College Establishes H. Roe Bartle Center for Community Engagement

Missouri Valley College President Bonnie Humphrey has announced the establishment of the H. Roe Bartle Center for Community Engagement in honor of H. Roe Bartle and in recognition of the 70th anniversary of Bartle founding American Humanics (now called Nonprofit Leadership Alliance) on the MVC campus.

The H. Roe Bartle Center for Community Engagement will include MVC’s nonprofit management studies programs, the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Program, and be connected to the campus-wide service learning initiative.

H. Roe Bartle was a businessman, philanthropist, and Boy Scout executive who served as president of Missouri Valley College from 1948-1950 during which he founded American Humanics. He served two terms as mayor of Kansas City, Missouri from 1955-1963.

American Humanics was the first college program of study to train professionals for youth and human service agencies. Now called Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, the program has spread to more than 40 colleges and universities nation-wide including Arizona State University, Brigham Young University, and the University of Houston.

“It is an honor for us to be a part of the Bartle legacy,” said Heather Troth, campus executive director, NLA. “The 70th Anniversary presents the perfect opportunity for Missouri Valley College to recognise H. Roe Bartle for his contributions.  His vision of preparing “a passionate and prepared workforce” through applied learning began on the Missouri Valley College campus back in 1948 and has developed into an entire educational sector.”

Missouri Valley College offers a bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management with concentrations in human services and recreation administration as well as a minor in nonprofit management. MVC has certified more than 650 nonprofit professionals.

For more information about nonprofit management at Missouri Valley College, contact Heather Troth at trothh@moval.edu.