Author Archives: tmiles

A Match Made in Stokes

Al and Sheryl (O’Day) Tamberelli

Gold is the traditional gift for a 50th anniversary.

Al and Sheryl (O’Day) Tamberelli celebrated theirs with Pagliai’s Pizza and a Bulldogs football game. Last fall, the couple made the trip to Kirksville from their home in Aurora, Ill., to take in a game at Stokes Stadium and revisit the place where they met 50 years ago to the day.

A New Jersey native, Al came to the University to play football, but an injury had him watching the Oct. 1, 1966, football game against Pittsburg State from the stands.

“I sat behind the cutest girl with the bluest eyes, and I knew she would be ‘the one.’ I just had to find out who she was,” Al said.

The girl with the blue eyes was Sheryl O’Day, an education student from Fort Madison, Iowa, who just happened to be in Al’s English class. When he figured that out, he ended up borrowing her notes so he had a reason to meet up with her. The rest, as they say, is history. They were engaged after just three months of dating, and although Sheryl’s response to Al’s initial proposal was “I’ll get back to you on that,” they were married within two years.

Before they graduated in 1969, Al and Sheryl lived in married housing in Fair Apartments. On their return trip to Kirksville, they got to peek inside their former home, which is currently being used as office space for faculty members.

“It was nice to go in and see what was our apartment. The youngsters working there were so gracious to allow us to reminisce,” Al said.

The Tamberellis toured much of the campus the day before the game, including the “kennels” and several other buildings. They were pleasantly surprised with how the University has kept up with the times in terms of technological and academic advances while still maintaining a small-school atmosphere. They even experienced some of the community hospitality firsthand when they looked a little lost at times.

“Everyone was so welcoming, helpful and friendly and just went out of their way to make it a great visit,” Al said. “Students stopped us on campus to ask if they could help us find some place or if we needed help.”

Al and Sheryl are no strangers to exploring new places. With their two children grown, the retired educators enjoy travelling. They have visited Mexico and several island countries along with many of the U.S. states. They even lived in Europe for a while where Al coached football in Finland. They are currently planning a visit to Iceland as well as a two-month trip to see national parks from the Midwest to the west coast.

Whatever the couple decides to do, Al has some simple rules for enjoying their time together.

“Treat every day as though it was your first date. Try to make each other happier tomorrow than you did today,” he said. “Be willing to compromise and treat each other with the utmost respect. Never go out the door, go to sleep or hang up the phone without saying I love you.”

Roommates Continue Friendship for 50 Years

Alumna Linda (Moffett) Tinker (’67, ’70) recounts how bonds formed at the University have led to lifelong friendships.

In the fall of 1963, as an entering freshman at what was then Northeast Missouri State Teachers College, I was assigned to Grim Hall, a less-than-stylish building that housed about 150 students and was located on the corner of Patterson and Marion streets. My roommate was a sophomore who decided not to return after the fall quarter. I made friends with upperclassmen who lived down the hall, and we prepared to start winter quarter together.

Kerry (Ratliff) Poland and I were the only ones from Missouri, hailing from Hunnewell and Memphis, respectively. Adeline (Fosdick) Carney was from Deerfield, Ill., while Pat (Shafer) Blacksmith lived in Argyle, Iowa, and Julie Smith was a native of Middlebury, Vt.

As we neared the end of fall quarter, letters from the administration arrived informing us that Grim Hall was going to become the residence of the football team and we would be assigned to other housing. This reassignment would not allow us to live together and continue as roommates. As you can imagine, this news produced consternation and irritation within our group. Would we be broken up and assigned to various residence halls all over campus, ending our warm, close-knit lifestyle? Would we be forced into moving apart?

We formed a committee, requested a meeting with the President’s Office and made our case before the administrators. We wanted to stay together, and we wanted to move to Ryle Hall, which was brand new in the fall of 1963. I don’t remember how we made our case, but we won!

That winter quarter we moved into a suite on the third floor of Ryle Hall, but our time together was short. My parents moved to Kirksville during the summer of 1964, and I lived at home for the remainder of my college years. The other girls lived together through graduation. Although we spent only a few years together, our time at school cemented a bond that has lasted the rest of our lives. We remained in touch and made a point of getting together every five years at Kerry’s home in Wentzville, Mo. We later shortened it to every two years. Despite being spread across the country, and without the benefit of cell phones, email and social media for much of that time, we have always been there for each other.

All of us stayed in the education field. Kerry (’65, ’68) taught kindergarten in Wentzville for more than 30 years. She and her husband have travelled extensively and enjoy volunteering at their church.

Pat (’66) and her husband raised two daughters on a farm outside of Argyle. They are now the proud grandparents of seven grandchildren. Pat taught for five years until her children were born, then returned after they were in school.

Adeline (’66) taught special education for eight years and then worked as an adolescent addiction counselor until retirement. She and her husband lived in Deerfield for several years before moving to Bristol, Wis.

After teaching in Chillicothe, Mo., for a short time, Julie (’67) moved back east to Manchester, N.H. She taught elementary school and drivers’ education for more than 40 years. She now teaches adult education.

My husband and I moved to the St. Louis area where I spent 30 years at Jennings High School. We are the parents of one son and two grandchildren, and we now call Sacramento, Calif., home.

Twelve years ago our group decided to spread our reunions out to each of our homes, and in 2016 mine was the last one visited. Our stay together lasted about five days, during which we did some sightseeing, ate at local restaurants and talked. We’ve always talked a lot, but the topics changed as we aged – from future husbands, to new babies, to childcare, to empty nesters, to grandbabies and widowhood. We have faced all of life’s issues together during our biennial visits.

During our most recent get together we discussed where we should meet next year. We are considering a cruise down the Rhine River in Europe, or visiting San Francisco to see the local sights. We have some time to decide, and we’ll reach a decision – together. After all, that’s what we’ve done for 50 years, and it all began because of Truman and Grim Hall.

— LINDA (MOFFETT) TINKER (’67, ’70)

5 Minutes with Vayujeet Gokhale

When Vayujeet Gokhale kicks off his 10th year at Truman next fall, he will get to celebrate with the type of rare occurrence perfectly suited for an astronomer. The solar eclipse of 2017 will take place Aug. 21, the first day of the fall semester. Gokhale and his colleagues are working to put together a series of events to help students and community members appreciate the significance of the phenomenon. An associate professor of physics, he oversees the Truman Observatory located at the University Farm. He also teaches subjects including astronomy, astrophysics, astrobiology and meteorology. With a Ph.D. in physics from Louisiana State University, and a master’s degree in nuclear physics from the University of Bombay, Gokhale describes his path to teaching as a “series of incidents and accidents,” and acknowledges interactions with students are the most rewarding part of the job. Prior to the start of the current school year, Gokhale became a father for the first time. Away from work, he credits “Seinfeld” reruns as a key to maintaining his sanity.

How would you describe your teaching philosophy?
For introductory classes, I want the students to enjoy the content, feel comfortable asking questions and learn the basics. For advanced classes, I like to challenge students and push them beyond their comfort zone. No matter what the level of the class, my aim is always to create an environment in which the student feels motivated and excited about learning the material.

What do you like best about teaching?
Interacting with students and imparting to them whatever knowledge and wisdom I have acquired over the years. I particularly enjoy those moments when you, figuratively speaking, see the light bulb go ‘on’ in a student’s brain – a student who has been struggling, but you now know will be just fine.

What is the last thing that made you laugh?
Watching my infant baby girl make weird faces and noises, whilst her hands and legs move around in an uncoordinated way.

What is your best advice to your students?
You rarely regret what you do, but almost always regret what you do not do.

What is it like to teach a hard science at a liberal arts and sciences university?
It’s great! Some of the best students I have had in my classes are non-science majors.

What does a liberal arts background do for a student pursing a degree in a field like physics?
It broadens their horizons and teaches them humility. It gives them the chance to interact with students from very diverse majors, having very different worldviews and interests than their own. In my view, these out-of-the-classroom experiences are much more consequential in shaping the physics students’ development than what they might be exposed to in terms of course content.

Why is the August solar eclipse such a big deal?
Solar eclipses are quite rare, and total solar eclipses are even more infrequent. The solar eclipse of 2017 is most likely going to be the most watched astronomical event in human history. The path of ‘totality’ is passing right through the heart of the United States and Missouri. Kirksville will witness an almost 98 percent eclipse, and if we are fortunate to have a cloudless day this would present an exciting spectacle for everyone to enjoy. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event!

A Modern-day Renaissance Man

When Cisco Juarez settles in to study, the soundtrack that begins to filter out from his room might come as a surprise. Jazz music is a staple in Juarez’s life. Music dating back more than 100 years is probably not the most popular choice for a college junior’s playlist, but Juarez appreciates the genre’s rich history and cultural significance. His affinity for jazz can be traced back to a course he took at Truman. It’s just one of many things that his experience on campus has helped him discover about himself.

When he first arrived at Truman, Juarez had no idea what he wanted to do with his life. His high school’s international baccalaureate program pushed its students in every direction, so he was more than ready to tackle any subject. However, being so well rounded had its drawbacks.

Surrounded by other students already pursuing their goals, Juarez had too many options from which to choose. He started out his freshman year as undeclared, then proceeded to experiment by trying on different majors from across the board. He briefly flirted with the idea of studying health science in order to become a dentist.

“I thought that was the only way I could get a job,” he said.

After talking with his advisor and students from different departments, Juarez decided on public communication. He saw it as a field of study that would continue to build on his multifaceted education.

“Numerous public communication students reassured me that the major could take me in any direction I wanted,” Juarez said. “After a lot of evaluation with my academic advisor, I finally chose public communication because the field is so broad.”

Most of his personal growth, however, was found outside of the classroom. He credits joining Alpha Kappa Lambda as the foundation for his success.

“Without Greek Life, I would never have been the leader I feel that I’ve developed into today,” Juarez said. “Greek Life has helped me gain confidence that I did not know I had.”

The initiative Juarez demonstrated in his fraternity secured him additional opportunities. After he served as a committee chair for Greek Week in his sophomore year, the committee advisor quickly recognized his work ethic and commitment to the University. She nominated him for the Student Philanthropy Council, knowing his voice would be a valuable contribution.

The council works directly with the Office of Advancement to serve as a bridge between the University foundation and the student body. In his first semester in the organization, Juarez became president of the council, and one of his main objectives is to ensure the annual Student Giving Program is a success.

“Our goal is to get all students to love Truman as much as the council does,” Juarez said. “It’s important to give back in any way, large or small.”

Juarez’s hope for the future is to continue giving back to others. He is certain he wants to help people in need, whatever the cause, and with his background, he is well suited for a variety of philanthropic careers. He already has a plan in mind.

After graduation, Juarez intends on moving to San Antonio, Texas. He wants to do a year of service with City Year, an education-focused group dedicated to helping students from high-poverty communities stay in school. Ultimately, his goal is to go into nonprofit events planning.

For Juarez, the transition to San Antonio would be simple. A native of Kansas City, Mo., he never imagined himself living in a small town. He had been accepted to a more sizable university, but applied to Truman at the last minute on a whim.

“I already had a dorm picked out at another school, but in May of my senior year, I got the feeling that attending a larger university wasn’t the right decision,” he said.

Juarez’s choice to go with a more selective university rewarded him. He has grown to appreciate the small-town feel of Kirksville, and he expects it will be strange to leave Truman after he graduates. The school’s personal nature makes it easy to always find someone he knows, and he will miss how much there is to do around town.

“You definitely grow to love Kirksville,” he said. “You would think in such a small town like Kirksville you would never have anything to do, but that’s completely wrong. There’s always an event happening.”

Juarez’s extensive involvement on campus illustrates what makes Truman unique. From his time as an undecided freshman, to his final semesters as a driven campus leader, he does not hesitate to take chances, and Truman’s liberal arts environment allowed him to flourish.

“This University provides you with so many opportunities to get involved,” he said. “It’s so personal. If I had attended the other much larger university, I don’t think I would have joined any organizations on campus. Truman is different.”

– KAIN KNEIB

New Minors Offer Valuable Skills

With the start of the current school year, students had the option to declare two new minors. Child studies and design were both added to the Truman catalog, bringing the total number of available minors to 60.

The child studies minor draws together courses from many different departments across campus that focus on issues related to children. It provides students with the opportunity to focus on the physical, psychological, cognitive and social development of children; the creation and critique of art and media focused on and directed towards children; and the political debates and social policies that influence children in an interdisciplinary way.

Various courses within the Art Department comprise the new design minor. It was conceived to compliment majors in other disciplines, particularly business, communication and computer science. It gives the non-major student a well-rounded introduction to graphic design processes, visual aesthetics and a higher-than-average understanding of visual digital literacy.

More information about these new minors, as well as all of the academic programs at the University, can be found at catalog.truman.edu.

Historic Landmark Gets an Update

Truman’s iconic Red Barn was repainted in the fall, bringing new life to a community landmark.

The project first required removing the barn’s old layers of paint, and care had to be taken not to damage the frame. Once the barn was stripped down to its wood, workers were able to apply a gray coat of primer, followed by two coats of red paint.

Red Barn was first built in the early 1900s and was originally painted white. It was an important part of the agricultural curriculum. Students utilized the location as a dairy barn, processing milk to be sold to Kirksville residents.

In the 1920s, the dairy program was discontinued and for half a century the barn sat idle, used only for storage. During the 1970s, it was painted red for the first time, and the area around the barn was developed into a park.

The Red Barn Arts and Crafts Festival was first celebrated on campus in 1974, and the barn has remained a Truman landmark ever since. In total, the repainting project took about five weeks and was completed with time left to spare before last fall’s festival.

Presidential Search

The Truman State University Presidential Search Committee continues to move forward with the search for the next University president. Updates on the process can be found online at truman.edu/presidential-search, along with information on the Presidential Search Committee and the Stakeholder Advisory Committee, two groups that have been identified to represent the various constituents of the University. It is anticipated that the Board of Governors will announce the next president of Truman State University by early March 2017.

Partnership Seeks to Produce More STEM Graduates

Truman is one of only eight Missouri universities to be included in a joint $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program.

Other universities joining Truman to receive funding from the grant include Harris-Stowe State University, Lincoln University, the University of Missouri-Columbia, the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Central Missouri and St. Louis Community College. Truman students will get the chance to participate in unique activities and events taking place at the partner campuses.

As part of the grant, Truman will receive $350,000, which will be used in developing educational solutions to address a gap in the enrollment, retention and graduation rates of underrepresented students.

Missouri’s LSAMP grant aims to double the number of underrepresented minority science, technology, engineering and math graduates by 2021. Underrepresented minorities are identified by LSAMP as African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and Native Pacific Islanders.

Department of Nursing Earns $150,000 Grant

The Department of Nursing has been awarded a grant of $150,000 from the Missouri Board of Nursing and the Department of Higher Education.

Eight Missouri universities were selected to receive grants of up to $150,000 through the Nursing Education Incentive Grant to expand their nursing education programs. The grants, totaling nearly $1 million, aim to increase the number of nurses in Missouri, especially in areas where a shortage of health care professionals exists.

The funds will be used to add faculty and create new programs that will allow more students to study nursing.

Food Court Renovations Highlight Student Favorites

After closing Mainstreet Market for renovations in the summer, Truman brought four new major additions to the Student Union Building for its reopening in the fall.

Entirely remodeled to be more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable, Mainstreet Market welcomed eateries Chick-Fil-A, Mein Bowl, Slice of Life and Wholly Habaneros. The selections were made based on Sodexo’s most popular student meal choices and feature a wide variety of options.

In addition to the remodeled food court, this year has seen an increase in the number of premium nights in the semester and more extensive variety in dining hall menus.