I graduated from FHSU in 1993 with a BS in Biology and then returned to obtain a secondary teacher certificate from 1996 – 1998. I have worked in K-12 education as well as higher education before working at Envision, a non-profit that provides programs, services, and employment for people who are blind or visually impaired. Through my work there, I was able to connect with a variety of professionals throughout the state of Kansas as well as worldwide. While at Envision, I had the opportunity to present at the Envision Conference along with fellow FHSU alum, Dr. Kendall Krug, how a group of vision outreach professionals formed the Kansas Vision Coalition to identify gaps and overlaps of services in our state. Recently, I was selected to serve as the Director of the K-State Extension and Research Center in Sedgwick County and have been working there since January of this year. I am married. My husband, Wayne, and I have two boys, Reece (13) and Noah (10). We enjoy traveling together and supporting the boys in their activities.
What do you now do for a living? How did you end up choosing this career path? As the Extension Director, I believe that it is a great opportunity to combine and utilize of all of my experiences and skills from science, education, non-profit work and outreach. I enjoy the thought of bringing evidence-based, research-proven programs and information from the university to the community, which is the goal of Extension. I work with a great group of people who bring a phenomenal amount of experience, knowledge, and passion to the Center. I am lucky to be a part of the team.
Why did you choose to attend FHSU? I liked how Fort Hays made everything easy from my first visit to attending my first class. They helped me navigate the rough waters of applying and enrolling in classes. It was comfortable and it felt like home from day one.
What are your favorite memories from your time as a student? Some of my fondest memories were as a Delta Zeta. I met many lifelong friends by being a part of that sorority. I would also like to add that I enjoyed the walks to my classes. It was a great opportunity to see so many people. It was before cell phones, so we were able to look around and pay attention to the people walking past us.
What advice do you have for current or prospective FHSU students? Pay attention in your classes and learn the content, but also accept the fact that college is a time to learn things outside of the classroom too. Understanding other cultures, being able to live with other people, trying to make a living are all things that will serve you well in the future.
Tell us about someone at FHSU who has left a lasting impression: I enjoyed the support of Dr. Don Slechta. I worked for him in the political science department through the work study program. He was a great advocate for me even though political science was not my major. I also appreciated the support of Dr. Fleharty as I was working on my teacher certification. He shared that he still had butterflies at the beginning of every semester as a seasoned professor.
In what ways are you proud to be a Tiger? I love the family feeling of being an alum. I attend alumni events, and it doesn’t matter who you talk to, you immediately find shared experiences. I am extremely proud of the beautiful campus and how it can be enjoyed for a fraction of the cost of other state universities.