Mark Bannister! He currently works as the Interim Dean of the Boise State University College of Business and Economics, and has worked in the education system for a majority of his life trying to make positive changes and progress for the future generation. Mark received his Bachelor of Arts in Communication from FHSU in 1985.
Mark Bannister is currently the Interim Dean of the Boise State University College of Business and Economics. Bannister began his career as Associate General Counsel to the Kansas Board of Regents. He worked as Chief of Staff to Kansas Senate President Bud Burke. Bannister served in multiple roles at Fort Hays State University over a 26 year period. He arrived at FHSU as General Counsel and Director of the Docking Institute of Public Affairs. He served for ten years as a faculty member and chair in the Department of Informatics and for nine years as Dean of the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship.
What do you do now do for a living? How did you end up choosing this career path? I lead large and complex academic organizations. I chose this career path by accident, but did so because I feel that I can help improve the lives of people through quality accessible higher education.
Why did you choose to attend FHSU? Dr. Jerry Tomanek gave me his pitch as to why I should choose FHSU over the University of Kansas or Georgetown University. The dedicated faculty and small classes were an attractive feature.
What are your favorite memories from your time as a student? My favorite memories are of conversations with very bright students serving in Student Government: Kevin Faulkner, Troy Moore, John Allen, Robert Nugent, Don Reif, Mike Brown, and others. We discussed politics, policy, and life.
What advice do you have for current or prospective FHSU students? Invest time in yourself. Be prepared for class and work to learn from every assignment. Join student organizations and learn by taking a leadership role. Pursue internships in your field of study.
Tell us about someone at FHSU who has left a lasting impression: Larry Gould has been a visionary who has touched the lives of many students and people who have worked with him. FHSU would not have had its success over the last three decades were it not for the drive and energy of Ed Hammond.