Amy Mecklenburg-Faenger is the new Associate English Professor at Park University. She has a PhD from Ohio State University where she focused on American rhetoric of the progressive era, particularly rhetoric used by women's organizations. She has published articles on scrapbooks used by women's suffrage movements and is currently working on an article about women's Shakespeare societies. Mecklenburg-Faenger was drawn to Park University because of its reputation for being very student-friendly and student-centered. English department faculty believe she will provide fresh insights from her experience at other universities and expertise in rhetoric.

1. January 23, 2015 Page 5
The office walls are
barren, except for three
framed diplomas hanging
above the desk: a bachelor’s
degree from Truman State,
a master’s degree from the
University of Missouri-
Kansas City and a doctorate
from Ohio State.
The bookshelves line the
opposite wall, stuffed with
books stacked horizontally
and a silhouette of a man
playing the cello sits framed
on top. A glossy postcard
photo of Rosie the Riveter
is tacked to a leaning
corkboard.
Amy Mecklenburg-
Faenger is adjusting to
her new office, new life in
Parkville and role as the
newest associate English
professor at Park
University.
O r i g i n a l l y
from the Kansas
City area,
Mecklenburg-
Faenger is
returning to
the Midwest
after 12 years.
After receiving
her master’s degree, she
moved to Columbus, Ohio,
and earned her Ph.D. This
led her to her first faculty
position in Charleston, S.C.
“I grew up in the
Northland so people are
familiar with Park and their
reputation for working
with students,” she said.
“I feel like Park is part of
the landscape of living in
the Northland and I think
it has a reputation of being
very student-friendly and
student-centered, which is
something I really like about
it.”
Bringing a wealth of
expertise and experience
to Park University,
Mecklenburg-Faenger
focused on the history of
rhetoric during her time at
Ohio State. Specializing in
American rhetoric of the
progressive era, particularly
that used by women, she
wrote her dissertation
on scrapbooks used by
women’s organizations to
enact change.
Pulling out a stack of
papers from her desk, she
thumbed through copies
of news reports, playbills,
newspaper clippings and
photos collected in suffrage
scrapbooks that women
used as a storehouse of
material to make use of in
the suffrage movement.
Mecklenburg-Faenger
has also published articles
about scrapbooks and is
currently working with a
colleague to write an article
about women’s Shakespeare
Sadie Mohr has a love of
napping and binge-watching
Netflix. She is a fan of cheesy
jokes and avid listener of the The
Mamas & the Papas.
If this sounds like the lifestyle
of a college student – you would
be right but with a twist.
Mohr, who graduate from
Park last May, was selected to be
a Resident Assistant this spring
semester to assist the residents of
the fifth floor of Chesnut Hall.
Sitting in the common areas
of Thompson as students rush by
on their way to class,
Mohr paused before
she describes what her
friends would say about
her.
“I think they would
say I am a pretty quirky
person,” said Mohr,
“maybe loyal and a good
a friend.”
Ayla Parham, junior double-
majoring in biology and secondary
education, echoed Mohr’s
description.
“It is really hard to describe
(Sadie),” said Parham, “She is a
sweet person and selfless…she
isn’t fake. If I needed anything she
would help me.”
These qualities in Mohr may be
the reason she was selected for the
position. Mohr, who is originally
from Northeast Missouri, became
interested in Park University after
finishing her associate’s degree at
another college.
Desiring to move closer to the
city, her sister recommended she
attend Park.
“I remember I was so worried
about coming here,” said Mohr,
“even though my grades were
fine, I thought the school was so
prestigious and the campus was
so beautiful. Then I got to campus
and I thought, ‘Oh it’s Park, it’s
home.’ I like it, it’s a good fit for
me.”
Mohr said she had difficulty
finding her path in college,
changing her major on three
different occasions before Walter
Kisthardt, professor of social
work, guided her into social work
and, more specifically, towards the
path of family therapy.
Looking back she could define
her experiences through her
undergraduate in one word:
“Wow,” said Mohr.
Reaching out for opportunities
to travel at Park, Mohr has been
to a handful of locations including
Poland and Germany for her
semesters to study.
“Ever since I was little I wanted
to visit Auschwitz to get a grasp
of what they had gone through,”
said Mohr. “If I had to pick which
was a better experience it would be
Poland over Germany.”
Now that she is finished
traveling for the moment and
graduated with her bachelor’s
degree, Mohr spends some of
her time working as a graduate
assistant for the Global Education
and Study Abroad program located
in Herr House.
The other portion of her time
will be divided between master’s
classes and being a residential
leader.
“I remember [R.A.’s] were
respected and were good leaders, I
could take something from them,”
said Mohr.
“I want residents to be able to
build a bond so they have someone
to come to.”
Mohr’s experience with others
was fostered by her time as the
leader of the International Book
Club, which brought Mohr in
contact with students from various
types of diverse backgrounds who
New English professor brings fresh insights
Elizabeth Orosco
Features Editor
societies and their effect on
literacy during this period.
Her desire to teach is the
result of her time at New
Mark Middle School as
instructional assistant.
“I really liked the
teaching aspect of my job,”
she said, “and that’s what
sent me back to graduate
school at UMKC to get
a master’s which is what
led me to my field. In my
field, people actually study
teaching, finding out what
works, what doesn’t work,
what kind of writing works
in particular ways, and what
works for students.”
Mecklenburg-Faenger
said that her experience
thus far on campus has been
fantastic.
“The students are very
gregarious,” she said. “They
have lots to say and one
of my classes barely
let me sign into the
computer before they
started asking me
questions. They are
ready to talk right away,
very curious and have
ton of questions. It’s
been really fun.”
She is also involved
in Writing Across the
Curriculum, an educational
movement that advocates
the teaching of writing
in all disciplines and the
value of learning writing
in all disciplines. She is
undergoing a long-standing
project on mathematical
writing with a mathematics
professor at UMCAsheville,
working on a second
article about revision in
mathematics.
“Mecklenburg-Faenger
brings a wealth of teaching
and administrative
experience to Park,” said
Glenn Lester, English
professor and program
coordinator. “She will
help us update our first
year writing classes, help
us coordinate our upper-
division professional
writing classes and will
teach some of our upper-
division rhetoric and writing
theory courses. I look
forward to working with
her on designing creative,
innovative, and effective
assignments and activities
for our writing students.
Our English majors stand
to learn much from her
expertise and experience.
“I think all Park students
are going to learn from her
down-to-earth but rigorous
teaching style.”
Brian Shawver,
associate professor of
English and chair of the
English and Modern
Language department, said
Mecklenburg-Faenger will
benefit the department by
offering fresh insights and
new insights. She’s had a
good deal of experience at
other universities, so she’ll
be able to give suggestions
and affirmations vis-
à-vis how things work
elsewhere,” Shawver said.
“More specifically, she’ll
augment our department in
the area of rhetoric, which
is her academic specialty.
I think the students will
benefit from her expertise,
but also from her congenial
and open-minded manner in
the classroom.
“I think they’ll find
that she’s an instructor
they feel very comfortable
with, and that she’ll make
complex ideas interesting
and accessible to them,”
Shawver said.
PHOTO/Max Mohr
Bringing years of experience and expertise,Amy Mecklenburg-Faenger prepares for her first semes-
ter as Park University’s newest associate professor of English.
Newyearsoftenbringnewfaces
and during this spring semester
Park’s Information Technology
department made a new addition
to the team in Edward Austin, who
is a new help desk coordinator.
In order to make your way to
Austin’s office you first have to
find the IT department. Located
deep in the underground past
the library, but before the Smart
market, are doors. Next to these
doors, marked in black lettering,
is reads IT Department. Stepping
through the doors, the first room
on the right contains Austin and
his seemingly revolving work
study students.
Austin, who is a rather tall man
with three holes for earrings in his
left ear and he has fashioned his
greying facial hair into a goatee, is
a native of Kansas City.
Austin earned his associates
degree in applied science in
1990 and began his IT career in
tech support in Kansas City. He
transitioned from small businesses
to fortune 500 companies working
in Des Moines, Iowa; and Ann
Arbor, and Detroit, Mich. He said
his two favorite cities are Kansas
City and Des Moines.
After spending seven years
in tech support for various
companies, Austin found his way
to KCNET, a company owned and
operated by Park’s own James
Nelson, assistant director of
software development.
During his 10 years with
KCNET, Austin had contributed to
the workplace with his experience,
dealing with various types of
issues that would arise.
“Ed is a really good guy,”
said Nelson, “(He is) great with
customers on the phone and perfect
for help with technical skills. He is
definitely a big asset.”
Life though isn’t only about
work and Austin said first and
foremost he is a father of a son
and a daughter. He is also a self-
proclaimed “geek” and loves
investigating the inner parts
of computers, equipment and
software. He previously used to
create mods for video games but
has found he is far too busy now.
Whathedoeshavetimeforisthe
building of a solar-powered grid in
his backyard to accommodate his
desire to move off the grid. Austin
said having hobbies, working and
being a father are time consuming.
“(I don’t get) much sleep but I
like to get up early,” he said.
Austin said he hopes to
continue his education. Fascinated
by forensic and computer tech,
Austin’s goal is to earn a bachelor’s
degree in criminal justice and
information technology within the
next 10 years.
IT department welcomes new help desk staff
Airik Leon
Staff Reporter
PHOTO/Airik Leon
Park University welcomes Edward Austin, the IT department’s new help desk
coordinator who joins the staff this spring semester.
Chesnut Hall gains new Resident Assistant this spring
‘Iremember[R.A.’s]wererespected
andweregoodleaders,Icould
takesomethingfromthem.Iwant
residentstobeabletobuildabond
sotheyhavesomeonetocometo.’
Sadie Mohr, Resident Assistant
interpret things differently.
“The hardest thing is
communicating,” said Mohr. “So,
I try to find the one thing we have
in common to build the bond
between myself and the residents.”
Mohr’s desire to help others
coupled with her knack for
gaining the trust of students and
people around campus has led to
a respectable reputation, according
to Nora Gedei, student program
specialist and MBA candidate.
“I know students like to go to
her,” said Gedei. “She would often
let us know a problem a student
was having but wouldn’t disclose
it with others. She is engrained in
the community and can help when
needed.”
PHOTO/Airik Leon
Sadie Mohr,graduate student,is all smiles after being selected to be the Resident
Assistant of Chesnut Hall this spring semester.
‘Ithink[Park]hasareputationof
beingverystudent-friendlyand
student-centered,whichissome-
thingIreallylikeaboutit.”
Amy Mecklenburg-Faenger,
Associate Professor
Airik Leon
Staff Reporter