Professor Jon Grant Hargate of the School of Arts, Media, and Communications recently received the 2020 Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award. He is one of nearly 100 teachers within the St. Louis metropolitan area to be recognized with this special award. Sponsored by the Emerson Electric company, this annual award is given to teachers across all grade levels who showcase excellence within their field.

Last year, Lindenwood University’s School of Humanities hosted a Flash Forms Festival for undergraduate and graduate student writers that coincided with Dark Carnival, the university’s annual Halloween celebration.

If you have ever wondered about how Christianity and politics influence each other or have wanted to learn about religion in the Star Wars franchise, Dr. Travis W. McMaken is the man to see. As a professor of religion at Lindenwood (and assistant dean of the School of Humanities), Dr. McMaken has taught courses on everything from the Protestant and Catholic Reformations to the amusingly named first-year seminar course “Thor and Friends.”

Lindenwood University was ranked in the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs in Digital Marketing for 2020 by College Consensus. Programs were evaluated based on reputation, graduate success rate, and investment.

GIS Lab Manager and Geography Instructor Tara Vansell in the School of Humanities is one of only 22 instructors in the nation to receive Geospatial Technology Educator Certification (GSTEdC). She participated in a pilot project curated by The National Geospatial Technology Center of Excellence (GeoTech Center) and funded by a supplemental grant from the National Science Foundation.

I recently sat down with Lindenwood’s Dr. Andrew Smith, a professor in the School of Arts, Media, and Communications, on a video call to discuss his work with a Twitch channel (an online platform for live video streaming) called VaporspaceStL. Vaporspace is a music livestream that is all about “Vaporwave, future funk, and more underground electronica, paired with the most aesthetic visuals.” The channel’s goal is to “showcase artistic talent in St. Louis and the Midwest” with high quality music and visual production.

Located in the parking lot between the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts and West Clay Street, a temporary investment from Lindenwood University has brought greater capabilities to students and staff dealing with the limitations of the current pandemic. This adaptation, which takes its form as an open-sided tent measuring 40 feet by 80 feet, allows Lindenwood’s performing arts programs to continue their various activities with minimal disruption.

Rev. Dr. Nichole Torbitzky, assistant professor of religion and Lindenwood University chaplain, received a Racial Equity & Interfaith Cooperation Award as part of Interfaith Youth Core’s (IFYC) We Are Each Other’s Campaign.

The Young Alumni Award recognizes the accomplishments of Lindenwood University alumni who graduated in the last 10 years. Recipients are up-and-coming talents and have demonstrated outstanding promise for contributions to Lindenwood and the greater community. Recipients have been active with events within the Alumni Association, networking opportunities, fundraising, and student recruitment.

Abigail Manis, a former Lindenwood undergraduate student and current MFA candidate, has accomplished a great deal in her short time at Lindenwood University. She’s a bright, ambitious, and exceptionally talented young woman with a staggering number of achievements to her name, and her story is a prime example of the real academic success achieved by Lindenwood students.