The SMSU Podcast

With Tropical Night taking place Angela Lee, Director of Alumni Relations and Outreach, is on to talk about what is happening for the Alumni returning to campus.
Angela also goes over what’s happening at the new “Elizabeth Lockwood Alumni Center” and the changes happening.

As the second half of the school year gets underway financial aid is something high school seniors should be aware of. There have been quite a few changes that have been made to the application process and Director of Financial Aid, Natasha Boe goes over what those changes are and some of the misconceptions that surround financial aid. 
If you have questions on how to get started or if you are looking to apply you can go to the SMSU website https://www.smsu.edu/campuslife/financialaid/applying-for-financial-aid.html 

We kick off the new year by discussing the Mustang Pathway Program with Jeet Sausen, Associate Director of the program. She talked about how the program started and the success it has generated for SMSU. 
The Mustang Pathway is the only program of its kind in the state, across both public and private higher education. The program serves historically underprivileged students and provides an alternate entry through a five-week summer program. Students who successfully complete the program are automatically admitted in the fall semester at SMSU. 
Dr. Erin Kline and Jefferson Lee IV spearheaded the program in 2019 with the full backing of President Kumara Jayasuriya. Sixty-one students have completed MPP with 63% of those students going on to enroll in spring classes. 
If students are interested in joining the Mustang Pathway program, follow the link below or reach out to Jeet at the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=xscRULQKq0ae9PrnSpIafyVfqB9wrXxAvNruw2AQ401UMVZQNUZOSUFXMlFRNkZUVTBUTE9NTklVTi4u

In today's episode, the VP for Government Relations, Communication & Marketing, Bill Mulso goes over his history at SMSU as he retires after working at the university for 35 years. Marcy talks with Bill about some of their best memories as students along with going over SMSU's most monumental changes throughout the years.

On this today's episode, the Director of Choral Activities, Music Education, and Music Theory at SMSU, Stephen Kingsbury, goes over the upcoming trip to Prague and Vienna the SMSU Chorale will be taking over Christmas break.
 
For more information on how to get involved with the SMSU Chorale and other vocal groups at SMSU contact Dr. Kingsbury through email at Stephen.Kingsbury@smsu.edu or give him via phone at 507-537-7247

On today's episode, Associate Professor of Biology Alyssa Anderson and Associate Professor of Exercise Science Mostafa Hehazy give an update on the 18th Annual Undergraduate Research Conference which took place on November 29th in the campus of SMSU.
Anderson and Hezahy tell us a little bit more about their role as co-organizers of the events and their duties at SMSU. Anderson also talks about the history of the event and what students can expect from the event. Hezahy tells us about the different areas of study we can expect to see in the event, the number of students, and others. 
This year's keynote speaker was a 1990 SMSU graduate, Michael Beedle, and his involvement in environmental science in the public sector. 
To access the event program please visit www.SMSU.edu/go/urc

On today's episode, Communications and Marketing Office Graduate Assistants, Juliana Villa and Jennifer Aguilar give us an update on their responsibilities as content strategists for SMSU social media channels. Juliana, a native from Colombia, and Jenny a native from Minnesota, talk to us about their roles, challenges they faced, and how they come up with ideas for SMSU social media channels, specifically TikTok. 
Additionally, they tell us a bit more about what brought them to work and study at SMSU, and what they enjoy most about working in the Marketing and Communications office. 
Visit SMSU.edu for links to our social media accounts or search SMSUToday on any platform. SMSU social media accounts include: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, LinkedIn, Youtube, Snapchat, and ZeeMee. 

On this week’s episode, the Director of Bands at SMSU, John Ginocchio, gives us an update on the upcoming schedule of music events heading into winter break. Dr. Ginocchio tells us a little more about the different concerts and events taking place in the upcoming weeks. There are three concerts in November, on the 16th, the 20th, and the 30th. Coming in December, the SMSU Band, SMSU Chorale, and Southwest Minnesota Orchestra have concerts scheduled on December 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 9th. Each one with a special and unique theme. 
Additionally, Dr. Ginocchio shares with us the upcoming trip for SMSU Chrole. SMSU Chorale will travel across the pond to Vienna, Austria, and Prague, in the Czech Republic to perform in some of the most famous locations for the holiday season. 
 
For more information about the upcoming SMSU music events, please contact Dr. John Ginocchio via email at John.Ginocchio@smsu.edu or via phone at 507-357-7209. 

Charlotte Wahle, director of admissions, was our guest for the KMHL Campus Update on these week's episode. Wahle, spoke to us about new programs that can help students with tuition costs for those who qualify. She also discussed the Southwest Guarantee, the North Star Promise Scholarship, and other SMSU scholarships available for current and new students. Charlotte also pointed out that tuition is frozen through Spring 2025 and that students can apply for free in November.
More details on all the programs are available at www.SMSU.edu/go/free.
For more information about admissions please contact Charlotte Wahle via email at Charlotte.Wahle@smsu.edu or via phone at 507-537-7207.

On today's episode, SMSU Director of International Student Services and Global Studies, MayLee Moua-Vue, gives us an update on the upcoming International Education Week starting on Monday, November 13, 2023.
Moua-Vue also talks about her role as director of the CIE, the current international student population, and the different opportunities SMSU students have to study abroad. 
MayLee discussed the processes international students must do before attending any university in the US-SMSU included- and the role and guidance they offer prospective international students. 
 
International Education Week Schedule Link: https://www.smsu.edu/today/articles/2023/11-02-2023_international-education-week.html
 
For more information about the upcoming International Education Week and to know more about the Center of International Education, please contact MayLee Moua-Vue by email at maylee.moua-vue@smsu.edu or by phone at 507-537-6499.