Faculty Activities in May and June

Kaye Adkins attended the Association of Departments of English Summer Seminar and participated in the Graduate Directors Workshop in Boulder, Colorado.

Mike Cadden both participated as Immediate Past President in board meetings and participated in a panel on editing scholarly collections at the annual meeting of the Children’s Literature Association in Boston, MA.

Michael Charlton had two short articles published on the website Writing Commons: The Home for Writers: “Understanding How Conversations Change over Time” and “Understanding Second-Person Point-of-View.”

William Church's short story "Night Calls" appears in the current edition of Coal City Review. As part of the Savannah High School's School-Wide Reunion, William Church was a featured storyteller. He read an original short story on the Andrew County Courthouse lawn the afternoon of June 9.

Tom Pankiewicz, English instructor and Prairie Lands Writing Project Institute Director, attended the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers Affiliate Boot Camp and Leadership Conference in New York City, May 30-June 1. This fall Pankiewicz will succeed Dr. Jane Frick as the regional coordinator for the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

Dr. Sawin Declines More Honors

After serving for seven years as Director of the MWSU Honors Program, Dr. Elizabeth Latosi-Sawin decided to return to full time teaching and scholarship in the Department of English. Dr. Teddi Deka, Professor of Psychology, will begin work as the new director this summer.

As Honors Director, Dr. Sawin supervised the implementation and awarding of close to 200 Golden Griffon Scholarships, helped to establish an Honors wing in Vaselakos Hall, encouraged faculty in the delivery of over 30 different seminar themes for HON 395, substantially increased student membership in the national Alpha Chi Honorary Society, and initiated the practice of faculty/student/community book reviews on topics ranging from A Team of Rivals to The Emperor of All Maladies.

Dr. Sawin will be teaching Shakespeare, Environmental Literature, and composition in the fall and serving on a graduate thesis committee.

Professor Rosenauer named to Missouri School Board Association

Ken Rosenauer has been named to the board of directors of the Missouri School Boards' Association in Columbia, MO. Rosenauer is leadership development chair for Region One, which includes school districts in Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Clinton, Dekalb, Gentry, Holt, Nodaway and Worth counties in Northwest Missouri.

The board includes president, president-elect, vice president and immediate past president as well as 17 regional leadership development chairs and 17 regional governmental relations chairs. He is serving his third three-year term on the Savannah R-3 School Board. MSBA is the leading advocate for public education in Missouri, serving as the unified voice of school board members throughout the state.

The association also strives to provide members with an opportunity to enhance their skills, expand their knowledge, exchange ideas and discuss important issues with their colleagues.

Professor Hennessy Knighted

Jean-François Rochard, deputy cultural attaché from the French embassy, traveled to Missouri Western to "knight" Susie Hennessy, installing her as Chevalier des Palmes académiques.

The Order of Academic Palms is an order of chivalry in France that was created by Napoleon. Hennessy was recognized for her contributions to French language and culture.

President Vartabedian and Mike Cadden spoke on behalf of Hennessy during the ceremony. Mr. Rochard gave a brief address in French and then presented the medal to Hennessy.