Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.
Featured Interview Profiles
Scroll through the profiles and click on a photo to learn more about the people in this video series.
Dr. Brian Lamp
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Hello,
I'm Dr. Brian Lamp, a chemistry professor here at Truman. I
received my bachelors degree from Augustana College in South Dakota
and my Ph.D. from Iowa State University. I teach several
different courses at Truman including Quantitative Analysis,
Instrument Analysis, and Advanced Analytical Chemistry. My
research interests are in the areas of surface design and
electroanalytical chemistry. Students are involved in all
aspects of my research. They pose questions, design and conduct
experiments, analyze and interpret data, and document and present
results. I see my role as a research mentor as that of a
catalyst. My job is to get the students involved and moving in the
right direction and then get out of the way so that they can get a
clear picture of what the research process is really like. Our
students are the best thing about Truman. Aside from being
strong academically, our students are a lot of fun!
Dr. Chris Lantz
Professor and Chair of Health and Exercise Science
Hello,
I'm Dr. Chris Lantz, Chair of the Department of Health and Exercise
Science. I think the students really appreciate the sense of
community that exists in our classes. The learning environment
engages students in active, problem-based learning and students
learn by doing. Students also seem to like the small class sizes
that enable them to get to know their professors and fellow
students. It also gives them an opportunity to interact with faculty
members outside of class. More than what attracted me to
Truman, is what has made me want to stay here. If I had to narrow it
down to just a couple of things it would have to be Truman's mission
and the people with which I work. I truly enjoy working for a
university that prizes excellence in the classroom. Everything
we do centers around the student and providing the best experience
we possibly can. To me, that is what education should be.
Isaac
Political Science Student
Hi,
I'm Isaac, a junior Political Science major from Florissant,
Missouri. At Truman I'm involved in Student Government and
Blue Key, an honor and service fraternity. I chose Truman
because I wanted an ivy league education without the expensive cost.
Truman has a great reputation in the workforce and commands respect.
This is a place where every student is able to make their college
experience exactly what they want it to be. We're encouraged
to try new things, take on tough challenges, learn, and have fun
while doing it all! My greatest experience has been getting
involved in Student Government early and being elected Vice
President of the Student Association. At Truman, you're never
too young to get involved and take hold of every opportunity.
Ivy
Business Administration - Finance Student
Hey,
I'm Ivy, a senior Business Administration - Finance major from Hazel
Crest, Illinois. At Truman I'm involved with Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority, Incorporated, and the National Association of Black
Accountants. While at Truman I have been fortunate to have two
work experiences, an internship with Edward Jones and an externship
with Resolution Systems Institute. I chose Truman because I
was looking for an excellent education at an affordable price that
was far, but not too far away from home. There are also
numerous ways to be active and involved on campus for every student
here. Experiencing a small town college education has been
very interesting too and I am glad it has brought me out of my
comfort zone. I really enjoyed the intimate campus life.
With the small classes and highly accessible teachers, I was able to
get the most out of my experience!
Jake
Studio Art Student
Hi,
I'm Jake, a junior Studio Art - Painting major with Photography and
Business Administration minors, from Carroll, Iowa. At Truman
I am involved with the First Years Activities Coordinating Team,
Truman State University Cheerleading, and Student Ambassadors.
I love that every student at Truman is very involved socially,
academically, and within the community. Everyone values their
education and works very hard, but also recognize the importance of
getting involved outside of classes. I believe that every new
student at Truman should get involved in some sort of organized
activity outside of classes - it helps you build strong friendships
and has valuable opportunities. I love being a cheerleader.
Looking into the crowd and seeing all of the Truman pride, spirit,
and support makes me feel so honored to be a part of the Truman
community.
Jessica
Communications Student
Hello,
I'm Jessica, a sophomore Communication major and Political Science
minor from Millstadt, Illinois. At Truman I compete with the
Speech and Debate Team and am involved in Pi Kappa Delta, Campus
PALS, and the Pershing Society. Joining the Speech and Debate
team has been a fantastic experience. We have placed at the
National Tournament the past two years and being part of such a
competitive team has helped me become a better researcher, speaker,
and writer. I also love Truman's liberal arts education.
Not only are these classes fascinating, they force you to think in
different ways. Over time, you begin to see connections
between the different disciplines, which allows you to achieve a
deeper and broader range of learning. I chose Truman because I
knew this was the place I belonged.
Dr. Julia DeLancey
Professor of Art - Art History
Hello,
I'm Dr. Julia DeLancey a professor of Art History here at Truman.
I earned my bachelors degree from the University of Michigan in the
History of Art and earned my Ph.D. from the University of St.
Andrews in Scotland also in the History of Art. I teach
courses on European and American art from the Renaissance through
the present day, including upper-level courses on Renaissance and
Baroque art, as well as seminars on Michelangelo, and the
historiography and methodology of art history. I was so
fortunate to be honored by my students as Educator of the Year in
2002 and I was also named an Allen Fellow for Faculty Excellence in
2005. Along with teaching, I have been fortunate enough to
help numerous students with undergraduate research projects and work
with other colleagues to expose Truman students to other cultures
through study abroad programs.
Kirsten
Creative Writing Student
Hey,
I'm Kirsten, a Junior Creative Writing, Pre-Secondary Education
major with a Theatre minor from Florissant, Missouri. At
Truman I am involved in Alpha Sigma Gamma, Minor Detail, and work as
a Telecounselor. I chose Truman because I knew I wanted an
education where I would be challenged, as well as get a valuable
education for my money. My favorite aspect about Truman is
that we're all part of an academic and respectful community - I love
how connected everyone is. The most important thing to do is
to get involved. I know that when I first came to Truman I was
afraid to join organizations and clubs for fear that I wouldn't be
able to handle them with the academics. Now I don't know what
I would do without the support systems I have created through the
organizations I am involved with!
Luke
Physics and Political Science Student
Hey,
I'm Luke, a senior Physics and Political Science double major from
Kirksville, Missouri. At Truman I'm involved in Alpha Kappa
Lambda, Blue Key an honor and service fraternity, Student Senate,
and I work with the Serve Center. My favorite thing about
Truman is the size of the student body. It is nice that every
time I'm on campus I run into people I know, but still always have
the opportunity to meet someone new. The size has also allowed
me to develop personal relationships with my professors who have
helped me in more than just academic ways. Pledging Alpha
Kappa Lambda, a social fraternity, was one of the best experiences
for me. It was a lot of work, but the long hours spent with my
best friends doing random things for fun were some of the best hours
of my entire Truman experience. Everyone should find something
to get involved in because they will learn a lot from others and a
lot about themselves.
Michelle
Health Science Student
Hi,
my name is Michelle and I'm a senior Health Science major with
Biology and Psychology minors, from Davenport, Iowa. At Truman
I am involved with GlobeMed, Delta Zeta, Student Public Health
Association, The Society of Dance Arts, Bacchus and Gamma, Student
Ambassadors, Order of Omega, and the Panhellenic Council. I
chose Truman because it was only four hours away from home - the
ideal distance, not too close and not too far. I made my final
decision to come to Truman after I met with some of the professors
in the Health and Exercise Science Department. I was
completely inspired by their passion for the subject and they made
me want to come to Truman. Once I was here I found that I
really enjoyed the challenging coursework, small class sizes, and
active campus life. Most of all, my favorite aspect of Truman
would have to be the people!
Nathan
Communications Student
Hi,
I'm Nathan, a senior Communication Journalism major with a music
minor from El Dorado Springs, Missouri. At Truman I have been
on the football team, played the French Horn in the Wind Symphony,
participated in the Franklin Street Singers show choir, work at the
local news station - KTVO, and help with the youth group at First
Christian Church. I am from a small town and I really enjoy
the closeness of the University and the Kirksville Community.
I also like that I know so many of the people on campus. I see
students with whom I have studied, lived, and worked. I'm even
friends with some professors! You can't find that at a big school.
I don't think you could find another university with the combination
of great things that are at Truman. It's rare to find a place with
great academics, liberal arts, small classes, plenty of
organizations, and a low cost. I was blown away by Truman's
commitment to excellence.
Pat
Business Administration Student
Hello,
I'm Pat, a senior Business Administration (Management and Marketing
concentrations) major with a Spanish for the Professions minor.
At Truman I am involved in Sigma Tau Gamma, Tag Improv, Alpha Kappa
Psi, Student Ambassadors, and TSU Drumline. I also completed a
Business Management internship with Walgreens When I visited
Truman the student body was so friendly and accommodating. The
small size made me feel comfortable that I would be able to pursue
my passions (improv, music, acting) outside of my major. Now
that I'm a student I love the level of interaction between the
student organizations. Overall I really love the cooperative
environment of the student community. My advice to first-year
students would be use the library - we have one for a reason!
It took me far too long (end of sophomore year - eek!) to realize
that you can study much more peacefully and efficiently in the
library.
Riley
Communication and Pre-Education Student
Hey,
I'm Riley, a senior Communication, Pre-Elementary Education major
from Olathe, Kansas. At Truman I play in the Franklin Street
Singers band, the jazz combos, work as a telecounselor, and sing
with True Men - the all men's a cappella choir. I like that at
Truman everyone seems to generally want to learn. I tried hard to
make it look like I didn't care about class in high school because
that was lame, but at Truman we all accept that learning is
interesting and we are all a bit nerdy. Truman was the perfect
size and distance from home for me. I knew I wanted to go to a
liberal arts college and all the other campuses I visited were too
small for me. I thought Kirksville would be a ghost town on
the weekends, but I was surprised to find that there are actually
things to do and places to go if you look hard enough and are
willing to step a little outside your comfort zone.
Sarah
Romance Language and Linguistics Student
Hi,
I'm Sarah, a freshman Romance Languages major and Italian Studies
minor, from Chatham, Virginia. At Truman I am involved in
Campus PALS, Hablantes Unidos, and Studio (Youth leadership at the
Crossing, a local church). I chose Truman because of the
friendly environment I encountered when I first visited and my
favorite thing has been getting to know the people. I've made
it a point to surround myself with people who think and act
differently than me. It's challenged me to grow. The
best moment with my friends this year was cooking a Thanksgiving
meal, turkey and all! I feel like we've grown to be a family,
and I know we'll be friends for a long time. My professors
have also been awesome - they're really willing to help if you need
them. I would suggest that all first-year students meet with
their professors outside of class. Just go to their office
hours and introduce yourself, they really do care!
Dr. Troy Paino
President, Truman State University
Hello,
I'm Dr. Troy Paino, President of Truman State University. I
received my Bachelors degree in History and Philosophy from Evangel
University then earned both my masters and Ph.D. from Michigan State
University in American Studies. I also received a Juris
Doctorate from Indiana University School of Law and practiced law in
Indianapolis for several years. My teaching and scholarly
interests are in 20th-century cultural and social history and
American legal history and I have also written extensively on the
history of American sport. I have been at Truman since 2008
and I enjoy my time with the campus community. I hold "Coffee
with the President" sessions to interact with the campus and also
enjoy being involved in the Kirksville community - especially with
Rotary and the First United Methodist Church.
Vianey
Political Science Student
Hi,
I'm Vianey, a senior Political Science major with a Communication
minor, from Kansas City, Missouri. At Truman I am involved in
Delta Zeta, Order of Omega, Hispanic American Leaders Organization,
and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. I was also
lucky enough to complete an internship with Governor Jay Nixon in
the spring of 2010. Some of my best memories have been through
the organizations I am a member of. My favorite experience
during my first year was participating in the homecoming parade with
my sorority. I would tell all first year students to go out
and enjoy homecoming and all the activities Truman has to offer!
I chose to come to Truman because of its reputation but what I love
most is that I never feel alone. The small classes and the
ability to know your teachers creates a very close community.
Wynne Wilbur
Associate Professor of Art
Hello,
I'm Wynne Wilbur, an Associate Professor of Art - Ceramics and Art
Education. I have my Bachelors degree from Bethany College,
and graduate degrees from Emporia State University and the
University of Florida. The one-on-one interactions between
students and faculty really make Truman a unique place. I am
sometimes overwhelmed at the quality of the work our students
produce for their BA and BFA senior shows. The best thing
about teaching at Truman would have to be the outstanding students.
With ceramics, students really seem to like the combination of
intellectual and physical/technical challenges in my classes.
Since creative work is inherently a solo activity there really isn't
room for students to help with my work but I have encouraged and
mentored undergraduate students in developing their own creative
work which has been presented at the Student Research Conference.
News, Features and Announcements
June 17, 2013Truman Receives Award for Record Preservation Program