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HAPPENING THIS WEEK
Celebrate National Day of Play with Healthy Horseplay!
Celebrate National Day of Play with Healthy Horseplay!
Mayor Bob Rogers has officially declared the third Saturday of September as National Day of Play in Murray! To celebrate, HPE invites the community to Healthy Horseplay on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m.–noon at the Arboretum.
Healthy Horseplay is a free play, movement and reflection program for children ages 3–10, featuring open-ended building and creative materials designed to encourage imagination, movement and connection with others.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Join us on Saturday, September 26, as the College of Education and Human Services and the Center for Adult and Regional Education take the spotlight at Racer Football!
We’ll kick off the evening with a pre-game tailgate before heading into the stadium to cheer on the Racers. The game will also feature Touchdowns for Teachers, Faculty/Staff Appreciation, and a special on-field recognition for our College.
Murray State Athletics has provided 100 general admission tickets for our group, so we encourage you to RSVP if you plan to attend. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Please RSVP by Wednesday, September 16. Your RSVP will help us get an accurate headcount for food and other tailgate preparations, so please be sure to respond by the deadline if you plan to join us.
Additional details about the tailgate, tickets, and game-day plans will be shared with those who RSVP as we get closer to the event.
We hope you’ll join us as we kick off Homecoming Saturday with the 2026 COEHS Homecoming Breakfast before the parade and other festivities begin.
📅 Saturday, October 17
⏰ 8–9:30 a.m.
📍 Murray Middle School Cafeteria
This is a great opportunity for our COEHS community- including faculty, staff, students, alumni, friends, and families- to come together, reconnect, and start the day with good food and plenty of Racer spirit.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
COEHS AI-Generated Content & Design Guidelines
As we continue to strengthen the COEHS brand and ensure our materials are professional and consistent, I wanted to share a few guidelines regarding AI-generated visuals and design requests.
AI-Generated Images & Graphics
Please do not use AI-generated images, illustrations or graphics in materials representing COEHS. This includes flyers, social media content, digital signage, event promotions, and other materials shared with students, faculty, staff, or the public.
AI can be a helpful tool for brainstorming and other behind-the-scenes work, but AI-generated visuals can create concerns about accuracy, quality, authenticity, and brand consistency. Whenever possible, I want our marketing materials to showcase the real people, programs, and experiences that make COEHS unique.
Please use original COEHS photos, University-approved photos and brand assets, appropriately licensed stock photography or professionally designed graphics that follow Murray State and COEHS branding.
Need Something Designed?
Please reach out! If you need a flyer, social media graphic, digital signage, event promotion, or another marketing piece, I’m more than happy to create something for you.
Please send requests at least 48 hours before you need the completed material. This gives me enough time to design the piece, send it to you for review, and make any needed changes. Larger or more involved projects may require additional time, so the more notice you can give me, the better!
When sending a request, please include as much information as you can — what you’re promoting, the necessary text and details, where the material will be used, and when you need it.
My goal is to make this process as easy as possible while ensuring the materials we put out are polished, professional, and something we can be proud to have representing COEHS.
As always, if you have questions or aren't sure what you need, feel free to reach out!
Thank you!
Jill
Get Involved with the 2026 Educators Rising Conference
Get Involved with the 2026 Educators Rising Conference
The Teacher Quality Institute (TQI) is preparing for the Murray State Regional Educators Rising Conference on November 19 from 8 a.m.–1 p.m. in the Curris Center. Last year, nearly 300 students from 22 high schools attended, and we hope to welcome even more future educators this year!
Faculty are invited to get involved by:
Hosting a program table during the browsing session from 8–9 a.m.
Presenting a 40-minute breakout session that inspires students to pursue careers in education.
Judging one of 17 student competitions showcasing students’ skills and creativity.
Educators Rising helps high school students explore the education profession and begin their journey toward becoming future teachers.
Interested in participating? Contact Ashley Bourke at abourke@murraystate.edu.
We are excited to offer faculty and staff the opportunity to update their professional headshots! Whether you need a new photo for your university profile, website, or any other professional purpose, we’ve made it easy for you to schedule a session.
How to Schedule Your Appointment:
Simply use the online appointment calendar to select a time that works best for you! An email follow-up will be sent after an appointment is made.
In an effort to showcase the outstanding work of our College of Education and Human Services faculty, we will be highlighting recent presentations, publications, and other scholarly accomplishments.
Please use the Google form below to submit any recent professional accomplishments. Submissions will be featured on our COEHS bulletin board and shared on our social media platforms to celebrate and promote the impactful work happening across our college.
Thank you for helping us showcase the excellence within COEHS!
PROGRAM UPDATE
Murray State’s School Psychology program was well represented at this year’s Kentucky Association for Psychology in the Schools (KAPS) conference, with both faculty and student accomplishments recognized.
Dr. Troy Tedder was named Regional School Psychologist of the Year, while School Psychology student Mekaiya Cannon received the Dr. Jim Batts Conference Honorarium.
Congratulations to Dr. Tedder and Mekaiya on these well-deserved honors and for representing COEHS and Murray State!
STUDENT UPDATES
Several Health and Physical Education students recently attended the KY SHAPE “Lonnie Davis” Future Professional Summit at Western Kentucky University, joining future professionals from across the Commonwealth.
During the summit, HPE student Jena Holder was recognized with a Student of the Year Award, representing Murray State University. Holder also serves as a student representative on the KY SHAPE Board of Directors.
Congratulations, Jena, on this well-deserved recognition!
FACULTY UPDATES
On Friday, Dr. Littlepage started his second year as a Faculty Coach for the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE)'s Faculty Leadership Academy. The Faculty Leadership Academy is a year-long series for full-time faculty from public postsecondary institutions who have demonstrated the potential for academic leadership and are seeking to further develop these skills. To qualify, participants were nominated by their institution's chief academic officer. The goal is to help participants gain a deeper understanding of how faculty leaders promote academic quality, as well as their institution’s role within Kentucky’s higher education landscape.
The 2026–2027 cohort includes 24 faculty from across the Commonwealth.
L to R: Dr. Brian Shumway (University of Louisville), Amy Liebert (Jefferson Community and Technical College), Nathan Hirtz (Owensboro Community and Technical College), Dr. Carole Cobb (Kentucky State University), Hailley Fargo (Northern Kentucky University), and Dr. Littlepage, representing Murray State University.
Congratulations to Dr. Kim Vigil, who received the Professor of the Year from KY Shape!
Several Health and Physical Education students represented Murray State University at the KY SHAPE “Lonnie Davis” Future Professional Summit, held yesterday at Western Kentucky University. The students joined Drs. Vigil and Rogers and fellow future professionals from across the Commonwealth for a day of learning, networking, and professional development.
ALUMNI UPDATE
Congratulations to Shauna Traylor of Murray Elementary School, who was recently recognized with the KY SHAPE Cooperating Teacher of the Year Award! She's pictured with Dr. Kelly Rogers and Issac King, a HPE student teacher.
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
Project Wild
Tuesday, September 15
Students in Dr. Jessica Pryor's ELE 413: Science Methods recently participated in Project WILD, a hands-on conservation and environmental education program used by educators across the country. Led by Dr. Kim Vigil and Nancy Kiernan from the Department of Wildlife and Natural Resources, students spent the day moving between the classroom and outdoors as they explored interactive activities and strategies they can incorporate into their own future classrooms.
West Kentucky College Fair
Tuesday, September 15
Students had the opportunity to learn more about the programs, experiences, and career pathways available through the College of Education and Human Services. We loved answering questions, sharing what makes COEHS special, and helping students explore where their future could take them.
Family Weekend
Saturday, September 12
The Dean’s Office enjoyed welcoming Racer families to campus over the weekend! Families had the opportunity to learn more about the College of Education and Human Services while testing their luck at Plinko for a chance to take home some fun COEHS prizes.
Webster County High School Visit
Friday, September 11
Tressa Ross, COEHS Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, and Dr. Samir Patel, Acting Interim Dean, spent the morning at Webster County High School for its 2026–27 College Application Event!
The event gave juniors and seniors an opportunity to explore college options, ask questions, and learn more about the programs, experiences, and opportunities waiting for them at Murray State and within the College of Education and Human Services.
COEHS CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS
COEHS CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS
Fall Semester - 2026
Student Picnic- August 27
Scholarship Banquet- September 22
Homecoming Breakfast and Tent City- October 17
CONNECT WITH US ONLINE
CONNECT WITH US ONLINE
Want to add something to the next Midweek Round-Up?
Want to add something to the next Midweek Round-Up?
Click the button below to let Jillian Smith in the Dean's Office know!
Click the button below to let Jillian Smith in the Dean's Office know!
Remember to be as detailed as possible! Contact Jill with any questions.
Remember to be as detailed as possible! Contact Jill with any questions.
Want to add something to the next Monday Saddle-Up (student newsletter)?
Want to add something to the next Monday Saddle-Up (student newsletter)?
Click the button below to let Jillian Smith in the Dean's Office know!
Click the button below to let Jillian Smith in the Dean's Office know!
Remember to be as detailed as possible! Contact Jill with any questions.
Remember to be as detailed as possible! Contact Jill with any questions.
The mission of the College of Education and Human Services is to prepare future leaders, advocates, and practitioners through authentic, engaging, and student-centered academic programs for successful careers that positively impact communities.
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