Tell us about yourself: I am what the Marine Corps calls a retread. I started over late in my career. Most of my life was spent fixing things from welders, to wind turbines, and aviation radar. A renewed faith prompted me to take on a role working with homeless men. During that time, I developed a passion and compassion for those who struggle with mental illness. That lead me to pursuing education at Fort Hays State.
What do you now do for a living? How did you end up choosing this career path?
I am currently working as a case manager at Central Kansas Mental Health Center. My role is twofold. I am working on restarting and developing a supported employment program to help individuals get connected to and keep employment while learning how to manage mental illness. I also work with a handful of individuals with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness. My experience in working with homeless men and my education at Fort Hays opened that door for me.
Why did you choose to attend FHSU? The convenience of the online option coupled with the affordability was a big selling point. FHSU has a graduate program I plan on pursuing as well.
What are your favorite memories from your time as a student? It sounds somewhat cheesy, but my favorite memory is graduation. Many of the people in my life who believed in me many years ago had all since passed away. Walking across that stage was a very tearful event for me. Aside from that, I really enjoyed the open conversations and discussions that were conducted with respect and appreciation for diverse thought.
What advice do you have for current or prospective FHSU students? Stay the course. Finish strong. A brick wall is built one brick at a time. Just keep working at it.
Tell us about someone at FHSU who has left a lasting impression: The student body there is amazing. The faculty is always willing to help.
In what ways are you proud to be a Tiger? Just a great place that truly cares about the success of its students.