Jackie Jackson – Vice President for University Advancement

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Hello Truman alumni and friends! I’m Jackie Jackson, and I am excited to join the Truman State University community as Vice President of Advancement. My family and I are grateful for the warm welcome we’ve already received, and we are thrilled to be calling this special place home.

Jackie Jackson

What has stood out to me most during my first days here is the pride, loyalty and genuine care that each person I have met has for Truman. That sense of connection is not only part of the University’s history; it is essential to its future. Alumni engagement, in all its forms, strengthens Truman by creating opportunity for students, deepening relationships across generations and ensuring the values of academic excellence and service continue to thrive.

I am fortunate to be joining a talented and dedicated Advancement team that is committed to building meaningful connections with alumni and friends of the University. Together, we are focused on listening, learning and creating opportunities for alumni to stay engaged in ways that are rewarding, impactful and fun! Whether that means reconnecting through events, mentoring students, volunteering or giving to a fund that matters to you, we are here for you.

One of the best ways to stay connected is by joining the Alumni Association. Membership helps sustain alumni programs, supports current students through scholarships and engagement opportunities and keeps Bulldogs connected no matter where life takes them. I invite you to learn more, get involved and be part of our growing network of alumni who continue to shape Truman’s future.

Thank you for your continued engagement and for all you do to keep Truman strong. Go Bulldogs!

Alumni Spotlight – Alicia Mestre Bruce (’16, ’17)

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AliciaAlicia Mestre Bruce (’16, ’17) spends her days working in Talent Management at Rabobank, but her nights are used for her own ventures as a freelance book cover artist for romance novels. Having studied business and leadership during her time at Truman, Alicia has set herself up for success in a wide array of career paths. She has had her artwork published with several #1 New York Times Bestselling authors (such as Carissa Broadbent, Ali Hazelwood, and Jennifer L Armentrout). Exciting things are on the horizon for Alicia who has written two full novels of her own in the past year and secured a literary agent. Alicia is a co-founder of an international social group that offers advice and resources to fellow book artists.

Alicia serves as an impressive example of not putting oneself in a box. Though she pursued a career path in line with her field of study, she didn’t stop there. Alicia aimed high and chose not to limit her dreams for the sake of practicality. She has learned first-hand that it is worth it to work hard, chase goals and overcome adversity.

Truman Athletics Hall of Fame Induction – ’94-’95 Men’s Cross Country Teams

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94-95 Cross Country Team

On January 10, 2026, the 1994-1995 Men’s Cross Country team was inducted into Truman’s Athletic Hall of Fame. The team was recognized for having achieved the highest finish in program history by placing third at the NCAA Division II National Championships. This historic accomplishment marked a breakthrough season that established the foundation for sustained excellence in Bulldog cross country.

Under the guidance of Head Coach Ed Schneider, who earned MIAA Coach of the Year honors, the Bulldogs captured the MIAA Team Championship with 51 points. The conference title was powered by three top-10 finishers who earned All-Conference recognition: Thad Bartram (5th, 26:27), Jeremy Struttmann (8th, 26:57), and Jason Golonka (10th, 27:02). The team’s commitment to academic excellence was also evident as Struttmann and Golonka earned MIAA Academic All-Conference honors.

The Bulldogs continued their impressive performance at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championships, securing third place with 95 points to advance to nationals. Three runners finished in the top 20: Bartram (7th, 33:30, 5:23 pace), Struttmann (13th, 34:01, 5:28 pace), and Mark Miller (19th, 34:16, 5:31 pace).

At the NCAA Division II National Championships in Kearney, Nebraska, the Bulldogs claimed third place with 195 points, finishing behind champion Adams State (55 points) and runner-up Western State (73 points). The team produced two All-Americans: Bartram (24th, 32:18) and Struttmann (38th, 32:50).

Throughout the season, the 1994 squad demonstrated consistency and competitiveness, winning the Division II title at the Kansas Jayhawk Invitational, placing second at both the Missouri Sport Shake Challenge and the prestigious Notre Dame Invitational, and finishing fourth at the Missouri Southern Stampede.

The 1995 men’s cross country team built upon the previous year’s success to achieve even greater heights, capturing the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship and matching the program’s best-ever finish with a third-place showing at the NCAA Division II National Championships. This accomplishment solidified the Bulldogs’ status as one of the premier Division II cross country programs in the nation.

Under Head Coach Ed Schneider, the Bulldogs demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout the season. At the MIAA Championships, the team finished second with 41 points behind Central Missouri, placing three runners in the top 10 to earn All-Conference honors: Thad Bartram (5th, 25:05), Jason Golonka (6th, 25:15), and Christian Blackburn (7th, 25:16). The team’s dedication to academic excellence was exceptional, with five athletes earning MIAA Academic All-Conference recognition: Mike Johnson, Sean Massa, Jeremy Struttmann, Jason Golonka, and Scott Poston.

The Bulldogs’ defining achievement came at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championships, where they claimed the regional title with 53 points. Four runners finished in the top 12 to pace the championship effort: Bartram (3rd, 31:44, 5:06 pace), Blackburn (10th, 32:13, 5:11 pace), Mark Miller (11th, 32:16, 5:11 pace), and Golonka (12th, 32:22, 5:12 pace).

At the NCAA Division II National Championships in Spartansburg, South Carolina, the Bulldogs matched the previous year’s third-place finish with an improved team score of 128 points. The 1995 squad produced five All-Americans, all finishing in the top 40: Christian Blackburn (14th, 31:33.39), Jeremy Struttmann (20th, 31:50.52), Mark Miller (28th, 32:08.48), Thad Bartram (29th, 32:10.13), and Jason Golonka (37th, 32:23.47).

The back-to-back podium finishes at the national championships in 1994 and 1995 established a legacy of excellence that remains unmatched in program history.

Know an outstanding Bulldog athlete? Nominations of individual athletes or teams to Truman’s Athletic Hall of Fame can be made online here. Categories for consideration include:

  • A meritorious nomination is for outstanding contributions to the Truman Athletic program over a period of at least ten years.
  • An Athlete nomination is for outstanding contributions as a Bulldog student-athlete that has graduated at least 10 years ago.
  • A Team nomination is for a championship or National qualifying team from at least 10 years ago.

Alumni Spotlight – Mary Rhodes Russell (’80)

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Mary Rhodes Russell

Missouri Supreme Court judge Mary Rhodes Russell (’80), has been honored by the National Judicial College with the 2025 Sandra Day O’Connor Award. This award recognizes a judge or former judge who has shown extraordinary service and commitment to the cause of justice.

Judge Russell is the third woman to serve on the Supreme Court of Missouri since the statehood. Appointed to the Court in 2004, she is currently the longest-serving member and has served two terms as Chief Justice. Before her tenure on the Supreme Court, Judge Russell was in private practice in Hannibal and was on the Court of Appeals, Eastern District.

A 7th-generation Missourian, Judge Russell grew up on a farm near Hannibal. She graduated as valedictorian from Hannibal High School, earned summa cum laude honors from Truman State University, with a BS and BA in communication. While a student, she was actively involved in campus life, including as a staff member of The Index, Cardinal Key, Sigma Sigma Sigma and was a Pershing Scholar. She went on to earn her Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law.

Judge Russell was on the Board of Governors of Truman State University (1993-1997, serving as president in 1996). During her tenure, the Board voted to change the name of the University to Truman State University and hired Dr. Jack Magruder as president. In addition, she has been a member of numerous statewide boards and commissions and has been deeply involved in various legal and community organizations.

She is the recipient of many awards and honors granted by Truman, including being named Truman State University’s Alumna of the Year in 2013, the Distinguished Service in 2003 and the 2025 Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal. She was also recognized by Ingram’s as one of Missouri’s 50 Missourians You Should Know and was honored as Woman of the Year by USA Today.

Judge Russell enjoys being a mentor to numerous young people and passionate advocate for civics education, regularly speaking to students and community groups to help demystify the courts.

 

Fall 2025 Education Newsletter – Note from the Department Chair

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Jocelyn Stevens

Greetings!

My name is Jocelyn Stevens, and I am the chair of the Education Department at Truman, as well as the coordinator for the music education program. In this newsletter you’ll find information about many of the exciting things that have been happening in Truman’s Education Department, including profiles of our new faculty members, the accomplishments of some impressive MAE graduates, and an exciting program for our MAE students. The tradition of excellence in teacher preparation remains strong here at Truman, and I hope you enjoy reading about a few of the reasons why!

We have expanded our MAE Advisory Board to include Dr. Howard Fields, Superintendent of the Ferguson-Florrisant School District, and Collin Davit, Director of AI and Blended Learning for the Lindbergh School District. We are continuing to seek out innovative educational leaders from across the state to ensure that our program meets the needs to students and teachers and is informed by current experiences in the field, so I welcome any suggestions of individuals we should invite to join our Advisory Board.

The faculty and staff in our department are some of the most hard-working and genuinely caring individuals I have had the pleasure to work with. We have added two wonderful new full time faculty members to our team this year, Melissa Chapman and Madeline Good (read more about them here), and our veteran faculty continue to do fantastic work. Here are a few highlights:

  • Holly Kincaid was 1 out of 10 gifted education professors from across the country selected by the National Association of Gifted Children to participate in a distinguished education delegation in Muscat, Oman where she will be speaking on the strengths and talents of twice-exceptional children.
  • Julene Ensign was recognized by MOSHAPE (Missouri Society of Health and Physical Educators) as the Scholar of the Year for her excellence in research and publication. Julene had manuscript of a longitudinal study of beginning physical educators published in October in Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport.
  • Stacy Davis’s chapter in the book Approaches to Teaching the Works of Benito Pérez Galdós will be published by the Modern Language Association in the spring.
  • Chris Maglio was reappointed by the governor to the Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board and has been working at the Greenwood Interprofessional Autism Center to provide autism screenings.
  • Enrique Pareja, Marty Strange, and Jill Arnold have all been or continue to serve on various certification committees for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

I am regularly impressed by my colleagues for the work they do in their scholarly and service endeavors but, just like each of you, it’s the teaching in the classroom each day, the relationships they form with their students, and the way they quietly work to ensure that their students get the best educational experiences possible that is the most important work. Rest assured that the tradition of excellent teacher preparation continues to remain strong at Truman. So share that Bulldog spirit and keep in touch!

New Education Faculty Spotlight

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Melissa ChapmanMelissa Chapman has always known she wanted to be a teacher. Even as a child, she explored other career paths, but inevitably found her way back to teaching. To Melissa, teaching isn’t just something you do; it’s a fundamental part of who you are. She is grateful to have found purpose in teaching across a wide range of subjects and age levels throughout her career.

Having earned her BS in English (’00) and MAE in Elementary Education (’02) at Truman State University, Melissa always welcomed Truman students into her classroom when working in K-12 and found great fulfillment in mentoring them. Her long-time dream has been to spend a full career teaching in public education, then carry that joy forward to the university level. Melissa hopes to inspire the next generation of educators in much the same way her professors at Truman did for her.

Melissa loves the advice given by Jennifer Gonzalez: “Find your Marigold.” In other words, surround yourself with people who support you, help you grow, and help you hold onto your joy on the hard days. Teaching is not easy, but it is always worth it, and it always matters.

Outside of teaching as a professor at Truman, Melissa owns and operates a yoga studio in Kirksville called 9 Lemons Yoga.

 

Madeline GoodMadeline Good sincerely believes that access to high-quality education is part of the bedrock of our democracy and one of the most effective avenues people can take to help make our country (and the world) a more just and peaceful place. Prior to her joining our faculty at Truman, Madeline spent time teaching 3rd and 4th grade.

Although not a Truman grad herself, Madeline was drawn to Truman’s Education Department due to its small community, liberal arts focus, outstanding students and supportive faculty! After visiting the campus, she could tell it was going to be a perfect fit for her personality and professional goals.

For Truman students who aspire to be teachers, Madeline has two main pieces of advice. First, learn everything you can about classroom management throughout your coursework and when visiting classrooms and schools. It is the foundation of having a warm, welcoming and well-run classroom and can help you keep your sanity as you adjust to teaching. Second, remember that every student you have is someone’s precious child. Parents, whether consciously or not, put immense trust in their children’s schools and teachers. Because of this, being a teacher carries a great responsibility.

Outside of her time teaching, Madeline purchased an e-bike in 2024 and has put over 1500 miles on it by bringing her son to-and-from kindergarten on it.

Alumni Spotlight – Melissa Chapman (’00, ’02)

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Melissa Chapman

 

 

Melissa Chapman always knew she wanted to be a teacher. To her, teaching isn’t just something you do; it’s a fundamental part of who you are. A 2000 and 2002 graduate of Truman, she has been in the classroom for 25 years. She joined Truman’s Education Department as an Instructor in Education for the 25-26 academic year.

 

 

 

What brought you to Truman’s Education Department?
I have always welcomed Truman students into my K-12 classroom and found great fulfillment in mentoring them. My long-time dream has been to spend a full career teaching in public education, which I deeply love, and then carry that joy forward to the university level. I hope to inspire the next generation of educators in much the same way my professors inspired me.

 

What is the most helpful piece of advice you’ve received? Or if you could share one piece of advice with students, what would it be?
I love the advice given by Jennifer Gonzalez: “Find your Marigold.” In other words, surround yourself with people who support you, help you grow, and help you hold onto your joy on the hard days. Teaching is not easy, but it is always worth it, and it always matters.

Fun fact about yourself:
Fun fact: I’m also a yoga instructor. I own a small business called 9 Lemons Yoga.

Favorite Quote:
“I wonder if we might pledge ourselves to remember what life is really all about—not to be afraid that we’re less flashy than the next, not to worry that our influence is not that of a tornado, but rather that of a grain of sand in an oyster! Do we have that kind of patience?” Fred Rogers

Alumni Spotlight – Ryan Brennan (’95)

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Ryan Brennan

Truman’s 2025 Alumnus of the Year is Ryan Brennan. A 1995 political science graduate, he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and Blue Key as a student. He has served his alma mater as a member of Truman’s Foundation Board of Directors and as a Campaign Volunteer. Brennan was recognized with as Truman’s Young Alumnus of the Year in 2000. He received his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Brennan is currently a Managing Director at Advantage Capital, where he leads the firm’s efforts to foster access to capital and economic development in underserved communities. Advantage Capital has invested over $4.2 billion in small businesses throughout the country, financed the development of nearly 15,000 units of affordable housing and provided tax credit equity for 2.81GW of renewable energy projects (sufficient to provide close to 500,000 homes with clean energy).

He is a member of the Executive Committee and Compensation Committee and is a leader on the firm’s Fundraising Team and Growth Team.

Brennan was most recently Chief Operating Officer for the United States International Development and Finance Corporation (DFC), the development finance arm of the U.S. government. While at DFC, he drove the creation and adoption of the Impact Quotient (IQ), an innovative method of measuring and improving impact in projects around the world. He was a member of the DFC Investment Committee and led business development across the Western Hemisphere that facilitated billions in direct investment to Central America’s Northern Triangle.

Brennan serves on the Board of the Napa Valley College, The Foundation Board of the Gregorian University in Rome and is former President of the Boys and Girls Club of Napa Valley.

Bulldogs Honored for Excellence in Teaching and Advising

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SPAW awardsSeven Truman alumni members of the University faculty and staff were recently recognized for excellence in teaching and advising.

  • Jill Arnold (’98) and Elizabeth Wiles (’06) were promoted to Associate Professor and granted tenure.
  • Jeanne Harding (’92) and Violet Odzinski (’18) were the William O’Donnell Lee Advising Award recipients.
  • Marianna Giovannini (’64) received the Points of Excellence Award.
  • Laci Cook (’03), owner of Sip Downtown, received the Points of Light Award, a special recognition for community members and businesses who have shown invaluable support and contribution to the University.
  • Elizabeth Wiles (’06) was recognized with the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.
  • Stacey Kaden (’03, ’04) was named Educator of the Year.

 

Alumni Spotlight – Larry Lunsford (’81, ’83)

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Larry LunsfordLarry Lunsford (’81, ’83) has been selected Rotary International’s president for 2027-2028. Larry’s track record of service and involvement has deep roots. As a student, Larry played both varsity basketball and baseball. Additionally, he held multiple leadership roles as a student, including Vice President of Student Senate, President of Delta Sigma Pi and a member of the Student Activities Board, Accounting Club and the Residence Hall Association. He continued his involvement with his alma mater after graduation, serving as the first president of the Alumni Board and also serving on the Foundation Board. Additionally, he received Truman’s Distinguished Service Award in 2003.

Larry’s long involvement with the Rotary includes receiving a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship. In 1982 he spent an academic year at the University of Newcastle, Australia as a beneficiary of the Rotary Foundation.  This immersion began a 42-year journey in leadership with Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation – a journey that includes 21 International Conventions, service as Governor, Director and Trustee.

Larry enjoys the opportunity to connect with his community and has always enjoyed making connections through public speaking. One speaking engagement in 1983 gave him the opportunity to connect with Jill Griffin, an audience member who introduced herself after a speech on leadership he gave on a college campus. Jill is now his wife of nearly 40 years, and they share two grown children and one grandchild. In addition to his service to Rotary International, Larry is active in his community through events such as Kansas City Spirit Festival, the Epilepsy Foundation for the Heart of America and the Variety Club. His advice to students is consistent with his passion for getting involved: “Don’t stand on the sidelines; be an active participant in the game.”