

Survivors include a daughter, Lanus Setser of Peculiar, Mo.; daughter Connie Freeman of High Ridge, Mo.; son Michael Van Cleve of St. Louis; brother Kenneth Van Cleave Jr; several grandchildren; one great-grandson; and many nieces and nephews.

During his career at UCM, he sponsored Sigma Zeta, National Science and Mathematics honor society, and hosted the annual stargazing and ice cream socials. He gave presentations at several National Science Teachers Association national conferences. He enjoyed working with elementary science educators as he traveled the state conducting science experiments for the students and University of Central Missouri | today

13

Periodicals Postage PAID at Warrensburg, MO and Additional Mailing Offices

415 East Clark Street Warrensburg, MO 64093-2324

We’re Engaging Mules Everywhere and a few penguins, too

Our alumni are going places and showing their UCM pride, even to locations like Antartica, which is where Mary Jo Thomson ’74 took this picture, complete with glaciers, penguins and Flat MO! Now social media provides an even quicker and faster way for our alumni to engage with each other and to UCM. In addition to Facebook and LinkedIn, we’ve added Twitter, Instagram and Text Connect.

To find us, simply visit ucmo.edu/social. There you will find our latest links plus a wide selection of university and department sites.

So many exciting things are happening with the university: national athletic titles, student achievements, building growth, tuition packages for military and neighboring states. And that’s only a few things. It’s a great time to be a Mule!