Americorps

Four members of the Americorps FEMA Corps group (mentioned in the KCWL post below) came to speak to our honors students last Monday evening.  They were really informative and some of our students are genuinely interested in pursuing this service option after graduation.

Spring Break

Our spring break was this week, and it was really busy and exciting!  I went to Belize to work on some logistical aspects of my fall sabbatical (I'll be teaching at St. John's College, pictured below).  It was amazing and I met so many wonderful and kind people!  I also had an overnight layover in Houston on the way home, so I got to see my parents!  Yesterday, I helped the Psych Department as they hosted the Great Plains Student Psychology Convention on the Rockhurst campus (also pictured).  Today, I'm catching up on work and resting!

Honors Jazz Event

Last night we had the pleasure of welcoming Jazz pianist, Roger Wilder to campus.

He delighted us with everything from his own pieces and music by Jazz greats like Charlie Parker and Chic Corea, to the Beatles and Coldplay.  He closed with the Charlie Brown theme (a request from the audience), and then was gracious enough to accompany me and three honors students to dinner.  These students especially appreciated what a rare and wonderful treat this was!

KC Wildlands

Last Saturday, when the weather was uncharacteristically mild, Dr. Scholes and I led a KC Wildlands workday out at Swope Park.  I was was fortuitously paired with the gung-ho Americorps group, members of which were more than willing to scramble up limestone formations to kill invasive honeysuckle trees.  They were hard workers, and I think they enjoyed every minute of it. They even offered to come talk to RU Honors students about Americorps, since our students are so predisposed to doing (and loving!) service.