Administration

Dean, Joseph Baldwin Academy

The Dean of the Joseph Baldwin Academy is Michelle Wilson. The Dean sets the curriculum, budgeting, selects the faculty, oversees the Directors, Preceptors and ultimately any student needs.  In addition, the Dean works with the processing of student applications and the selection process.   Prior to working at the University Mrs. Wilson has worked with students and families in suburban, urban and rural areas of Kansas City, Missouri.  Additionally, she spent the majority of her summers working with and directing summer youth camping programs and academies. Mrs. Wilson has a B.S. in Human Services from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Arts in Education and Integrated Learning from Drury University.  Mrs. Wilson has been with Truman State University as the Dean of JBA and Assistant Director of the Institute for Academic Outreach working with Truman’s Early College Programs since 2021.

Director, Joseph Baldwin Academy

The Director for the Academy is Allie Wills. As the Director, she oversees all aspects of the day to day operations of the Academy.  Allie is an English teacher for Pattonville High School in St. Louis.  Allie has worked with the academy since 2018, first as a Preceptor (2018 & 2019), Hospitality Director (2020), Residential Living Director (2021 and 2022) the Assistant Director (2023 and 2024) and now as the Director. She holds a B.A. in English and a M.A.Ed. in Secondary Education from Truman State University.

As the Director, Ms. Wills supervises all co-curricular JBA activities and creates an atmosphere that is safe, healthy, and fun.  In addition, the Director oversees the activities of the professional staff and Preceptors to ensure that the day to day classes and events are operating smoothly.  During trainings, the Director works to ensure that Preceptors are fully trained.  One of their primary responsibilities is communicating with parents on the phone or through e-mail during the Academy. The Director reports directly to the Dean of the Academy.

Assistant Director

To be announced.

The Assistant Director works closely with the Director and supervises the Academy whenever they are not available.  The Assistant Director’s primary responsibilities includes student behavior, check-in and check-out days, assisting with Preceptor trainings, and planning several of the Academy’s weekend activities.  The Assistant Director reports to the Director.

Pro-Staff

Health and Wellness Director

To be announced.

As the Health & Wellness Director, who lives in the residence hall with the students, the Health and Wellness Director oversees the health and safety needs of the students, dispensing any necessary medications, providing basic first aid and ensuring that students maintain a healthy lifestyle while at the Academy.  The goal of the Health and Wellness Director is to provide students with the same level of care that they would receive at home.  The Health and Wellness Director keeps families informed of any health needs that students may have through our health management system, CampDoc, as well as phone/email communications as needed with families.  The Health & Wellness Director reports to the Director.

Co-Activities Directors

To be announced.

The Co-Activities Directors, who live in the residence hall with the students, are responsible for planning and supervising the morning, afternoon, and evening activities.  Much of their work includes organizing materials and travel for each activity and training preceptors to work individually with students in a variety of athletic, intellectual, creative, and recreational activities.  The Co-Activities Directors report to the Director.

Residential Living Director

To be announced.

The Residential Living Director is responsible for housing assignments, managing the hall desk, student banking accounts, communications with our dining services, daily living needs of students and staff, and coordinating with the Assistant Residential Living Director and Hall Store Director.  The Residential Living Director reports to the Director.

Assistant Residential Living Director

To be announced.

The Assistant Residential Living Director works in conjunction with the Residential Living Director, providing coverage at any time that they are not available.  They work to maintain the day to day tasks of living on campus, such as mail services/delivery, laundry, Ryle Hall and room cleaning, as well as assisting with activities and events.  Additionally, the Assistant will work with the Hall Store Director to ensure stocking and a backup at any time that the Hall Store Director is unavailable. The Assistant RLD reports to the Residential Living Director and Academy Director.

Hall Store Director

To be announced.

The Hall Store Director oversees all aspects of running the Hall Store.  This includes the daily operations of the store, such as stocking, inventory/ordering, daily Hall Store Specials, daily reconciliation of the cash and card transactions, checking in and out all supplies that go through the Hall Store such as games, cleaning supplies, lost and found, etc.   The Hall Store Director works in conjunction with the Residential Living Director and Assistant Residential Living Director; and reports to the Academy Director.

Communications and Social Media Director

To be announced.

The Communications and Social Media Director is tasked with the Academies social media presence, photography, videography as well as content creation for the memory book and website.  In addition, the Communications and Social Media Director works to provide updates and information through our different platforms, along with providing an additional staff member to the management team for overall academy supervision.

Summer 2024 ProStaff Group Photo Session I

Back Row: Holly Peters, Ian Bolan (floater), Haley Winning (night monitor), Robert Greco Hannah Vannourney, and Allie Wills

Front Row: Zoe Aldrich, Rowan Burba, Michelle Wilson, Nixi Schroeder, and Megan Ford  (Not pictured: Noah Schleicher)

Summer 2024 ProStaff Group Photo Session II

Back Row: Megan Ford, Noah Schleicher, Umair Iqbal (floater), Hannah Vanourney, Robert Greco, Michelle Wilson

Front Row: Zoe Aldrich, Rowan Burba, Nixi Schroeder, Allie Wills, Holly Peters  (Not pictured: Haley Winning, night monitor)

Preceptors

Preceptors — one to three per class — are current or recently graduated Truman students who assist the faculty in the class room and work with students in their class.  The preceptors live in the residence hall and assist the Co-Activities Directors’ during the morning, afternoon, and evening activities.

The majority of our preceptors are nominated by a JBA faculty member to assist in their course and are interviewed individually by the Dean and the Director of the Academy.  They must meet certain academic standards, have a heart for middle school age students and adhere to certain expectations and standards as set by Truman State University and the Institute for Academic Outreach.  Along with a nomination to the position of Preceptor, students must also have a letter of recommendation from another campus professor to attest to their work ethic and ability to represent Truman in this role.  Additionally, a large number of our preceptors are also working towards their Masters degree in Education.

Before the beginning of the JBA session, preceptors:

• complete a university background check
• spring orientation session
• receive certification in CPR/AED and First Aid training
• pass a van-driving test administered by Truman’s Department of Public Safety, as well as have a motor vehicle background check to ensure they have no moving violations, to be allowed to assist in transportation of students within campus vehicles
• meet with their faculty member for course expectations and guidelines to help support the faculty member
• three days of preparations and trainings by the professional staff and campus departments
• work under their Faculty member for all academic responsibilities
• work under the Directors for all other duties and expectations

Faculty

The faculty are responsible for their classes.  They schedule each day’s academic activities, monitor each student’s progress, assign study hall, supervise the academic duties of preceptors, and work in conjunction with the class preceptors to manage class behavior.  The faculty report directly to the Dean of the Academy.  Faculty bios are on the course pages JBA Courses.

Recent Academy Graduate Feedback: 

• “Our professor, Dr. Vazzana, was one of the most entertaining and positive teachers that I have ever had.” (Victor, age 15)
• “She helped me develop my graphic novel creation skills and showed me how to do better.” (Kendall, age 13)
• “My professor was energetic and helpful whenever we were feeling stuck or tired.” (Andrew, age 13)