Alumni

Truman State Mathematics and Computer Science Alumni Newsletter

Summer 2007

From the Dean:  

Morley’s Final Musings

For thirty-seven years it has been my privilege to witness the celebrations of graduates and their parents as they participated in the university’s commencement ceremonies.  A couple of weeks ago another group of Mathematics and Computer Science majors joined the procession and moved on to the next stage of their careers.  As I write this, the students who will take their places at Truman are being enrolled for their fall semester classes.  The cycle continues.  To our new alumni who read this, we congratulate you and wish you well as we welcome you into the fraternity of division alumni.  From time to time you’ll receive an electronic newsletter like this sharing some of our news—including your own if you will be so kind as to send it to us and allow us to share it in the newsletter.  I appreciate Dr. Dana Vazzana’s efforts to ensure this avenue of communication is available.

Each year has many exciting moments as we hear of the accomplishments of our colleagues, students and graduates.  The academic year just concluded was no exception, and reports of some of those achievements are to be found elsewhere in this newsletter.  Once again it has been a privilege for me to be associated with a wonderful group of people—students, faculty and staff—who have an amazing array of knowledge, talents, and interests and the discipline and work habits that enable them to achieve at a very high level.        

I hope you’ll indulge a few personal reflections.  Lately I’ve been experiencing a number of “lasts”—my last spring banquet, my last division meeting, my last Truman commencement (whose speaker, fittingly, was Linda Miller, a Math graduate in 1971, my first commencement as a faculty member), etc.  This message is simply the latest, though not the last, last.  Since I am retiring from Truman on June 30, this is my last message to division alumni as Dean of Mathematics and Computer Science.  Technically, it is also the last alumni newsletter from the “division”.  We’ll soon become the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science as Truman initiates a new academic structure which does away with the long-standing divisional structure and replaces it with a new structure framed by two schools and a college, each housing a collection of departments.  Suffice it to say that the combination of the administrative changes and my age, aided and abetted by the fact that my last child was finishing college last week and will soon be on someone else’s payroll, was sufficient to convince me that it was time to retire.  So I shall.

My ties to this university are legion.  First, there are the relationships developed during five years as an undergraduate and (part-time) graduate student and almost thirty-seven years as a faculty member and administrator.  I have a particular fondness and appreciation for the faculty, staff and students who have enriched my life over the years through our association within the activities of this division.  In addition to those relationships, however, I have extensive family connections.  In fact, my wife and I, our two daughters, one son, a son-in-law, my brother and his wife, three of my wife’s sisters and two of their husbands, all hold degrees from Truman.  Furthermore, my mother, my wife’s father, our other son, and a daughter-in-law attended the equivalent of at least two years at Truman.  Sometimes it feels like Truman is family, because—well, it is!

Upon my retirement, there will be thirty-five faculty members in the department, only one of whom was here when I came in 1970—Sam Lesseig, who is still going strong.  When I became Division Head in 1982, there were, I believe, thirteen faculty members including myself, and most of the others had been at Truman (then Northeast) at least as long as I.  Only three of those colleagues, Sam, Wayne Bailey, and Nancy Bissey, who were here during my first year in administration, remain on the faculty.  It has been a privilege to play a role in many changes, particularly the adoption of Truman’s liberal arts and sciences mission, which provided the opportunity to grow the division and led to hiring and development of the fine group of colleagues who now constitute the division faculty.  I have every confidence in their ability to continue to develop our programs, create new ones, and inspire and support our students to achieve at even higher levels. 

I also have every confidence in my successor, Dr. Susan LaGrassa, who was selected through a divisional process to serve as the first chair of the (new) Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.  Her love of the institution and division, organizational skills, attention to detail, and fresh ideas bode well for the launching of our part of the new academic structure.  I solicit your encouragement and support of her as you have opportunity to express it.  

I must also mention the wonderful Division Secretaries who have been so much a part of the success of the division over the years I have served as Division Head and Dean.  Each brought her unique personality and set of skills to the job, and each served unselfishly in helping the division do its work.  I am particularly pleased to have been able to work these last four years with Arletta Nelson, our current Division Secretary.  Not only has she been a joy for all of us to work with each day, but she will clearly be invaluable in the transitions that lie ahead.     

Knowing when to retire has been a source of some internal struggle for me.  I have always hoped to have the wisdom to do so before a majority of my colleagues in the division wanted to run me out of town.  The circumstances that have led to my decision to retire at this time may have been fortuitous in that they seem to have enabled me to avoid such a circumstance, though the margin may be narrower than I realize.  In any case, it seems prudent not to test their patience further.

On behalf of the division, I wish you, our alumni, the best, whether you are one of our veterans or the newly minted version, who walked across the stage at Stokes Stadium on May 5.  Please maintain your association with Truman and with the division—soon to be department—by letting us know when good things happen in your life or career and by dropping by for a visit when circumstances allow.  To those who have supported (or will support) our students through your gifts to our scholarship funds, we appreciate your commitment and generosity.  Thank you for all you have done for Truman—and for me.

News from the Division:

The Math and Computer Science Division at Truman State University

announces a retirement reception to honor

Dr. Lanny morley

Saturday, June 16, 2007

SUB Georgian Room

3:00-5:00p.m.

Friends and associates

are invited to attend

Program begins at 4:00p.m.

Dr. Ronald A. Knight, Professor of Mathematics, retired in December 2007 after a tenure of devoted service to Truman State University that spanned from 1965 to 2007.  His expertise is in topological dynamics and dynamical systems, the area in which he authored many published articles.  He also coauthored a precalculus text on the elementary functions. Dr. Knight received his BS and MS degrees from Brigham Young University and his PH.D from Oklahoma State University and began his teaching career at BYU in 1960.  He also taught at University of Nebraska – Lincoln, as well as OSU.  Dr. Knight continued his research at Truman through the spring semester of 2007.

This was a banner year for Truman's Mathematical Modeling Contest Teams!  Team A, consisting of Bach Ha, Daniel Matheny and Spencer Tipping was the MAA Award Winner, and will have their solution published in the journal Undergraduate Mathematics and its Applications.  The contest had entries from 949 teams representing 12 different countries, so winning the contest was a tremendous achievement for them and for Truman!  Team B, consisting of Matt Sealy, Kip Raske, and Adam Gouge, was given an Honorable Mention. The team consisting of Bach Ha, Daniel Matheny and Spencer Tipping has also been invited to present their solution at the national annual MAA meeting this summer in San Jose, California.

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship is a nationally competitive award for students majoring in mathematics or the natural sciences, with only 300 such awards given each year throughout the country.  This year, both Adam Gouge and David Kiblinger won Goldwater scholarships.  Adam and David are both double majors in mathematics and physics at Truman.

Congratulations to the 2007-2008 MTCS Scholarship Winners!

The Frank and Mary Carter Mathematics Scholarship:

    Jamie Bloomfield, St. Charles, MO, MAE-mathematics major, BS in mathematics

    Amanda Knott, Manchester, IA, MAE-mathematics major, BS in mathematics

The Aven L. Roberets & Eugenia (Ritchie) Roberts Crain Scholarship:

    Melissa Shively, Hunnewell, MO, senior mathematics major, pre MAE, psychology minor

 The Donald Groff Mathematics Scholarship:  

    Michael O'Carroll, St. Charles, IL, sophomore mathematics major

The G.H. Jamison Scholarship:  

    Andrew Forrester, Lee's Summit, MO, junior mathematics and psychology double major, statistical methods minor

The Duane and Donna Norman Mathematics Scholarship: 

    Spring 07: Tracey Blasingame, Belvidere, IL, junior mathematics and PACT double major

    Fall 07: Jennifer Bevell, Kirksville, MO, sophomore mathematics major, music minor 

The Dean Earl and Edna Ludlow Scholarship, Mathematics and Computer Science:

    Kristofer Raske, St. Louis, MO, junior mathematics major, Asian studies minor

    April Sommer, St. Paul, MO, junior mathematics major, pre MAE, art studio minor

The Dr. Lanny C. Morley Scholarship:

    Julia Stefani, Tirana, Albania, senior CS and business double major

The Dorothy Pearson Scholarship:

    Molly Smith, Newton, IA, junior CS major, statistical methods minor

The Kenneth Stilwell Mathematics Scholarship:

    Amanda Tougas, Lee's Summit, MO, sophomore mathematics major, Spanish minor

The Mr. & Mrs. Robert Lisle Walker Scholarship:

    Andrew Haws, Rochelle, IL, junior mathematics major, Spanish minor

The Shirley Ann Watson Memorial Scholarship – Mathematics:

    Sara Galla, St. Peters, MO, senior mathematics major, pre MAE

The Harry W. Williams Memorial Scholarship:

    Lindsy Blair, Pella, IA, junior mathematics major, pre MAE, music minor

The Dale Woods Mathematics Scholarship:

    Mariya Davidkova, Sandanski, Bulgaria, senior CS major, Spanish minor

The Boeing Company – Mathematics and Computer Science Scholarship:

    Austin Abrams, Mahomet, IL, junior CS major, mathematics minor

    Tracey Blasingame, Belvidere, IL, junior mathematics and PACT double major

    David Failing, Lisle, IL, senior double mathematics and PHRE major

    David Gehrke, St. Peters, MO, senior mathematics major, music minor

    Dane Guempel, St. Louis, MO, senior CS and business double major, economics minor

    Zachary Ladlie, Grantsburg, WI, junior CS major, mathematics minor

Mathematics/CS Division Scholarships:

    Alena Hudson, Peoria, IL, Peoria H.S., MAE-mathematics major, BA in mathematics

    Joshua Kelly, House Springs, MO senior mathematics and CS double major, statistical methods minor

    Ashley Schachner, Hillsboro, MO, MAE-mathematics major, BA in mathematics

News from Truman's Alumni:

From Michelle Hannon, 2004:  After graduating in 2004, I moved to Dayton, Ohio and married my long-time boyfriend, Nick. I took a job as an engineer/scientist with Ball Aerospace, but for the last year have been working as a software engineer. In Sept. 06 I gave birth to a wonderful little girl that we named Hannah. It’s really difficult to be a full-time working mom, and unfortunately I have not figured out how to continue my education and meet my commitments to my family and employers. We are trying to move back to St. Louis, and I might go back to school full-time then. I am looking at some of the programs at Wash U – specifically, the planetary science, bioinformatics, and statistics and social sciences graduate degrees.

From Jill Hartnett, 2004: Jill Hartnett will receive her Masters in Mathematics Education from New York University at the end of June.  She has accepted a teaching position at Shawnee Mission North High School and will begin teaching this fall.

From Ryan Okenfuss, 2001: I have been teaching and am entering my 5th year.  I started my career at Ste. Genevieve High School and have continued it at Owensville High School since 2004.  In addition to teaching math, I am a football coach and I am a certified high school baseball umpire.  On Oct. 15, 2005 I was married to Carrie Ridenhour of Owensville who is an elementary school teacher.  I inherited two beautiful stepdaughters (now 12 &5) and we are expecting a baby boy this November.  It is great to see everyone doing so well.

From Sandy (Tenbrink) Peterson, 2001: Yep, I got married.  Just 2 months ago, actually.  Had a gorgeous ceremony on the beach in Bermuda.  Other than that, I'm just workin hard at the Census Bureau and going to school at University of Maryland.  In about a year, I should have a Master's in Survey Methodology.  All completely paid for by the federal government.  Gotta love it.
 

From Brian Stone, 1999: I went to the Air Force's Officer Training School in 2003 and became a statistical analyst.  My first assignment was at Eglin AFB in Fort Walton Beach, Florida where I married Robin Anderson in January of 2004.  We have just moved to Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio to earn my Master's Degree in Operations Research from the Air Force Institute of Technology.
 

From Matthew Schuette, B.S. 1992, M.A. 1994:   I am currently Assistant Professor of Mathematics at William Jewell College in the Department of Physics and Mathematics.  I spent the last 6 years as Assistant Professor at Georgia Southern University in southeast GA. 

From Donna (Foresyth) Thorne, B.S. '92 and M.S.E.'94:  I am pleased to announce the birth of our first child Nicholas Foresyth Thorne on January 18, 2006 weighing in at 9 lb, 14 oz.  (Ouch!)  We are currently in Washington DC as John is stationed at the Pentagon.  I am a stay-at-home mom to Nicky while working on a M.S. in Mathematics from Texas A&M through their Distance Education program to enable me to teach at the community college level.
 

From Rhonda Gibler, 1991:  I completed my PhD program in Consumer and Family Econ at University of Missouri - Columbia in May 2006.  My specific area of research is retirement programs.  I am currently the Asst. Vice Provost for Management for the Extension Division of the University of Missouri.  My husband of 17 years, Kevin, and I have three children Kelsie (11), Haylie (7), and Kendall (3).

From Barbara Dougherty, M.A. 1985: I have moved from Hawaii to Mississippi due to my husband’s mother’s illness. I have recently been named director of the Center for Educational Research and Evaluation at this university. I am also working on some projects with NCTM and maintain an active research agenda in mathematics education

Photo Gallery:

This group photo of the MTCS faculty and staff was taken at the 2007 Spring Banquet.  Front row: Arletta Nelson, Pam Ryan, Dana Vazzana, Suren Fernando, Lanny Morley, Ron Knight, Susan LaGrassa, Eric Howard, Scott Thatcher, Nancy Bissey. Back row: Wayne Bailey, Donna Bailey, Jon Beck, Tony Vazzana, Don Bindner, Dean DeCock, Steve Smith, David Garth, Jason Shaw, Bob Cacciopo, Bob Mathews, James Guffey.

The MAA Prize-winning team of Spencer Tipping, Dan Matheny, and Bach Ha are shown here presenting their solution from the MAA Mathematical Modeling Contest at the Midwest Undergraduate Mathematics Symposium, held at Simpson College in April.

Truman's mathematics department produced two Goldwater scholarship winners this year: Adam Gouge and David Kiblinger.  David was studying in Budapest during the Spring 2007 semester and was unavailable for this photograph, but shown here are Vice President Maria DiStefano, President Barbara Dixon, Adam Gouge, Dana Vazzana, and David Garth.  Dr. Garth worked as Adam's research advisor, and Dr. Vazzana supervised the Goldwater application process for mathematics majors.

This year's MTCS faculty/student softball game and picnic concluded a busy weekend for math majors, as KME students participated in the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life on Friday night and the MAA/KME Integration Bee took place at noon on Saturday.  The faculty (with some help from their teenaged children and grandchildren) managed to eke out a victory, and a good time was had by all.

Sharing some cheer at the annual Christmas Party are MAE students Andi Brown, Laura Williams, Jamie Bloomfield, Dave DeMoss, and Adam Bezinovich, joined by Santa James Guffey and his elf Susan LaGrassa.

Best wishes to the Morleys for some very happy retirement years, and a heartfelt thanks from all of us!