Aug. 29, 2019—���߲����� President Matt Wilson has announced that Jomel Nichols, director of public relations and marketing, has been promoted to chief communications officer effective Sept. 1.

The move will consolidate into a single unit many of Missouri Western’s current marketing and communications efforts: the Department of Public Relations and Marketing, Campus Printing and Design Services and two marketing-related positions that had been in the Western Institute.

“We have always collaborated across campus to make the most of our resources,” Nichols said. “This will enable us to be even more efficient as we communicate with our internal and external audiences.”

The newly created unit will be called Marketing and Communications and will focus on university branding, marketing and internal communications.

“Marketing and communications are more important than ever as we seek to attract new students, encourage dialogue with our existing students and employees and build strong relationships with external partners,” President Wilson said. “Jomel has more than capably led our efforts in this area. Our new structure will allow her to enhance our communications efforts and more effectively spread the advantages of pursuing a degree at Missouri Western.”

Nichols has been director of public relations and marketing since August 2015. Prior to coming to Missouri Western, Nichols had held several marketing-related positions, most recently at SJC Marketing in St. Joseph. She and her husband Joe also owned a consulting company for many years. She graduated with bachelor’s degrees in business and public relations from William Jewell College.

���߲����� is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. 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 .

The guest speaker for the lunch will be Marc Bierbaum, the coach of Missouri Western’s newest sports, cross country and track and field, which will begin competition this fall.

The Ambassadors raise money to support nontraditional student scholarships. They meet for lunch three times during the academic year and hold an annual fund raiser, Night at the Ritz, each spring. This year’s Night at the Ritz will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Mary 4 in the Hall of Fame Room inside Spratt Memorial Stadium.

Membership dues for the Ambassadors are $20. Historically, the group has been for women, but men are now invited to join as well.

���߲����� is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. 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 .

Anyone considering joining the Ambassadors is welcome to attend. The cost is $15. You may pay at the door, but advance reservations are required by Monday, Nov. 7. To make a reservation, call 816-271-5646 or email holtz@missouriwestern.edu.

Guest speakers at the lunch will be nontraditional students who have received scholarships from the Ambassadors.

The MWSU Ambassadors are campus and community members who provide a “bridge” between the campus and the community. They meet three times per year, and host the annual Night at the Ritz, a fundraiser for scholarships for nontraditional students. Dues are $20 per year.

���߲����� is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. 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 .

“Picasso’s Night at the Ritz” is a reception from 6-8:30 p.m. and will include Spanish tapas, a cash bar, a silent auction with several works of art, a raffle and a roaming troubadour who will serenade guests in Spanish. Those who attend may try their hand at reproducing Picasso works, or just enjoy Picasso reproductions and learning about Picasso.

“This year’s event will be more than a reception with great food and fellowship,” said Diane Holtz, MWSU Ambassadors liaison. “It will be a fun experience that guests will long remember, and it’s all for a good cause.”

Cost is $35 per person minimum donation and the event is open to the public. Missouri Western students may attend for $25. To make a reservation, call (816) 271-5646 by Monday, April 18. Advance payment is appreciated.

The MWSU Ambassadors are a group of campus and community women who serve as a bridge between Missouri Western and St. Joseph. The Ambassadors focus on raising money for scholarships for nontraditional students, and since 1989, the group has distributed nearly $388,000 to nontraditional students.

���߲����� is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. 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 .

Dr. Jimmy Albright, adjunct instructor of sociology, will present a talk titled “Origins of Conflict in the Middle East” as part of ���߲�����’s Eggs and Issues Speaker Series at 7 a.m. Tuesday, March 29 in the Fulkerson Center. The breakfast is free but reservations are required. Call 816-271-5646 or email aotto@missouriwestern.edu by Thursday, March 24.

Dr. Albright has extensively studied the Middle East and has visited Israel more than 45 times for archaeological excavations. Along with teaching archaeology classes at Missouri Western, he has taught Politics of the Middle East.

Since 1988, the Eggs and Issues Speaker Series has provided a community educational forum that encourages the exchange of ideas on current topics. It is sponsored by the ���߲����� Foundation.

���߲����� is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. 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 .

“We’re very grateful to members of the Arts Society for this gift,” said Dr. Bob Willenbrink, founding dean of Missouri Western’s School of Fine Arts. “These people give generously of their time and of their financial resources to help make sure the arts continue to flourish at Missouri Western. Their support of the Potter Hall project means so much to our students, faculty, staff and patrons.”

The Arts Society began in 2011 with a dedicated group of individuals who were passionate about supporting the arts at Missouri Western. Since then, membership has grown to 190 individuals. Each year, members contribute membership dues to fund faculty and student projects and supplement the budgets of the departments in the School of Fine Arts. Prior to this year, the Arts Society has allocated nearly $75,000 to purchase supplies and equipment, scholarships, production assistance for major shows and more.

In 2015, the Arts Society agreed that the membership dues would be designated to the Potter Hall project, one of the components of the Centennial Capital Campaign. The $32,000 contribution is the largest allocation in the history of the organization.

“Students from across the country have discovered that a Missouri Western arts degree will help them succeed, and those students need adequate space to create, rehearse, perform and display their work,” said Allison Stewart, Arts Society chair.

Potter Hall houses the School of Fine Arts, which includes the Department of Music; the Department of Cinema, Theatre and Dance; and the Department of Art. The building was under construction when Missouri Western moved to its current campus in 1969 and was completed in 1971. Within a few years, faculty members and students had already outgrown the space.

An addition in 1986 helped alleviate the problem, but enrollment in the arts programs has continued to grow – the number of students in the School of Fine Arts has increased 67 percent just since 2007.

Immediate facility needs include increased practice, classroom and rehearsal space, graphic design labs, a black box theater and natural-light studios. A more long-range need is for additional performance space, gallery and lobby space.

For more information about the Potter Hall project, visit www.missouriwestern.edu/campaign/our-vision/potterhall/. For information about joining the Missouri Western Arts Society, visit their website at www.missouriwestern.edu/foundation/arts-society/ or contact Rachel Graves, development officer, at rgraves@missouriwestern.edu or 816-271-5920.

���߲����� is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. 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 .