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Leadership Corner
Leadership Corner
Greetings MaPS Community,
Our school continues to thrive as we build on the work we’ve accomplished and look ahead to what’s next. With continued focus on student success, faculty recognition, and professional development, there is much to celebrate and even more to look forward to.
In this edition of the digest, you’ll find updates on the upcoming 2025 General Education Conference, highlights from recent professional development and leadership events, community engagement opportunities, and more ways to stay connected.
Thank you for all you do to make MaPS a supportive, forward-thinking place to teach, learn, and grow.
Happy Reading!
Mya Fields,PhD, MBA Assistant DeanSchool of of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies
What’s Buzzing in MaPS?
What’s Buzzing in MaPS?
Welcome, Dr. Randal Gregg – New Science Chair
Welcome, Dr. Randal Gregg – New Science Chair
We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Randal (Randy) Gregg as the new Chair of the Science Department, officially joining us on Monday, March 31st. With over 20 years of experience in education, Dr. Gregg brings a rich background in teaching at the undergraduate, graduate, and medical school levels. He has held leadership roles, including Chair of Microbiology/Immunology and several research directorships, showcasing a deep commitment to academic excellence and innovation.
Beyond the classroom, Randy is a proud husband and father to three wonderful daughters. He enjoys spending quality time with his family and is a self-declared superfan of Star Trek, Star Wars, and the DC and Marvel universes. He’s even shared a photo of himself as a Jedi.
You’ll also spot Randy in photos from his time in the lab, on family adventures, and standing at the edge of the awe-inspiring Meteor Crater in Arizona.
Dr. Gregg shared, "I am excited to be a part of the team for this better approach to the educational experience." We’re just as excited to have him join our community and look forward to the leadership and passion he will bring to the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies.
Please join us in giving Dr. Gregg a warm and enthusiastic MaPS welcome!
Welcoming Dr. Stephanie Thompson to a New Role
Welcoming Dr. Stephanie Thompson to a New Role
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Stephanie Thompson on her new role as Assistant Chair for Humanities & Social Sciences, where she will also be providing support for the Professional Studies department. She officially stepped into the position on Monday, February 24th.
Dr. Thompson brings a wealth of experience to the role, having been with Purdue Global since 2007. She began as an adjunct faculty member in the English & Rhetoric Department and later transitioned into a full-time faculty role, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in English & Rhetoric and Professional Studies. Over the years, she has played a vital role in curriculum development, faculty mentorship, and course leadership. Her dedication to the university is further reflected in her service on key committees such as the Institutional Review Board and the Faculty Curriculum Committee.
Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys reading and exploring the live music scene in San Antonio and Austin. She lives in San Antonio with her husband, son, and their beloved rescue dog.
Welcome to your new role, Dr. Thompson; we're excited for all that’s ahead!
Celebrating Our 2025 MaPS Award Winners!
Celebrating Our 2025 MaPS Award Winners!
Please join us in congratulating the recipients of the 2025 MaPS Faculty Awards! These individuals exemplify excellence in teaching, service, and scholarship, and we are proud to recognize their outstanding contributions to our school and students:
Trailblazer Award: Holley Linkous
Outstanding Service: Beth Lee
Outstanding Service – Honorable Mention: Michael Heeran
Outstanding Faculty (Adjunct): Lonelle Rathje
Outstanding Research: Taryn Bromser-Kloeden
Outstanding Faculty (Full-Time): Ritu Sharma
Thank you to everyone who attended the ceremony to celebrate and support our awardees. If you missed the event or would like to relive the moment, you can watch the recording here.
We value your feedback! To help us improve the recognition experience in the future, please take a moment to complete the Faculty Awards Feedback Survey 2025.
Congratulations again to all of our award winners! Your work continues to inspire and uplift the MaPS community.
Ritu Sharma, PhD
English & Rhetoric Faculty
2025 MaPS Outstanding Faculty Award
Lonelle Rathje, EdD
English & Rhetoric Faculty
2025 MaPS Outstanding Faculty Award- Adjunct
Holley Linkous, PhD
Professional Studies Faculty
2025 MaPS Trailblazer Award
Beth Lee, MA
English & Rhetoric Faculty
2025 MaPS Outstanding Service Award
Michael Heeren, MA
Math Faculty
2025 MaPS Outstanding Service Award (Honorable Mention)
Taryn Bromser- Kloeden, MS
Science Faculty
2025 MaPS Outstanding Research Award
2025 MaPS Speaker Series Kicks Off This May!
2025 MaPS Speaker Series Kicks Off This May!
We’re excited to announce that the 2025 MaPS Speaker Series will launch this May with the theme
"Creating Supportive and Inclusive Learning Environments.”
This year’s series will explore how inclusive practices, respectful engagement, and holistic support can enhance both the student experience and the professional community.
Stay tuned for session dates and speaker announcements!
CONFeRENCE BRIEFS
CONFeRENCE BRIEFS
Jazzing Up Student Success: Reflections from NOSS 2025 in New Orleans
Jazzing Up Student Success: Reflections from NOSS 2025 in New Orleans
Submitted by Professional Studies Faculty, Shama Grimmage
Purdue Global faculty and staff recently attended the 2025 NOSS Conference in New Orleans, held during the Mardi Gras season and centered around the theme “Jazzing Up Student Success.” The conference offered a dynamic platform for sharing innovative, inclusive strategies aimed at enhancing student engagement and achievement.
From presenting at sessions to participating in the inaugural NOSS Learning and Leadership Academy cohort, PG representatives contributed meaningfully to the national dialogue on student success.
Read the full article here.
Math Faculty Shine at 2024 AMATYC and Reconnect at Regional Gathering in Atlanta
Math Faculty Shine at 2024 AMATYC and Reconnect at Regional Gathering in Atlanta
Full-time math faculty Kirsten Meymaris and Nancy Reck were honored with an invitation to present at the 2024 National Math Summit in Atlanta (a pre-conference event hosted by AMATYC in November of 2024). Their presentation, “Make It Social. Make It Fun. Make It Math! High-Presence Online Teaching Tactics” from the 2024 NOSS annual conference in Las Vegas was well received and deserved an encore!
Mary Bruce, full-time math faculty, presented a concurrent session at the full 2024 AMATYC conference on student misconceptions of probability and ways to combat them. Part-time math faculty Carol Hannahs also attended the conference. With several other math faculty living close to or in Atlanta, a regional gathering was too tempting to pass up!
Leslie Johnson, Assistant Department Chair of Mathematics, enjoys coordinating meet-ups when the opportunity arises. "Spending quality time face-to-face with my people fuels me.”
Left to Right: Kirsten Meymaris, Laura Baggett, Brook Bernhardt, Leslie Johnson, Mary Bruce, Carol Hannahs, and Nancy Reck
Left to Right: Nancy Reck, Carol Hannahs, and Kirsten Meymaris
Mary Bruce, PhDMath Faculty
Congratulations to Our Faculty Presenters at Rutgers Online Conference
Please join us in congratulating Ashley Leininger, Jennifer Caseldine-Bracht, and Tyra Hall-Pogar for their recent presentations at the Rutgers Online Learning Conference, a premier event highlighting innovation in online, hybrid, and educational technology.
Ashley Leininger presented "Capturing the Learner with Microlectures," sharing the value of concise, focused video content and strategies for integrating microlectures to enhance student engagement.
In a collaborative session titled "Humanizing the Online Classroom," Jennifer Caseldine-Bracht and Tyra Hall-Pogar explored practical approaches to fostering connection and inclusivity in virtual learning environments.
We are proud of their contributions to advancing best online teaching and learning practices!
Tyra Hall-Pogar, PhD
Professional Studies Department Chair
Jennifer Caseldine-Bracht, PhD
Humanities & Social Sciences Department Faculty
Ashley Leininger, MS
Humanities & Social Sciences Department Faculty Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Updates
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Updates
DEIB Theory to Practice Series: Reimagining the Power of Discussion Boards
Vanessa Myers, MSScience Faculty
Miya Nelson, PhDPGO Faculty
The MaPS DEIB Committee recently hosted the sixth installment of its Theory to Practice series on Thursday, March 20. Led by Vanessa Avila Myers and Miya Nelson, this powerful session explored the transformative potential of discussion boards in online classrooms—not just as academic checkpoints, but as tools for cultivating inclusive, connected learning communities.
The presentation offered practical strategies for using discussion boards to build trust, foster belonging, and support student success through meaningful engagement. Participants walked away with a deeper understanding of how to leverage this platform to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Key Outcomes:
Recognize the benefits of discussion boards in online learning
Discover strategies to enhance DEIB efforts through thoughtful engagement
Explore innovative research, including Hamadi (2023), on boosting discussion board interaction
Missed the session? Click here to view the recording.
To stay connected with upcoming DEIB events, visit the MaPS DEIB website.
BITS & PIECES
BITS & PIECES
Amy Smith, MSScience Faculty
Celebrating Amy Smith’s Leadership in Urban Forestry
Celebrating Amy Smith’s Leadership in Urban Forestry
We are proud to celebrate Amy Smith’s continued leadership and dedication to the field of urban forestry! Amy has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Urban Forest Council, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advocate for the sustainability of North Carolina's urban forests. The Council is committed to education, professional development, strategic planning, and public engagement in urban forestry, offering CEU-eligible webinars and workshops for industry professionals.
Amy will serve a 3-year term on the Board, helping to advance the Council's goals through advocacy, resource development, and educational outreach.
In addition to this exciting news, Amy also serves on the Society of American Foresters (SAF) Committee on Accreditation, where she contributes to the review and accreditation of academic programs in Forestry, Urban Forestry, Natural Resource and Ecosystem Management, and Forest Technology.
Congratulations, Amy!
Beyond the Books: Jennifer’s Bucket List Adventure in Mexico
Beyond the Books: Jennifer’s Bucket List Adventure in Mexico
Over winter break, faculty member Jennifer Caseldine-Bracht and her family took an unforgettable trip to Mexico City and the surrounding areas, highlighted by a visit to El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary, part of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Michoacán.
With an estimated 150 million butterflies in flight during their visit, this awe-inspiring experience brought to life one of Jennifer’s top bucket list dreams and exceeded all expectations.
“It was absolutely magical,” she shared. “The sanctuary was alive with color and movement. It’s a memory I’ll treasure forever.”
Registration Now Open for the 2025 General Education Conference!
Registration Now Open for the 2025 General Education Conference!
We’re excited to announce that registration is now open for the 2025 Virtual General Education Conference, taking place April 22–24, 2025. This year’s theme, “Digital Age Transformations: Reinventing General Education,” invites faculty, staff, and administrators to explore and share innovative approaches to General Education in a rapidly evolving digital world.
Earth Day Kickoff – April 21, 2025: Special sessions open to students, faculty, and staff from all Purdue System Institutions. Please note: Earth Day sessions require a separate registration, which can be accessed through the same registration link.
Register today and be part of the conversation shaping the future of General Education!
Celebrating Our First Circle of Community Champions!
Celebrating Our First Circle of Community Champions!
We’re excited to share our first list of inductees into the Circle of Community Champions, a new initiative that recognizes students, faculty, and staff who make a meaningful impact through volunteer service.
This program celebrates those who give back to their communities through acts of service, big and small.
Stuart Collins, Humanities & Social Sciences Faculty
Ashley Leininger, Humanities & Social Sciences Faculty
Mahin Tawrat, Student
Rebecca Calahan, Math Faculty
Amber Evans, Student
Want to be included?
Submit your volunteer experience using the form [here].
Let’s continue to honor and uplift the spirit of service within our community. Congratulations to our first champions; you inspire us all!
The Great 2025 Pi Day Scavenger Hunt
The Great 2025 Pi Day Scavenger Hunt
March 14th (3-14), 2025 was an exceptionally transcendental and irrational day! The Math and Science Department hosted two events in celebration of Pi-Day 2025.
Thanks to all who participated!
EVENT 1: A virtual Scavenger Hunt with challenges for the first 20 digits of pi including:
Find THREE items that have the word "pi" or "pie" in them. Please describe each.
Share ONE picture of a digital clock displaying a correct mathematical equation (i.e. 12:34 is 12 ÷ 3 = 4).
Describe FOUR office items you use every day that start with a letter in "Albert Einstein" (i.e. T = table, E = extra monitor.)
The three winners of the Virtual Scavenger Hunt were randomly selected from the submissions. Each winner will receive a gift card to their favorite Pizza Pi restaurant. The winners and an example of their completed challenges are:
David Smith (Dept of Professional Studies) and THREE items with “pi” or “pie” =
pill (medicine), pillow (something you sleep on), and pin (a sewing needle)
Nancy Reck (Dept of Mathematics) and ONE (Pictured Below) digital
clock math equation =
Amy Smith (Dept of Science) and FOUR office items starting with letters from “Albert Einstein”=
Notebook, Laptop, Television, Telephone
EVENT 2:
Over 25 Faculty and Staff gathered for a live Zoom Scavenger Hunt with speed challenges to find objects related to the first 5 digits of pi! Each winner will receive some serious PG Swag:
3 - Find THREE circular objects (WarmUp)
1 - Find ONE object that is math/science related = Winner was Dorothy Williams (Math)
4 - Find FOUR objects that are black & gold = Winner was Matt Peoples (Math)
1 - Find ONE circular edible object = Winner was Nicole Garland (Math)
5 - Find FIVE things to each of the five senses = Winner was Taryn Bromser-Kloeden (Science)
Stay Connected With MAPS!
Stay Connected With MAPS!
Did you know we have a MaPS LinkedIn page? Follow us (School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies (Purdue Global) here to stay current on faculty highlights, news, and professional development opportunities.
Looking to get involved? Check out the MaPS Community Events Calendar for upcoming events and meeting links, all in one place!
We’d also love to celebrate you! Share your birthday (month and year only) so we can send some well wishes your way. Submit your birthday here, and let us celebrate you in an upcoming digest!
Let’s stay connected and keep building our amazing MaPS community!
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