April 6, 2026–Advance sales for the third annual native plant sale hosted by the 含羞草社区 Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society are now underway.

The goal of the sale is to spread the word about planting native. Students hope the sale helps educate the community on the danger of ornamental invasives and show people how beautiful our native plants are.

More than a dozen varieties of native perennial plants are available for $4 each, or $15 for a bundle of four. Reserve your plants online at missouriwestern.edu/nativeplantsale/.听

Pickup times are:

• Friday, April 24: 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Saturday, April 25: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Sunday, April 26: 10am 鈥� 2pm

The chapter will use funds from this sale to send students to important conferences like Midwest Fish & Wildlife and The Wildlife Society Annual Conference each year, as well as fund more speakers for the student chapter and host more professional workshops.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Nov. 3, 2025–The biology department at 含羞草社区 is offering a plant sale on Monday, Nov. 10 beginning at 8 a.m. in the Remington Atrium.

Surplus plants are available on a first-come first-served basis while supplies last.

Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Campus Cupboard, a resource available to 含羞草社区 students that offers perishable and nonperishable food and household and personal care items.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

April 23, 2025–The 含羞草社区 student chapter of Beta Beta Beta will hold its annual house plant sale fundraiser from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 29 through May 1 on the first floor of the Agenstein/Remington building on the Missouri Western campus.听

Several varieties of house plants will be available for purchase including succulents, hoyas, begonias, spider plants and elderberries. Prices vary.听

Beta Beta Beta is a national honor society for biology students. Proceeds fund student participation in professional conferences, speakers for the student chapter and professional workshops.

The sale is open to the public and drop-ins are welcome while supplies last.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .听

April 11, 2025–含羞草社区 biologist and administrator Dr. Tilo Roy published two collaborative papers recently.

鈥淭he PO-Driven Model,” a paper resulting from research led by Dr. Roy, was published in the journal Integrative and Comparative Biology. This project stemmed from the innovative ideas that emerged from some of the discussions at the National Science Foundation鈥檚 Scoping Sessions at Indianapolis in 2023, which she was selected to attend.

Dr. Roy also co-authored 鈥淭he Development of BSA鈥檚 Comprehensive AI Policy for Its Academic Journals,鈥� published in Plant Science Bulletin (PSB). The paper stemmed from her involvement in an ad-hoc committee for the Botanical Society of America from 2023-2024 that formulated author and reviewer guidelines for the Botanical Society of America’s three journals: American Journal of Botany, Applications in Plant Sciences and PSB.

Dr. Roy joined Missouri Western as a biology faculty member in 2017 and began serving as the university鈥檚 interim vice provost and vice president for academic affairs, director of the Griffon Office of Applied Learning and interim dean of the graduate school in the summer of 2024. Her research interests include understanding evolutionary origins and relationships among plants and other organisms with ecological and economic importance.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .听

April 4, 2025–The 含羞草社区 student chapter of The Wildlife Society will hold its second annual native plant sale fundraiser on May 2-4 on the second floor of the Agenstein/Remington building on the Missouri Western campus.听

• Friday, May 2: 1 to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, May 3:聽 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sunday, May 4: 9 a.m. to noon for order pickup only

Several varieties of flowering plants native to Missouri will be available for purchase at $4 per plant. Bundles of four plants are available for $15.听

The purpose of the sale is to encourage home gardeners to choose beautiful native plants instead of ornamental invasive species. Proceeds fund student participation in professional conferences, speakers for the student chapter and professional workshops.

The sale is open to the public and drop-ins are welcome, but advance orders are recommended for best selection. Place online orders at .

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .听

April 3, 2025–Dr. Cary D. Chevalier, 含羞草社区 biology professor has been selected to sit on The Wildlife Society’s National Certification Review Board (CRB) for a 3-year term.

Dr. Chevalier began his career at Missouri Western in 1996 to start a wildlife conservation and management degree program, ensuring that all the academic requirements for professional certification by The Wildlife Society were built into the wildlife conservation and management program.

Founded in 1937, The Wildlife Society (TWS) is an international network of over 11,000 leaders in wildlife science, management and conservation who are dedicated to excellence in wildlife stewardship. The Society publishes scientific journals, technical reviews, position statements on policy issues, and books.

The Certification Review Board serves as the peer-review panel for determining the eligibility of all applicants for certification. The CRB is composed of at least five TWS members who are Certified Wildlife Biologists and who volunteer their time, talent and energy to keep the certification program effective and respected. There are currently eight members on the CRB representing each of TWS鈥檚 geographical sections.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Feb. 23, 2024–Dr. Tilottama Roy, associate professor of biology at Missouri Western, has joined the Applications in Plant Sciences (APPS) editorial board. The APPS is a peer-reviewed journal published by the Botanical Society of America.

As a recruiting editor, Dr. Roy will identify and recruit potential authors for individual submissions, with a particular focus on Review Articles, and for special issues.

Dr. Roy is an evolutionary biologist whose research interests include understanding evolutionary origins and relationships among plants and other organisms. She curates the Leo A. Galloway Herbarium at Missouri Western and teaches organismal biology, ecology and evolution, plant systematics, local flora and biogeography. Dr. Roy also serves on the honors committee at Missouri Western.

Dr. Roy earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in botany and her master鈥檚 in agriculture from Calcutta University, her master鈥檚 in biology from the University of South Dakota and her PhD in biological sciences from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

News release written by Patty Lashbrook, sophomore convergent journalism and public relations major.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .听

May 8, 2023–Dr. Csengele Barta, associate professor of biology at 含羞草社区, was awarded a Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUI) Award of the (ASPB) for the fifth consecutive year.听

The award recognizes excellence in research contributions to plant science, plant science scholarship and undergraduate student research mentorship of faculty at primarily undergraduate serving institutions. The Award also provides funding to facilitate the research presentation of Dr. Barta at the 2023 Plant Biology Meeting in Savannah, Georgia.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit

May 1, 2023–含羞草社区 presented nine faculty and staff members with awards and recognized 17 retirees at the 2022-2023 Faculty and Staff Awards and Retirement Reception on April 28.

Award winners include:

Outstanding Academic Advisor: Dr. Lane DesAutels, associate professor of philosophy. “He is willing to go above and beyond to make sure the students understand their future academic path.”

Missouri Western Award for Staff Service to the University: Jessica Frogge, administrative coordinator in the Department of Chemistry and the Griffon Office of Applied Learning. “Jessica’s institutional knowledge, technical skills, and commitment to MWSU are definite strengths and keys to her success.”

Missouri Western Award for Staff Service to Students: Dane Eckert, senior manager in Technology Services. “Dane has been consistently involved, responsive, competent, and reliable in addressing a broad range of technical challenges.”

Missouri Western Award for Staff Service to Colleagues: Amber Halstead, math coordinator in the Center for Academic Support and Staff Association president. “Amber is a team player in every sense of the word and 鈥� sees herself as a steward for the University and its employees.”

Missouri Western Award for Teaching Excellence:

• Dr. Aracely Newton, assistant professor of biology. “She cares deeply about the success of her students and provides multiple opportunities for them to get feedback and learn the materials.”
• Dr. Elizabeth Thorne Wallington, assistant professor of education. “Dr. Thorne Wallington forms deep connections with her students, both as a faculty member and an advisor.”

Missouri Western Foundation Dr. James V. Mehl Award for Outstanding Faculty Scholarship: Dr. James Okapal, professor of philosophy. “Marrying science fiction and fantasy literature with the philosophers’ study of ethics, Dr. Okapal published six peer-reviewed articles, offered three scholarly presentations, and delivered two invited lectures last year.”

Missouri Western Foundation Dr. James J. Scanlon Award for Staff Service to Community: Jeremy Acton, grounds supervisor for Physical Plant. “Jeremy has through his example and leadership made a positive contribution to the University.”

Missouri Western Foundation Dr. James J. Scanlon Award for Faculty Service to the Community: Dr. Jennifer Jackson, associate professor of communication. “Jennifer has used applied learning in her classes to serve our community…helping teach her students while giving back to community clients.”

The reception also honored 17 employees who have or will soon retire with a combined 269 years of service to Missouri Western. Honored retirees include:

• Roger Adams, Physical Plant
• Dr. Susan Bashinski, Graduate Studies
• Shelle Browning, Physical Plant
• Greg Dillon, Athletics
• Janice Dillon, Business Office
• Dr. Crystal Harris, College of Science and Health
• Karma Hartong, School of Nursing and Health Professions
• Robin Kelly, Department of Education
• Dr. Steve Klassen, Department of Computer Science, Math & Physics
• Greg Kriewitz, Department of Health, Sport and Exercise Science
• Dr. David McIntire, School of Fine Arts
• Peggy Payne, Admissions
• Deb Singleton, Department of Communication
• Cindy Spotts-Conrad, Financial Aid
• Dan Stevens, Academic Advising
• Buzz Verduzco, Athletics
• Deana Wennihan, Financial Aid

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .听

April 27, 2023鈥揂t 含羞草社区, most classes are scheduled Monday through Thursday, with Gold Fridays set aside for applied learning opportunities outside the classroom. On the last Gold Friday of the spring semester on April 28, there will be three public events showcasing student projects by Missouri Western students.

Gold Fridays PORTAL Poster Showcase
10 a.m.
Remington Hall Atrium second floor

Students who have participated in applied learning activities (research, internships, etc.) will display posters illustrating the results of these activities. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask the students questions about their posters.

Psychology Research Day
Check in starts at 11 a.m., program begins at 11:30 a.m.
Eder Hall, room 101

Prospective students can get an immersive look at Missouri Western鈥檚 Psychology Program by participating in Research Day. Meet faculty, talk to current students and learn about their poster sessions, and tour the Psychology Lab. Complimentary lunch will be provided. Check-in will be 11-11:30 a.m. Students can pre-register at .听

Eighth Annual Griffon Film Festival
Doors open at 6 p.m., show begins at 7 p.m.
Missouri Theatre, 715 Edmond Street, Downtown St. Joseph

Senior Cinema students will be presenting their thesis films to the world at this event. After the films there will be an awards ceremony and Q&A session with the filmmakers. This event is open to the public and tickets will be available for $5 on the day of the event at the Missouri Theatre box office. Students, faculty and staff get in free with a valid MWSU school I.D.听

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .听