Newsmakers in Education

Drury University named Krystal Compas vice president of alumni and development. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and education and a master’s degree in education from Drury University and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Missouri. Compas joined Drury in 1991 as a special instructor in the literature department. She also has held many administrative positions, including assistant to the president, vice president for enrollment management and associate dean of educational services.

Evangel University promoted two faculty members. Colleen Hardy is chairwoman of Evangel’s education department, and Nathan Nelson is chairman of the humanities department. Hardy, who graduated from Evangel in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, joined the school’s faculty in 2000 and holds a master’s degree from Drury University and a Doctor of Education from Saint Louis University. Nelson joined the Evangel faculty in 1988. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Minnesota, and a Master of Arts in teaching from Northwestern University.

Missouri State University named Rachelle L. Darabi associate provost for student development and public affairs, pending approval by the MSU Board of Governors. Darabi holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing from the University of Iowa, a master’s degree in English from the University of North Texas and a Ph.D. in rhetoric and composition from Ball State University. She previously was associate vice chancellor for academic success and associate professor of English and linguistics at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.

Evangel University professor Geoffrey Sutton’s analysis of McMinn and Campbell’s Integrative Psychotherapy was published in a recent issue of the Journal of Psychology and Theology. Sutton, an Evangel graduate and licensed psychologist, has written more than 35 published works.

In the 2008 rankings of the nation’s best universities, Drury University ranked No. 10 on the list of Best Regional Universities in the U.S, officially titled the Best Universities–Master’s-Midwest list. Drury also ranked No. 6 on the Great Schools, Great Prices in the Midwest listing for master’s level universities.

The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Foundation awarded a $2,500 scholarship to Kickapoo High School Senior Charles McCall, who plans to study engineering at Missouri State University.

Southwest Baptist University hired Perry A. Tompkins as dean of the College of Mathematics and Science. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Houston in Texas, as well as a master’s degree and a doctorate in physics from Texas A&M University. Tompkins began his teaching career at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, and he also worked for VI Engineering and ITT Aerospace. Prior to joining SBU, he was a physics professor and former chairman of the physics department at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala.

Evangel University has made changes in its student development division, combining some departments and adding faculty. The former student life and student activities departments have merged, creating the department of community life, led by Gina Rentschler, former student life director. The department comprises Kim Burnett, administrative assistant; Ryan Frierson, activities director; Kent Ferguson, commuter/international student director; and Wendy Buttacy, Bert Kapel, Steve and Janet Gause, Kevin Praschan, Casey Shank and Rachel Triska, residence directors.

Dennis Hickey, professor of political science at Missouri State University and recipient of the James F. Morris Endowed Professorship, received an $8,000 grant from the Chiang Ching-Kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange (USA) for the project “Peace or Poison: The Changing Nature of China’s Policy Toward Taiwan.” 

The Missouri Colleges Fund received $24,000 from the Wachovia Foundation. The money will provide one $1,500 scholarship per member school for business students who stand out in activities or special achievements at the state’s private or independent colleges and universities. Area member schools are Drury University, Evangel University and Southwest Baptist University.

Evangel University was recognized for the fourth consecutive year as one of the Best Christian Places to Work in the United States by the Best Christian Workplaces Institute. Evangel is one of six institutions recognized in the higher education category.

Carole Eldridge wasnamed dean of St. John’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Southwest Baptist University. She holds a nursing degree from Burge School of Nursing, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Evangel University, a master’s degree in nursing administration from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in Leadership and the Business of Health Care from Rush University in Chicago. Eldridge previously was director and associate professor of the University of Texas Medical Branch’s online nursing leadership master’s program.

Missouri State University received a $22,340 grant from City Utilities of Springfield to buy occupancy sensors for 121 common areas, including restrooms, study areas, computer labs and laundry rooms, in the school’s residence halls. Using the sensors, which are funded by CU’s EnergyWise Grant Program, MSU anticipates annual energy cost savings of more than $7,400.

Mark Kelton, associate professor of communication at Evangel University, presented a paper, “The Relationship Between Communication Styles of College Presidents and Use of Power in Leadership,” at a recent meeting of the American Educational Research Association in New York City. Kelton, who holds a Doctor of Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia, began teaching at Evangel in 1985.

Webster University’s School of Business and Technology received 10-year accreditation for its business and management programs from the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs.

Doug Pursley, coordinator of Ozarks Technical Community College’s respiratory care program, was among four U.S. educators invited to share research findings at the American Association for Respiratory Care’s summer forum. Pursley gave a presentation on a model he created to help students understand the physiology of mechanically ventilating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

Dr. Mark Skrade, president of The School of Professional Psychology at Forest Institute, and Dr. Marci Manna, a Forest Institute alumna, received the American Psychological Association’s Division 55 Award for outstanding contributions to prescriptive authority at the state level. The award was presented during the Aug. 15 Division 55 awards banquet. Skrade and Manna have served as co-chairs of the Missouri Psychological Association’s RxP Taskforce for the last five years, and they have advocated for increased prescriptive powers for appropriately trained psychologists.

Bernie Dana, assistant professor of business at Evangel University, was interviewed in a feature article titled “Investing in Culture Change,” published in the August issue of Provider magazine. Dana is among 15 long-term care leaders asked about the value of deinstitutionalizing physical environments and embracing the principles of resident-directed care as an avenue to improving the quality of care and the quality of life in long-term care settings.

Bob Glasgow, mathematics professor at Southwest Baptist University, co-authored two papers that appear in the monograph, “U.S. Doctorates in Mathematics Education: Developing Stewards of the Discipline,” published by the Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences in conjunction with the American Mathematical Society and the Mathematical Association of America. The papers he worked on were “Doctoral Production in Mathematics Education in the United States: 1960–2005” and “Doctoral Programs in Mathematics Education in the United States: 2007 Status Report.” 

Renee Griffith, an incoming freshman at Evangel University, received a $5,000 2008 J. Robert Ashcroft National Youth Scholarship. Griffith graduated at the top of her class from Butte High School in Butte, Mont. She also received a half-tuition Founders Scholarship to Evangel.

Eric Lansdown joined Ozarks Technical Community College as a welding instructor in OTC’s Center for Workforce Development. He spent 12 years working at Paul Mueller Co. and worked most recently at Sight and Sound Theater in Branson. In his new position, Lansdown is responsible for developing a customer base and designing customized training and testing for the center’s welding clients.

Adam Grumke, an incoming freshman at Evangel University, received a $2,500 National Merit Scholarship. He also received a full-tuition scholarship to Evangel, where he will major in biology in the school’s pre-med program.

Missouri State University recognized several faculty members at its annual awards luncheon, held Aug. 21. Missouri State Foundation Awards in Teaching were presented to Billie Follensbee, art and design; and Pauline Nugent, modern and classical languages. Missouri State Foundation Awards in Research were presented to Carol Miller, finance and general business; and Dennis Schmitt, agriculture. Missouri State Foundation Awards in Service were presented to Paula Kemp, mathematics; and John Harms, sociology, anthropology and criminology. David Dixon and Elissa Lewis, psychology, received the Excellence in Community Service Award.

Also during the luncheon, MSU recognized 21 retiring faculty members: R.G. Amonker, Alice F. Bartee, Gary L. Brock, Alan H. Brown, Michael Burns, Margaret V. Cerullo, Michael J. Cerullo, Kurt E. Chaloupecky, Chung S. Kim, Frederick R. Maxwell, Rhythm McCarthy, Harold W. Meyers Jr., James F. Miller, Janice E. Parmley, Peggy S. Pearl, Michael M. Sheng, Roger N. Tipling, Paul M. Toom, Gerald G. Udell and James R. Woodland.

Evangel University’s teacher education program passed an accreditation review by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Evangel has held NCATE accreditation continuously since 1972. [[In-content Ad]]