College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2015 Newsletter * Volume 18, Issue 1
Mission Statement for CHPA
The faculty of the College of Humanities and Public Affairs helps students to understand the nuances of social and
political structures, criminal justice, culturally-based ethical and interpersonal behavior, religious systems, and economic processes within a global, historical, and contemporary context. CHPA presents the concepts contained in
the University’s Public Affairs mission and applies them to real-world problems and situations so that our students
will be better prepared to become citizens and leaders.
Focus on
Dean’s Corner: Dean Victor H. Matthews
Spring 2015
In this final issue of the CHPA Newsletter, I want to begin by thanking
Jane Terry for the wonderful job she has done as compiler, designer, and editor.
She has devoted many hours to each issue and transformed it into an effective
and visually exciting vehicle for telling the college’s story each semester. In addition to providing information on faculty, I am happy to say that we have been
able to feature many stories about our current students and our alumni. As we
transition to a college blog (http://blogs.missouristate.edu/chpa/), we will be able
to tell these stories in a more timely manner and I would encourage you to check
the blog often in order to keep up with the exciting things that happen throughout the year. In fact, you can assist us with this by submitting information on
your own accomplishments. With the state now mandating that universities do
a better job of tracking their graduates, the time you take to send us information on what you
have been up to since graduation will help us accomplish that goal. You can simply send your
updates to [email protected] and then watch the blog to learn more about your fellow
graduates and the impact that are having on their communities, the nation, and the world.
As we come to the end of another academic year, we say goodbye to our graduating
seniors and wish them well as they begin their professional lives or go on to graduate school. We
also say goodbye to faculty, who have made the decision to retire and start a new phase of their
lives. For example, Dr. Jim Moyer, who has been a member of the History and the Religious
Studies faculty for 45 years is retiring at the end of the spring semester. I hope that those of you
who had him in class or in some way were touched by his teaching or advice will write
him with your best wishes. I also hope you will send me feedback on the stories in the
newsletter or questions about college events, faculty, and students. Feel free to write me
([email protected]) or visit the campus and I will arrange a tour or a
chance to bring you up to date. Now as we anticipate the prospects or another spring and
summer, I wish you well and look forward to hearing from you.
College
of Humanitiesand
and Public
Public Affairs
College
of Humanities
Affairs
Inside This Issue:
Fall 2014
2 2
Spring
2015Page
Page
Page:
Dean’s Corner ........................................................................................................................... 1
Letter from the Editor.............................................................................................................. 2
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
- CHPA Students Follow Their Passion, Find Their Place ........................................ 3
- CHPA Faculty Awards and Honors ............................................................................ 6
- CHPA Recent Events .................................................................................................... 7
College News
Criminology & Criminal Justice ..................................................................................... 8
Defense & Strategic Studies ..........................................................................................10
Economics........................................................................................................................11
History ..............................................................................................................................12
Missouri Archaeological Society ...................................................................................13
Military Science/ROTC .................................................................................................14
Philosophy .......................................................................................................................15
Political Science ...............................................................................................................15
Religious Studies..............................................................................................................18
Sociology & Anthropology............................................................................................22
CHPA Giving...........................................................................................................................26
Letter from the Editor
This, our spring 2015 CHPA Newsletter, is the final edition to be
edited and composed by me. We are pleased to announce our new format,
the CHPA Blog: http://blogs.missouristate.edu/chpa/, edited by Ms.
Laurie Wilson, Executive Assistant II to the Dean, CHPA.
Many thanks to Dr. Victor Matthews for allowing me to serve the
College and the University in this way for the past six years. It has truly been a
pleasure to promote our College and to applaud you, our faculty, students, and
staff, on your dedication and success. You all are awesome!
From now on, please send your news items to Laurie Wilson,
[email protected], for inclusion in the CHPA Blog, and continue
our tradition of serving the University and Springfield communities through
academic excellence and community engagement!
~ Jane Terry (MSU Religious Studies)
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2015 Page 3
CHPA Students
Follow Their Passion,
Find Their Place!
Students and alumni of the College of Humanities and
Public Affairs share their success stories with us.
Have a success story of your own? Send your story and photos to [email protected].
CHPA Students
Awarded Citizen
Scholar Honor
A breakfast was held on Friday, 12
December 2014, to congratulate the winners of the
Board of Governors Citizen Scholar Award. 20142015 Recipients included two from the College of
Humanities and Public Affairs: Jordan McGee, Economics, and Samantha Nichols, Religious Studies.
Attending the award breakfast were the nominators
of the winners, including Dr. Mahua Mitra, Professor of Economics (Mr.
McGee), and Dr. Stephen Berkwitz, Department Head, Religious Studies
(Ms. Nichols); as well as MSU President Clif Smart, the Board of Governors,
Citizen Scholars’ guests, and others.
Mr. McGee is a senior from Ellisville, MO, majoring in Economics
and Organizational Communication, and he plans to work in the financial
industry, possibly with a financial advising group. Mr. McGee was accompanied by his parents, Michael and Kim McGee, his brother, Justin McGee, and
Justin’s wife, Jen McGee.
Ms. Nichols is a senior from Stillwell, Kansas, majoring in Religious
Studies with a minor in Ozark Studies. She plans to attend seminary, pursue
ordination, and blend her passions for ministry, interfaith activism, and nonprofit work. Ms. Nichols’ guests were her parents, Joel and Jessica Nichols,
and her friend, James Gilmore.
The Citizen Scholar Award was initiated in 2007 as a special Board
of Governors program to recognize outstanding citizen scholars at Missouri
State University, recognized for their stellar achievements with academics,
community engagement, and leadership. Citizen Scholar nominations may
be made by Missouri State University faculty and staff members each fall. For
more information on the award and how to nominate students for the next
cohort, please see http://studentaffairs.missouristate.edu/citizenscholaraward.htm.
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2015 Page 4
CHPA Students Follow Their Passion, Find Their Place!
DSS Student Phil Heaver
Interns at Lockheed Martin
Phil Heaver (at left), M.S. candidate in Defense and Strategic Studies (DSS), is currently interning with Lockheed Martin in the Washington D.C. area. He has previously
worked in other public policy related sectors, such as research institutions and in the legislative branch, but found this unique opportunity within the defense contracting community.
At Lockheed Martin, Mr. Heaver works within its Washington Operations sector, responsible for government and customer outreach, specifically in support of the company’s space
and missile defense portfolio.
The position allows him to build upon the knowledge he attained from the exceptional coursework of the DSS
program What makes this graduate program so special is that it provides students with a foundation to succeed in the
national security arena via its highly qualified staff and practical style coursework. Mr. Heaver noted, “By pursuing my
degree with MSU, I have been exposed to opportunities that I never knew existed.”
Political Science Alumnus Promoted to Director
Daniel Bogle (at right), 2013 B.S. Political Science and 2014 Master of Public
Administration, was promoted to the position of Director of Member Relations and Communications for the Missouri Grocers Association. Mr. Bogle has worked for the MGA
as their Government Relations Coordinator for the past year and will now assume the
responsibilities of managing the MGA’s electronic newsletter, print magazine, social media,
and membership services while also coordinating a lobbying event at the state capitol in
Jefferson City and the association’s annual trade show.
Mr. Bogle wrote in an e-mail to PLS Department Head George Connor and
CHPA Dean Victor Matthews, “Thank you for everything both of you have invested in
me and other students, and I can say with confidence that it has placed me in a position
to succeed through both the education that made our state director confident that I could hold the position and the
personal connections that would not have been possible without programs such as the Legislative Internship.”
Religious Studies Major Selected for Conference
Senior Religious Studies major Nii Addo Abrahams (at left), was recently selected
as one of four undergraduate scholars to present their own research at the University of
Texas’ G. Howard Miller Undergraduate Panel in Religious Studies. Mr. Abraham submitted a paper entitled “Religious Rhetoric: Case Studies in Franklin D. Roosevelt and
George W. Bush.” The panel, which is to take place April 10-12, will be a part of a larger
conference at the University of Texas at Austin called “Building Bad: The Construction of
Evil in Religious Discourse.” The attending undergraduate scholars will have the opportunity to connect with current graduate students from around the country, faculty members
from the University of Texas, and the conference’s three keynote speakers: Jo Ann Hackett (Professor of Middle Eastern Studies and Religious Studies at the University of Texas
at Austin), Arlene M. Sánchez-Walsh (Associate Professor of Church History and Latino/a Church Studies), and Peter
Machinist (Hancock Professor of Hebrew and Other Oriental Languages at Harvard University).
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2015 Page 5
CHPA Students Follow Their Passion, Find Their Place!
Alumna One of Five Women in Army with
Three-star Rank
Lt. Gen. Karen E. Dyson (at left, center), graduated Missouri State
University 1980, made Army history in August when she became the
first female finance officer to achieve the three-star rank. Lt. Gen. Dyson,
who commissioned Regular Army, Finance Branch, from MSU’s Military Science/ROTC, is the military deputy for budget to the assistant
secretary of the Army (financial management and comptroller).
Lt. Gen. Dyson joins a small group of women who have earned the
rank of lieutenant general: There are currently four other female threestars serving in the Army.
See the full article at the Missouri State magazine spring 2015 issue:
http://magazine.missouristate.edu/2015/01/26/alumna-one-of-five-women-in-army-with-three-star-rank/
History Alumna New Assistant Director of Passages
Ashley Carter (at right), 2013 B.A. in History with a Religious Studies minor, has
recently accepted a position as the new Assistant Director of the Museum of the Bible: Passages. The museum, a traveling exhibit that was in Springfield last year and is now opening in California, is home to the Green Collection, the largest private collection in the world of Biblical
manuscripts and artifacts (over 40,000) that will eventually be housed in Washington, D.C. at
the new National Bible Museum.
Ms. Carter specifically credits History Assistant Professor, Dr. Butler, for her encouragement and teaching.
Student Lands Homeland Security Internship
Terri A. Smith, graduate student in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, was awarded an internship with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at the Federal Law Enforcement Training
Center in Georgia. Training programs offered at the center include intelligence methodology, analytical skills,
and research techniques aimed at effective collection, analysis, and sharing of intelligence data. The internship
session will last twelve weeks.
Leadership Talk by Religious Studies Alumna
Sarah Klaassen (at left), 2006 B.A. Religious Studies, 2009 M.Div.Vanderbilt University,
spoke to a full room of students, athletes, and community members on March 26 as part of the
“Faith and Life Matters” speaker series hosted by the United Ministries in Higher Education. Ms.
Klaassen, the Community Organizer of Central Missouri Community Action, Mennonite Pastor,
and ordained Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister, spoke on “Leadership: Life as a Vocation Not a Job,” tying her basketball career (Lady Bears 2002-06), her education, and vocation
together. For more information on the series, visit www.UMHE.org.
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2015 Page 6
Congratulations to
Our CHPA Faculty!
Excellence in Community Service
Awards to CHPA Faculty
Two faculty members in the College of Humanities and Public Affairs have been
awarded the Faculty Excellence in Community Service Award: Lora Hobbs (at left, above),
Senior Instructor in Religious Studies, and Paula Rector (at left, below), Senior Instructor in
Criminology. The Excellence in Community Service Awards are presented annually to faculty and staff to recognize excellence in volunteer work with charitable, nonprofit, church, or
similar organizations within the community. The recipients will be formally recognized at the
All-Faculty Recognition Reception on May 5, 2015, 3:00 p.m. in the Plaster Student Union
Ballroom.
The Missouri State University Foundation will fund up to four $1,000 cash awards,
two designated for staff and two designated for faculty. All full time faculty and staff with at
least three years of service at the University are eligible for the award. Congratulations to our
excellent faculty!
Other CHPA faculty members
and students are regularly recognized
on the Public Affairs Spotlight. Among
the stories highlighted on the page include: Dr. David Johnson (at near
right), Associate Professor in Political Science; Dr. Lorene Stone (at far right),
Professor in Sociology; Allyssa Miget, Graduate Student, Master of Public
Administration; and Scott Berndt, Economics major (Mr. Berndt’s story is on
page 11)
The University and our College are proud to note their achievements
and contributions to our community! Check the Spotlight page for more
information: http://publicaffairs.missouristate.edu/spotlight.htm
Sociology Instructor Earns CSP Credential
Christina Ryder (at right), Instructor of Sociology and Assistant Director for the
Center for Social Science and Public Policy Research, was recently awarded the Certified
Sociology Practitioner Credential (CSP) by the Association for Applied and Clinical Sociologists (AACS). Certification is a designation awarded by the AACS to experienced professional
sociological practitioners who demonstrate excellence in their practice of applied, clinical, or
public sociology. Practicing sociologists with either a Master’s or Doctoral degree may apply for certification by the Association of Applied and Clinical Sociology. The certification is
based upon accomplishments in both research and service.
Ms. Ryder’s application materials were approved in September of 2014 and consisted
of research work and service in the areas of nonprofit development and nonprofit evaluation research. She presented her
portfolio at the AACS in Pittsburgh, PA in October, 2014. Certification was approved also in October, 2014.
More information on the CSP and the AACS may be found here: http://www.aacsnet.net/certification-2/
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2015 Page 7
Congratulations to
Our CHPA Faculty!
Criminology Instructor Earns
Master Online Course Award
Ivy Yarkow-Brown (at left), a Senior Instructor in the Department of Criminology
and Criminal Justice, has been awarded the Master Online Course Recognition Award for
her CRM 397 course, “Seminar on Violence”. Ms. Yarkow-Brown was recognized for being
“Best in all Categories” and is the third Criminology and Criminal Justice faculty to win this
prestigious award with Dr. Brett Garland and Ms. Caryn Saxon winning the award in 2011
and 2013, respectively.
College of Humanities & Public Affairs News
Marcus Garvey and the Fallen Angel: An
African American History Month Event
Dr. Robert Hill (at right), Professor of History at University of California-Los
Angeles and curator of the Marcus Garvey Papers at UCLA, gave a free, public talk in
Meyer Library 101 on “Marcus Garvey and the Fallen Angel,” in February as part of
the African American History Month events.
In this lecture, Professor Hill took the familiar story of Marcus Garvey in a
completely new and unfamiliar direction. By linking Garvey with the figure of the
‘Fallen Angel,’ the lecture described underlying linkage between Garvey and the cosDr. Robert Hill (photo by
mology of Jamaican Revivalism, an indigenous, African-derived Christian religion, in
Gregg Segal)
which the ‘Fallen Angel’ figures as the avatar of power and resistance to the established
order.
This event was sponsored by the departments of Sociology and Anthropology, History, Philosophy, Political
Science, Religious Studies, English, and the College of Humanities and Public Affairs.
Campus Forum: After Ferguson: What’s Next?
A campus forum, sponsored by the College of Humanities and Public Affairs, was held on Thursday, February
12 in Carrington Auditorium, to examine the issues and responses posed by the race-related protests in Ferguson, MO
and related events. Among the panelists were Dr. Alisa Warren, Executive Director of Missoui Commission on Human
Rights; Wes Pratt, Missouri State University Compliance; Brian Simmons, student, Black Bear President; and Aminata
Cairo, Professor of Anthropology at Southern Illinois University-Evansville.
A variety of events on and off campus, celebrating many heritage months at Missouri State, tie into the academic Area Studies Minors in the College of Humanities and Public Affairs. Visit the CHPA website for a list of and
information about the Area Studies Minors: www.missouristate.edu/chpa.
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2015 Page 8
Criminology & Criminal Justice News
Supporting
Officer Aaron
Pearson
7th Annual MSU Criminology
and Criminal Justice
Conference April 8-9
by Brett Garland
by Ivy Yarckow-Brown
On January 26,
“Inside the Criminal Justice System: Characteristics,
Springfield police officer
Challenges, and Opportunities: - The 7th Annual Missouri State
Aaron Pearson (at right),
University Criminology and Criminal Justice Conference” will
was shot while in the line
take place on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 and Thursday, April 9,
of duty, an incident result2015 in Plaster Student Union. The conference this year will
ing in severe, career-ending injuries. He faces a
host Warden Linda Sanders of the U. S. Federal Medical Facillong medical recovery which will pose significant
ity for Prisoners and C. Riccardo Lucas, the author of S.O.S.
Programmed for Murder, as two of the keynote speakers. Over
financial demands on him and his family.
Officer Pearson is a graduate student in
30 additional panel presentations will be provided by students,
the Department of Criminology and Criminal
staff, faculty, and community professionals regarding the topics
Justice. Our department is supporting Officer
of law enforcement, courts, corrections, and additionally related
Pearson and his family by collecting donations in
criminal justice components. Two re-entry/recidivism workthe department office, Strong Hall 231. Please con- shops are planned, over 25 agencies will be represented in the
sider donating in support of our fellow Missouri
Career / Employment fair component, and a modest collection
of Police Chiefs and Sheriffs will be on hand for a Q&A “Tell
State citizen who has made such a tremendous
sacrifice for our safety and wellbeing. Checks can
All” event on Wednesday evening. For further information,
be made payable to “Missouri FOP Foundation”
please see the FaceBook page at:
with “Springfield Police, Pearson” written on the
https://www.facebook.com/msucrimconference or contact the
memo line and sent to the Criminology Departconference coordinator, Ivy Yarckow-Brown at
[email protected].
ment, Missouri State University, 901 S. National
Ave., Springfield, MO 65897.
A list of other fundraisers for Officer Pearson can be found through the following link:
https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=2aamkpe7tqhpn6kuqsvljhnato%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/Chicago
Criminology Faculty Present at Annual Meeting
Five faculty presented original research at the annual meeting of the Academy
of Criminal Justice Sciences, which was held
from March 4-7, in Orlando, Florida. Graduate students working with faculty members
on research also had an opportunity to present during the panels. In attendance at the
conference were: Drs. Ethan Amidon, Brett
Garland, Aida Hass, Bernard McCarthy and
Michael Suttmoeller. Graduate students who
presented were: Christine Hannis, Logan
Konopasek and Tamra Preston.
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2015 Page 9
Criminology & Criminal Justice News
Sigma Mu Sigma Officers Travel to
National Conference in Florida
by Ivy Yarckow-Brown
During the first week of March,
the officers of Sigma Mu Sigma, the Missouri State University chapter of Alpha Phi
Sigma, the National Criminal Justice Honor
Society, traveled to and participated in the
National Alpha Phi Sigma Conference and
ACJS (Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences)
Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL. The officers
who were able to attend were Molly Galen,
Christine Hannis, Logan Konopasek, Mason
Phillips, and Maggie McCoy. These officers
attended numerous meetings and presentations with other top criminal justice students
from around the country. Additionally, they
presented
“Experience: The 6th
Sense” with
their faculty
advisor, Ivy
YarckowBrown, at the
ACJS conference.
The trip
as a whole was
an outstanding experience for the
students in helping them master
networking skills,
hone presentation
talents, and gather
new information
from their fields of
study. SOFAC and
the Department of
Criminology and
Criminal Justice
generously supported this valuable adventure.
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2015 Page 10
Defense and Strategic Studies News
DSS Graduate Students
Take Part in an
International Strategic
Crisis Negotiation
Exercise
by Dr. Keith Payne, Department Head, Defense and
Strategic Studies
A team of ten Missouri State’s Department of Defense and Strategic Studies graduate students took part
in an international strategic crisis negotiation exercise,
held in Washington, D.C., administered by the U.S. Army War College and hosted by the Center for Strategic and
International Studies on February 27 and 28, 2015. The students participated as a team of diplomats representing the
United States in a fictional scenario designed around a sharp escalation of the territorial disputes in the South China
Sea. The team was tasked with finding a diplomatic
solution to a crisis that had already seen shots fired
and lives lost, no small task for the extra-regional
United States in a situation involving six regional
powers that included China and India.
The United States delegation members were
engaged as mediators to the short term dispute, whilst
backing a regional led effort to framework a long
term resolution to the territorial disputes. As part of
the exercise the students had to continue promoting
U.S. regional interests, defy Chinese subversion of the
peace talks, and work to solidify a sometimes shaky
coalition of the smaller regional powers. Department
of Defense and Strategic Studies students competed
in the exercise alongside teams from Georgetown, the
Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the Institute for World Peace, among others. The student team
performed markedly well against their peers in the field and relished the chance to participate in an exercise designed
to mimic real world crisis negotiations. We eagerly look forward to engaging in similar opportunities in the future!
DSS Head Publishes New Book
A new book, Minimum Deterrence: Examining the Evidence, is the first of its kind. Dr.
Keith Payne, Professor in the MSU Graduate Department of Defense and Strategic Studies, and the late former Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger worked with an unparalleled
bipartisan group of senior civilian and military experts to examine eight basic assumptions
of the Minimum Deterrence theory of deterrence. As political pressure builds to pursue this
theory of deterrence as actual U.S. policy, Minimum Deterrence: Examining the Evidence stands
as a seminal and timely study.
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2015 Page 11
Economics News
Economics Major Featured in Public Affairs Spotlight
Missouri State University Economics major, Scott Berndt (below, left), is featured in the March 2015 Student Public Affairs Spotlight for the volunteer work he and his Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity brothers are doing with
the Community Partnership of the Ozarks (http://www.commpartnership.org/). Here is the spotlight story by Stacey
Trewatha-Bach of the Office of Public Affairs:
Scott thought he’d simply volunteer and go home, but instead that first experience with Community Partnership of the Ozarks (CPO) has led to a passion for serving and opportunities to cultivate key leadership skills.
Making the most of his free time, Scott volunteers the hours he has to assist with CPO fundraising events by
helping wherever is needed most. After he was the only student volunteer to return to CPO for four weeks to help finish what was started during an MLK Day of Service, he recruited 25 of his Sigma Phi Epsilon brothers to help complete
the construction of a miniature golf course, which is the centerpiece for CPO’s Golf Tournament. As this fundraiser
finances a major portion of CPO’s educational, drug prevention, and community development projects, Scott’s dedication to seeing the job through to
completion was a significant factor in the success of the fundraiser, says Will
Carter, CPO Director of Communications. Scott and his fraternity brothers
have continued their service commitment by providing much needed manpower for this year’s miniature Golf Tournament as well as volunteering with
the HOPE Connection event where they assist with set-up and meal service
to Springfield’s homeless.
As a great example of living the public affairs mission through community engagement and ethical leadership, we are proud to recognize Scott
as the March 2015 Student Public Affairs Spotlight.
MSU Student Pricing Index
by Dr. Ken Brown, Department Head, Economics
The Economics Club of Missouri State University recently
released its first annual summary of the newly created Student Pricing
Index for Missouri State students. The purpose of this project is to
estimate the change in prices for a group of goods that a typical MSU
student would buy, much like headline CPI does for a typical consumer nationally. The Economics Club gathered prices in October of
2013 and 2014 and prices were compared annually. Key consumption
categories include: grocery and food items, tuition, off-campus housDr. C. Patrick Scott and three students
ing, entertainment, and gasoline costs.
from
the Club – Renee Sanders, Connor
This is the first release of price change data for the Economics
Klein,
and Kohl Juranas – were recently
Club at MSU. Price indexes need more than one set of observations
interviewed
about the SPI by the Missouri
to be meaningful. Last year’s club decided consumption bundles and
State
Journal
produced by KSMU: http://
collected prices, while this year’s club collected prices and calculated
ksmu.org/post/economics-club-releasesthe percentage changes.
first-msu-student-pricing-index
The Economics Club anticipates new releases to this index
every fall. For information about the club please contact Mr. Per
Norander, Senior Instructor in Economics ([email protected]). For information on the Student Pricing
Index, please contact Dr. C. Patrick Scott, Assistant Professor in Economics ([email protected]).
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Dr. Jeremy Neely Develops
MOOC for MSU
Spring 2015 Page 12
History News
Dr. Jeremy Neely (at right), Instructor in History, has partnered with Missouri State Outreach to develop a third Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)
for the University. A MOOC is an online, non-credit class that is free and open to
the public. Neely’s course, Missouri’s Civil War, is Missouri State’s third MOOC,
joining classes about Ozarks culture and Laura Ingalls Wilder by Dr. Brooks Blevins
and Pamela Smith Hill, respectively, and will begin in Fall 2015. You can find more
information at http://outreach.missouristate.edu/moocs.htm.
New Book by
Dr. Bukola Oyeniyi
Congratulations to Dr. Bukola Oyeniyi (at left), Assistant Professor in History,
on the publication of his most recent book, Africa in Focus: Nigeria, of the Nations in
Focus series, ABC-CLIO Publishers.
The publisher describes the book:
Written by leading experts in African studies, this broad introduction to Nigeria follows the history of the republic from the early period to the present day.
As Africa’s most populated country and major world exporter of oil, Nigeria is
a nation with considerable international importance—a role that is hampered by its
economic underdevelopment and political instability. This book examines all major
aspects of Nigeria’s geography, politics, and culture, addressing the area’s current attempts at
building a strong nation, developing a robust economy, and stabilizing its domestic affairs.
Perfect for students of African history, geography, anthropology, and political science,
this guidebook provides an overview and history of Nigeria from the early period to contemporary times. Chapters focus on each region in the country; the government, economy and
culture of Nigeria; the challenges and problems Nigerians face since the country’s independence; and topics affecting everyday life, including music, food,
etiquette, gender roles, and marriage.
Dr. David Gutzke Researches Women Drinking
Dr. David W. Gutzke (at right), Professor of History, updated us on his recent activities
and accomplishments:
• Published my fifth book, Women Drinking Out in Britain since the Early Twentieth
Century (Manchester University Press, 2014).
• Article, “W. Waters Butler and the Making of a Progressive Brewer,” was accepted
for publication by Historie Sociale/Social History.
• Awarded Professor Salary Incentive Pay (PSIP)
• Used faculty research grant to investigate the launching of Babycham, the first alcoholic beverage aimed at women, spending five weeks in England.
• Continued work on “Anglo-American Cultural Exchange: The Roadhouse Comes to Britian,”
for which I have a book contract with Northern Illinois University Press.
• Taught new course, A History of Alcohol in Anglo-America, in the Honors College.
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2015 Page 13
Missouri Archaeological Society News
by Dr. Neal H. Lopinot, Director and Research Professor and Secretary, MAS, Center for Archaeological Research
Annual Meeting
The MAS welcomed over 130 attendees from Missouri and neighboring states to its 2014 Annual Meeting at
the Resort at Port Arrowhead, Lake Ozark. The meeting featured presentations by professional and amateur archaeologists as well as students from Lindenwood University and Southeast Missouri State University. The Koch Banquet
Lecturer was Dr. Glen Doran, chair of the Department of Anthropology at Florida State University. The meeting also
featured an array of exhibits, book sales, a silent auction that raised money for Society educational funds, Paleoindian
and Project Archaeology workshops. award presentations, and a field trip to historic Willmore Lodge. Several students
from Missouri State University also attended the meeting.
The 2015 meeting is scheduled for April 10–12 and will again be in Lake Ozark. In addition to the usual
activities, the meeting will also host a poster session featuring research and conservation by nine students and alumni
from the ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts classes of Fall 2012 and Fall 2014 at Missouri State
University. In this Citizenship and Service-Learning Integrated course, the students received training in basic preservation, cleaning, stabilization, exhibition, and storage of art and artifacts, as well as limited training in repair and restoration. The Koch Banquet Lecturer will be Dr. Michael Wiant,
Director of the Dickson Mounds Museum in Illinois.
Archaeological Survey Training Program for
Missouri
In 2014, the MAS sponsored two more one-week sessions
of the Archaeological Survey Training Program (Figure 1). The
sessions were held at the historic Village of Arrow Rock in Saline
County, supported by the Friends of Arrow Rock and the village
itself. This free program, open to all participants, provides the
opportunity for people to gain hands-on experience in archaeology, with an emphasis on preserving archaeological resources. Two
students from MSU as well as five students from other Missouri
schools participated in the 2014 sessions.
Figure 1. MAS training program participants
analyzing artifacts from Arrow Rock
The 2015 sessions have been scheduled for July 13–17 and
August 3–7 in Arrow Rock. Assistant Director Jack H. Ray of
the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at Missouri State will direct both sessions and will be accompanied by
Dustin Thompson, CAR Project Supervisor, and at least one graduate student from Missouri State. The program is
funded for 2014 and 2015 by a grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, State Historic Preservation
Office and the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Missouri Archaeology Month and Symposium
Figure 2: Missouri Archaeology
Month 2014 poster
Missouri Archaeology Month is a celebration held every September to promote the protection, preservation, and documentation of Missouri’s archaeological resources. Archaeology Month 2014 was sponsored by the Missouri Archaeological Society, the State Historic Preservation Office of the Missouri Department
of Natural Resources, and Lindenwood University, Department of Anthropology.
Events included exhibits, lectures, movies, and demonstrations held throughout
Missouri. The 2014 poster theme was More than Shelter (Figure 2). The poster
front features the Smallin Cave site (23CN6), located about a mile northeast of
Ozark.
Continued on next page...
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2015 Page 14
Missouri Archaeological Society News
...MAS News, continued
Over 100 people (including Society members, members of the public, and college students) journeyed to
Montgomery City, Missouri for the 2014 Fall Symposium on September 20. Attendees enjoyed presentations on the
theme of Sheltered Sites in Missouri (presenters included Jack H. Ray and Neal H. Lopinot from the Center for Archaeological Research). The presentations were followed by a catered lunch picnic at nearby Graham Cave State Park.
After lunch, symposium attendees joined Graham Cave State Park in celebrating its 50th Anniversary with Archaeology
Day at the Park.
The 2015 poster theme is The Trail of Tears in Missouri. The poster will likely feature a photograph of a recently discovered trail segment combined with illustrations of the journey. Plans are underway for the corresponding annual
MAS Symposium to be held in conjunction with the National Trails Association conference at Trail of Tears State Park
just north of Cape Girardeau.
Wrench Scholarship
Interest proceeds from the Jesse Wrench Fund, set up in memory of the Society’s first president, has financed
$1,000 annually ($500 per semester) for a deserving undergraduate student at any Missouri university or college. The
recipient must work with a mentor at their institution to develop and implement an archaeological research project relative to regional archaeology. The winner is required to write an article for the MAS Quarterly concerning the project.
The 2014–2015 Wrench Scholarship was awarded to Emma Verstraete. Ms. Verstraete, who is an undergraduate at Lindenwood University, St. Louis, was selected for the award for her research project about early homesteads in
Barry County, Missouri. Dr. Steve Dasovich, Chair of the Anthropology and Sociology Department at Lindenwood,
will serve as the mentor for this project. The results of Ms. Verstraete’s research will be published in an issue of the MAS
Quarterly in 2015.
The MAS Board has recently voted to open the competition up to MA/MS-level students. As for undergraduates, the student must work with a mentor from his/her institution.
Military Science/ROTC News
MSU Student Travels to
Bulgaria to Teach English
Shelby Hulsey, Criminology major and Military Science
minor at Missouri State, traveled to Bulgaria recently to teach
English at a military academy in Shumen, Bulgaria. While there,
Ms. Hulsey was able to visit historical sites and learn about Bulgarian culture through everyday activities.
Ms. Hulsey applied for the Cultural Understanding
Language Proficiency (CULP) mission through MSU’s ROTC and
was selected to be on the team going to Bulgaria with other ROTC
students from other universities.
Shelby Hulsey, left and Cadet Hannah Cole
To read the story by Blake Miller, University Commustop to take a picture in Bulgaria (photo submitted to the News-Leader by Shelby Hulsey)
nications public relations intern, that appeared in the Springfield
News-Leader, see:
http://www.news-leader.com/story/news/education/2015/03/01/msu-student-travels-bulgaria-teach-english/24231399/
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2015 Page 15
Philosophy News
Philosophy Students Attend Midsouth
Philosophy Conference
by Dr. Andrew Johnson, Associate
Professor and Program Director,
Philosophy
Fourteen Missouri State
students, along with Prof.
Andrew Johnson of the Philosophy Department, used
the tail end of Missouri State’s
spring break to travel to the
annual Midsouth Philosophy
Conference in Memphis, TN.
The conference took place at Rhodes College on March 13th and 14th, and featured dozens
of speakers, from as close as Memphis and as far away as Germany. Prof. Johnson (at left, lower), presented his paper
“Moral Blindness and Kant’s Universalizability Test” at the main conference, and Philosophy minor Alyssa Franklin (at
left, above) gave a talk on “The Rationality of Agnosticism” to the undergraduate section of the conference.
Dr. Johnny Washington Joins MO Bar
Advisory Task Force
Congratulations to Philosophy Professor, Dr. Johnny Washington! Dr. Washington
(at right) has agreed to serve on the Missouri Bar Association’s Citizen Advisory Task Force.
Dr. Washington, who teaches introductory Philosophy courses and African American Studies courses, has published several books on the philosophy of Alain Locke and
is working on the forthcoming book, Existence Is Evolution: Going Beyond the Darwinian
Model.
PLS Alumnus Presents
on Benjamin Franklin
Political Science News
The Political Science Department welcomed1993 PLS alumnus, John Zumbrunnen (at left),
for a lecture entitled “Benjamin Franklin on Self-Education and Self-Government” on February 5th in the
Meyer Library Auditorium. Dr. Zumbrunnen is Professor of Political Science at the University of WisconsinMadison and is the Director of the American Democracy Forum – https://adf.wisc.edu/.
Departmental thanks to Assistant Professor,
Sara Henary (at right), who received a grant from the
Jack Miller Center (http://www.jackmillercenter.org/) to support this event.
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Dr. Ashley Leinweber
and Students Travel to
Model United Nations
Conferences
Spring 2015 Page 16
Political Science News
Dr. Ashley Leinweber, Assistant Professor in Political
Science, taught a graduate course on Model United Nations in
the fall semester. She and her students traveled to the American
Model United Nations (AMUN) Conference in Chicago in
November, where they represented Mali.
Throughout the semester prior to the conference, students researched their assigned country of Mali (in West Africa)
Above, Model UN students and Faculty Adviand their committee topics, ranging from nuclear weapons
sor, Dr. Ashley Leinweber, meet 2014 Keynote
testing to Millennium Development Goals and how to preSpeaker, Paul Rusesabagina, the manager of
vent gender-based violence and protect refugees. One student
the Hotel des Mille Collines in Kigali Rwanda.
represented MSU as a reporter with
MSU students represented Mali.
the International Press Delegation,
while another served as a justice for
the International Court of Justice. The Master
of Global Studies students were among almost
1,500 students from across the country who
participated in AMUN.
Congratulations to James Gilmore (at left),
who earned an Outstanding Delegation
Award for his work on the Economic Commission for Africa.
This semester Dr. Leinweber is teaching an undergraduate course on Model United Nations, PLS 333; twentyone of the students in the course and seven students from the Missouri State University Model United Nations Club
(of which Dr. Leinweber is the advisor), attended the Midwest Model United Nations Conference in St. Louis, representing Rwanda, Libya, and Ethiopia. Several Missouri State University students earned distinction at the conference.
Peyton Andrews (representing Rwanda) won the
Best Delegate award for Security Council North
and Dylan Patillo (representing Rwanda) won
Best Position Paper for Security Council South.
Megan Manes (representing Libya) won Honorable Mention for Best Delegation in the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
Eric Weiler (representing Ethiopia) won the
Best Position Paper Award for General Assembly Second Committee and Courtney
Withrow (representing Ethiopia) won Best
Position Paper award for the Peacebuilding
Commission.
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Dr. Dennis Hickey Uses
Grant to Research
China Sea Dispute
Spring 2015 Page 17
Political Science News
On October 2, Dr. Dennis Hickey (at right), Director of the
Master’s Program in Global Studies, traveled to China to conduct research
on the South China Sea dispute. While in Beijing he also met with Mr.
James Buckles, a graduate student who is participating in the MGS exchange
program with the contemporary China studies program in the School of International Studies at Renmin (People’s) University. Photo (at right, below),
shows Dr. Hickey and his wife enjoying lunch with Mr. Buckles and visiting Renmin University. All travel was covered by a $7,500 grant from the
Chiang Ching-Kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange.
Model City Exercise Assists Local
Emergency Organizations
Dr. David Johnson (at right, third photo from
top), Associate Professor of Political Science, recently
participated in a tabletop exercise at the Springfield-Greene
County Office of Emergency Management, where he provided
the model city, also known as River Bend or SimMO.
The exercise was intended to explore how the SpringfieldGreene County Health Department and the partnering agencies
would address a large-scale public health emergency. Present
along with the Health Department were Mercy Hospital, Cox
Hospital, mental health agencies, the state health department,
the Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management, and
Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1.
According to Dr. Johnson, “It was a very positive test of
our being able to field-deploy the model and we were able to expand its visibility.”
Dr. Johnson serves as a Community Emergency Response
Team reserve, where he supports the staff in the event of a disaster
and takes part in several
responses, drills, and
exercises.
Jefferson City Interns
Complete Training
Missouri State University students (at left), Bridget
Schumer, David Carr, Juli
Baldridge, Jordan Scott, and Emily Snyder completed their Jefferson City
Internship training and attended the opening of the 2015 General Assembly
in January. Congratulations!
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2015 Page 18
Religious Studies News
Drs. Stan and Ruth Burgess Honored with Festschrift
Congratulations to Drs. Stan
and Ruth Burgess on a recent Festschrift in their honor, co-edited by Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
(AGTS) professor, Lois E. Olena, and
Oral Roberts University professor, Eric
Newberg! A reception was held for the
Burgesses on Friday, 13 February, at
AGTS, attended by several of MSU’s
Religious Studies faculty.
Dr. Stan Burgess taught at
Evangel University from 1959-1976,
as well as at AGTS. He later taught
at (now) MSU for 28 years and served
as Department Head in Religious
Studies. Dr. Ruth Burgess taught at
both Evangel University as professor
of Education and in Psychology at the
School of Teacher Education at MSU.
Drs. Stan and Ruth Burgess (seated), with, from
left: Dr. Lois Olena of AGTS’ Dr. Eric Newberg;
Dr. Byron Klaus (president of AGTS); Fr. John
Leibrecht (fourth from left), formerly Bishop of
the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese; Dr. Victor Matthews (fifth from left), Dean of
MSU’s College of Humanities and Public Affairs and Professor of Religious Studies at
MSU; Brad Burgess (son of Stan and Ruth); and Dr. Paul Lewis (AGTS)
Linked Promotes
Religious Cultural
Literacy
Samantha Nichols, Religious
Studies major and president of Linked,
the MSU Student group committed
to religious diversity, discussion, and
service, announced one of Linked’s new projects this semester. “Huge thanks to our friends at Meyer Library, graphic
designer Dylan Webb, and of course our members for making our interfaith literacy project happen! Every month you
can expect to see posters in Meyer Library highlighting religious observances as well as shared values and interfaith heroes. Stay tuned for the reveal of our March posters for an opportunity to learn about a number of holidays, the shared
value of caring for the environment, and our interfaith hero of the month: A. Philip Randolph!”
Ms. Nichols and Linked were also highlighted in a story in the Springfield News-Leader Monday, 30 March:
http://www.news-leader.com/story/news/education/2015/03/29/msu-student-creates-organization-meet-community-needs/70640570/
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
MSU Religious Studies
Hosts Religions in South
Asia Conference
Spring 2015 Page 19
Religious Studies News
The Department of Religious Studies at Missouri
State hosted a Religions in South Asia Conference on Friday,
March 20, in the PSU. Six scholars of South Asian religions,
two from MSU (Stephen Berkwitz and Jack Llewellyn) and
four from regional universities (Cassie Adcock, Signe Cohen,
Deonnie Moodie, and Hamsa Stainton),
shared and discussed their individual research
and their observations about the field as a
whole. Students were thus given the opportunity to listen to and participate in active
research collaboration with area scholars.
The presenters and their papers were:
• Dr. Cassie Adcock, Associate Professor of
History, South Asian Studies, Religious
Studies, Washington University in St.
Louis; “Caste, Cows and Conversion?
Finding Religion in Hinduism”
• Dr. Stephen Berkwitz, Professor and Department Head, Religious Studies, MSU; “The Vernacularization of Buddhist Texts and Culture in Sri Lanka”
• Dr. Signe Cohen, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Religious Studies, University of Missouri;
“I, Yantra: Reflections on Robots and Self in Ancient Indian Literature”
• Dr. Jack Llewellyn, Professor, Religious Studies, MSU; “’Where Has This Damn Brahman Come From?’ Are Caste
and Gender Hierarchies Mutually Reinforcing in Hindu Hagiography?”
• Dr. Deonnie Moodie, Assistant Professor, Religious Studies, University of Oklahoma; “Re-Presenting Hinduism in
Urban India: Cleaning up Kālighāț Temple”
• Dr. Hamsa Stainton, Assistant Professor and Undergraduate Director, Religious Studies, University of Kansas;
“Aesthetics and Religious Experience in the Non-dual Hymns of Kashmir”
Dr. Stephen Berkwitz
To Be Keynote Speaker
Dr. Stephen Berkwitz (at left), Professor and Department Head, Religious Studies, will be one of the two keynote speakers at the 2015 Spalding
Symposium on Indian Religion to be held at the University of Edinburgh, UK,
in April. Dr. Berkwitz’s paper, “So Near Yet So Far: Sri Lankan Strategies for
Superseding Indian Cultural Forms,” forms part of the theme of this year’s symposium, dialogue between and within the religious traditions of South Asia.
Professor Uma Chakravarti, National Fellow, Indian Council of Historical Research, is the other keynote speaker for the symposium that is comprised
of approximately fifty to sixty participants.
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2015 Page 20
Religious Studies News
Jim Moyer to Retire
Dr. Jim Moyer (at left), Religious Studies Professor, former Religious
Studies Department Head, Old Testament/Hebrew Bible scholar, and mentor to
so many students and faculty – is retiring at the end of this semester! Our reception for him will be Wednesday, 29 April, 4:00-5:30 p.m. in the PSU Union Club
Room 400 on the Missouri State campus.
Jim requested that former students, colleagues, and friends who wish to
honor him do so by donating to the Moyer Family Religious Studies Scholarship
Fund and – wait for it – Jim will match all donations (up to $5,000 total)!
To donate, visit www.missouristatefoundation.org and select the Moyer
Family Religious Studies Scholarship. Be sure to mark your donation, “Moyer
Family Scholarship Match.” Thank you, and thanks to Jim for valuing our students
for over 45 years!
Flyer: http://www.missouristate.edu/assets/relst/Jim_Moyer_Retirement_Reception.pdf
Per-Course Instructor’s Three New Books
Mark Boyer (at right), a Per-Course Instructor in the Religious Studies Department
for 27 years, announced the publication of three books this spring. Human Wholeness: A
Spirituality of Relationship, cowritten with a former Religious Studies minor, Matthew S. Ver
Miller, was released by Wipf and Stock. Later this spring the same publisher will release A
Simple Systematic Mariology. And Liturgical Press will release the third edition of The Liturgical Environment: What the Documents Say.
Human Wholeness: A Spirituality of Relationship explores how human relationships
disclose and nurture the divine relationship. Mr. Boyer is responsible for the biblical work on
the book, and Mr. Ver Miller, who holds a PsyD from Forest Institute of Professional Psychology, presents the psychological material.
A Simple Systematic Mariology brings together the devotional, liturgical, and scriptural material concerning
Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Since the first edition was published in 1990, The Liturgical Environment: What the Documents Say has been
used throughout the world by architects and liturgical designers as a sourcebook for what the Catholic Church prescribes for churches and their decoration.
Dr. Leslie Baynes Discusses C. S. Lewis’
Screwtape Letters
While on sabbatical this year, Dr. Leslie Baynes (at right), Associate Professor in
Religious Studies, led a study on C. S. Lewis’ book, The Screwtape Letters, at First and Calvary
Church in Springfield for four weeks. In Lewis’ book, a senior devil named Screwtape writes
letters to a junior tempter, Wormwood, teaching him the best ways to lead a soul to hell. The
resulting correspondence showcases Lewis’s rich humor and insight, helping Christians face
the onslaught of day-to-day temptations. College students who attended Dr. Baynes’ discussions were served free dinners by the church.
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2015 Page 21
Religious Studies News
Religious Studies Major
Mixes Practice and Passion
Chelsea Jones (at left and at right), Religious Studies major,
was highlighted in the Missouri State Magazine this spring. According to the Faces in the Crowd spotlight, Ms. Jones, a softball
player from El Reno, OK, “returns for her senior season after
an outstanding junior campaign in which she led the team in
doubles (twelve) and sacrifice flies (five) while fielding her position perfectly. A twotime Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Pitcher of the Week in 2014, she earned
her second-consecutive MVC Scholar-Athlete honorable mention team selection. At
UT Arlington on Feb. 14, 2014, Jones became the first MSU player since 2000 to hit
three doubles in a game.”
Ms. Jones was named a Mssouri Valley Conference (MVC)
Scholar-Athlete of the Week in February, her second time for this
honor (May 2013).
Ms. Jones is also active in the #AllieStrong campaign to raise
money to help MSU softball player Allie Alvstad, diagnosed with
acute myeloid leukemia. To join Allie’s fight, visit
http://www.missouristatebears.com/ot/alliestrong.html
Religious Studies Club Visits
Tulsa Congregations, Museums
The Religious Studies Club and Dr. Micki Pulleyking,
advisor to the club and Senior Instructor in Religious Studies,
spent a weekend in Tulsa in late February to visit a variety of religious congregations and museums, including a Muslim Mosque,
Jewish Synagogue, Christian Church, the Gilcrease Museum,
and the Philbrook Art Museum. The event enabled students to
interact with people of different faiths and to understand the
rituals and beliefs of the different religions. and to have a lot of
fun touring and eating
in Tulsa!
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2015 Page 22
Sociology & Anthropology News
Dr. William Meadows Speaks at
Veteran’s Recogntion Dinner
On November 9, 2014 Dr. William C. Meadows (at right
and at left), Professor of Anthropology, spoke at a Veteran’s Recognition dinner at Acoma Community Center for the Pueblo of Acoma Pueblo, located one hour west of Albuquerque in New Mexico.
A special part of the recognition was included for the late Sgt. Paul
R. Histia who was in a radio net of Native American Code Talkers
from several tribes in the Army Air Corps, V Bomb Command,
during World War II. Sgt. Histia and other Native Americans used
their native languages to conduct bomb raids throughout New
Guinea and the Philippines. Part of Dr. Meadow’s research focuses
on Native American Code Talkers from over 30 tribes that have
used their native language in the United States Military during
World Wars I and II. As part of the Code talker Recognition Act of 2008, which Meadow’s
research and testimony helped to pass, Sgt.
Histia was recognized with a Congressional Gold Medal in 2013.
Grant Supports
Research into
Landmine Ordinance
Thanks to a Faculty Research
Grant for fall 2014, Dr. Margaret Buckner spent the winter break (December
2014-January 2015) in Guinea Bissau (West Africa), where she investigated
the role of HUMAID, a non-governmental organization (NGO), in the campaign to clear the country of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO).
The landmines and UXO are left over from the war of independence (19601974), a civil war in 1998, and skirmishes along the border with Senegal in
the 2000s, and still cause much loss of life, limb, and property. Dr. Buckner
accompanied HUMAID staff to several sites across the country where they
have safely removed landmines and
UXO, and documented areas where
there are still such weapons awaiting removal. She also carried out
interviews with mine victims and
their families.
Unfortunately, HUMAID had to cease operations in 2013 when
US and international funding was halted after a coup d’état resulted in an
illegitimate government. One of the purposes of this project was to document
the activities of the organization and the need for
Continued on next page...
funding for it to continue.
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2015 Page 23
Sociology & Anthropology News
...Landmine, continued
An initial report was sent to a member of the US State Department illustrating HUMAID’s effectiveness and importance. A more complete report is forthcoming, and
will include video footage of a landmine-clearing exercise. Video-taped interviews with
victims will also be used to raise funds to help victims and their families.
Right, Dr. Margaret Buckner
Sociology Students
Present at MSS
Meetings in March
Four undergraduate Sociology students, Adam Bryson, Kristy Coffin,
Ernest Crunkleton (also an Anthropology major), and Jaime Orlando,
presented original research at the Midwest Sociological Society meetings in Kansas City, Missouri March 26th through 28th. All four students
are also Sociological Research Assistants (SOC RAs). The Sociology
Research Assistant program pairs Sociology undergraduates with faculty
members conducting community based research. The program allows
students to obtain direct research experience and present study findings
Above, Jamie Orlando (second from
to the local Ozarks community and, many times, the larger Sociology
right) and Kristy Coffin (right)
and Anthropology communities.
The Midwest Sociological Society, founded in 1936, is a professional organization of academic and applied sociologists as well as students of the discipline. Nearly 1200 scholars, students and practicing sociologists in universities,
government and business belong to the organization. The MSS encompasses nine states - Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin,
Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Kansas, South Dakota, and North Dakota. However, more than one-third of the members
are from other parts of the nation and the world.
Ms. Orlando presented a paper, “A Labor Of Love: The Doula Foundation’s Impact on High-risk, Expecting Mothers.” Ms. Coffin presented a paper, “Factors Associated with Obesity and Chronic Illnesses: Results from a
Community Health Survey.” Mr. Bryson and Dr. Tim Knapp (Professor of Sociology) co-presented a paper, “Youth
Homelessness: Connecting the Dots between Contributing Factors and Prevention Programs.” And Mr. Crunkleton
and Dr. Katie Hoegeman (Assistant Professor of Sociology) presented on a current study in progress designed
to measure the social service impact of religious congregations in the greater Springfield, Missouri metropolitan
region.
We applaud these students for a job well done
and for contributing valuable and applicable research
findings not only to issues of concern in our local
community, but also contributing research of value to
Social Scientists practicing throughout the region! More
information about the SOC RA program can be found
online at: http://soc-ant.missouristate.edu/cssppr/ or email Christina Ryder at [email protected]. More
information about the Midwest Sociological Society can Above, Adam Bryson (left) and Ernest Crunkelton
be found online at: http://www.themss.org/.
(right)
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2015 Page 24
Sociology & Anthropology News
Archaeology in Bluefields, Jamaica
by F. Scott Worman, Assistant Professor of Anthropology
In December and January, eight undergraduate and three graduate
Missouri State University Anthropology students traveled to Bluefields,
Jamaica with Professors Bill Wedenoja and Scott Worman to conduct
archaeological excavations. Dr. Wedenoja has taken MSU students to
work with the Bluefields Peoples’ Community Association (BPCA) on
study away programs, archaeological field schools, and graduate research
projects for 14 years. This was only the second trip to Jamaica for Dr.
Worman and graduate student Andrea Gregory, who were excited to
follow up on plans they had made while in Bluefields the previous year
to conduct excavations at the site of a blacksmith’s shop. The goals of
the excavation were twofold. First, the research was aimed at learning
more about the rich history of Bluefields, previously the site of a large
pre-contact Taino village and then of early Spanish settlements and,
later, an important port for pirates and then British merchants. Second, the MSU team hopes to help lay the groundwork for the BPCA to
build a museum, interpretive center, and other infrastructure to support
community-controlled sustainable heritage tourism. While working
toward these goals, MSU students learned how to conduct professional
archaeological investigations and explored the various ways archaeology
can be important for people alive today.
After meeting with the BPCA and exploring the community, the
field school team helped clear 8-foot tall cane grass from the site and
immediately learned the importance of making good site maps
– the crews had cleared the wrong area because of a lack of detail
on previous maps! After exploratory excavations in the newlycleared area and clearing the correct location, the crew set to
work on block excavations of the blacksmith’s shop. They also
used a Total Station, a surveying machine that uses lasers to take
accurate measurements of distance and angle, to map the entire
area including nearby buildings, roads, and other landmarks. In
addition to doing the fieldwork in the warm (sometimes hot)
Jamaican sun, groups of students worked in the lab under the supervision of Ms. Gregory and fellow graduate students Deseray
Helton and Laura Bruns to clean and sort artifacts, conduct
preliminary analyses, and prepare the collections and associated
paperwork to be stored in such a way that they are accessible to
Student Amy Huff visiting the Bluefields Great
researchers.
House, constructed in the 18th century
Beyond learning about archaeology, the field school students got an excellent introduction to Jamaican culture. Students spent a day off exploring the local area, including historical landmarks like the Bluefields Great House, built in
the 1700s. Another afternoon, the group traveled to other 18th century great houses and saw, among other things, a
cannon that may have been used by the Spanish and an old pimento plantation.
Field school students excavating the
Blacksmith Shop site
Continued on next page...
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2015 Page 25
Sociology & Anthropology News
...Bluefields, continued
On another day off, everyone traveled to
Accompong to experience the Maroon community’s
celebration of the 1739 treaty that recognized their
freedom and ended a lengthy conflict between the
escaped former slaves and the British. Dr. Wedenoja’s
encyclopedic knowledge of Jamaica enhanced everyone’s experience, as did exploration of local culinary
treats like jerked chicken, fried lionfish, and rice and
peas. BPCA president Wolde Kristos made sure the
group got a thorough introduction to current reggae
music and even organized a party complete with a DJ
for the last night of the
Dr. Worman and student Darin Harrison talk to comproject. The long-term
munity members about the project while the rest of the
BPCA – MSU Anthroteam clears brush from the site
pology partnership continues to be productive:
Dr. Wedenoja and history professor
Jamaine Abidogun will lead another
Study Away trip to Jamaica later this
year, entitled Reggae Island: The History and Culture of Jamaica, and plans
are in the works for another archaeology field school next winter.
Dr. F. Scott Worman
Right, MSU students relaxing after a hot day of excavations
Sociology Faculty Highlighted
in Area News Outlets
Two Missouri State University Sociology professors were
highlighted recently in area news outlets. Dr. Catherine Hoegeman,
Assistant Professor of Sociology, was on the front page of the January
11, 2015 Springfield News-Leader, in an article by Steve Pokin about
her work helping the homeless and abuse victims, using surveys of area
religious congregations and their outreach activities to the community.
http://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2015/01/10/congregations-asked-help-community/21575359/
Dr. Michael Stout, Associate Professor of
Sociology
Dr. Michael Stout, Associate Professor of Sociology, also addressed the issue of poverty in the Ozarks with his work as the Director of Missouri State’s Center for Community Engagement and as a
member of Springfield’s Impacting Poverty Commission. The article,
in the January 2015 issue of 417 Magazine by writer Ettie Berneking and photographer Chuck Travers, may be found here: http://
www.417mag.com/417-Magazine/January-2015/Dont-Turn-Away-Taking-along-hard-look-at-Springfields-Poverty-Problem/
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Spring 2015 Page 26
CHPA Giving
Would you like to contribute? Here’s how!
The size of scholarships at both the graduate and undergraduate levels needs to be augmented, as does the outside speaker lecturer (Warren) and Bartee funds. 
If you would like to send a donation to help the College of Humanities and Public Affairs aid its undergraduate and graduate students or in other ways enhance our educational mission, please print
out this form and send it to:
Missouri State University Foundation
901 South National Avenue
Springfield, MO 65897-0089
Name: _________________________________________________________________________________
Address, City, Zip:________________________________________________________________________
Phone: _________________ E-mail: ________________________________________________________
We / I would like to make a contribution of:
_____ $50
_____ $100
_____ $500
__________ Other (please specify amount)
Please specify where you would like your donation applied:
_____ Area of greatest need
_____ CHPA General Fund
_____ Alice Bartee Speaker’s Series
_____ CHPA Scholarship
_____ Moyer Family Scholarship Fund
_____ Study Away Scholarship
Please make your check payable to: Missouri State Foundation
Or go online: www.missouristatefoundation.org
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Victor Matthews, Dean, College of Humanities and Public Affairs - 417.836.5529
[email protected]