Wichita State News: Alumni

WSU grad to brief Congress on Teacher Quality Partnerships

Fri, 7 Jun 2013 14:00:00 CST

Wichita State University alumna Patrice Duncan, a teacher at Clark Elementary, has been invited to speak on a panel set up by the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education to brief Congress on Monday, June 10.

Duncan will speak about how her WSU experience prepared her for teaching, from working with English language learners, to using new technology in the classroom, to reaching out to families of children in poverty.

She will also meet later with Senator Jerry Moran and Senator Pat Roberts' staff to discuss the benefits of the Teacher Quality Partnerships being implemented at WSU and by 40 universities and high-need school districts across the United States.

The WTQP partners - Wichita State University, Wichita Public Schools, community organizations and area community colleges - are working to create a wide pipeline for the recruitment, education, induction and retention of highly qualified teachers for urban schools, said Sharon Iorio, dean of the College of Education.

Approximately 400 WSU teacher preparation students are placed in more than 30 Wichita schools each semester.

By the conclusion of the five-year grant, WSU anticipates that it will have prepared more than 588 new teachers for Wichita's schools.

One early indicator of the partnership's value is that assessment (first year) results show elementary students in partner schools made gains in reading and math over the past year and gains in partner schools were greater than those made in schools across the district at large.

Another value is the sustainability of the partnership beyond the term of the grant.

The Wichita partnership is the second largest in the country next to Arizona State University.

WSU grad recognized by White House

Mon, 3 Jun 2013 16:22:00 CST

Alex Cavgalar came to the United States in 1993 to study at Wichita State University.

Now, the Turkish-born engineer is building a local high-tech business, and he was recognized at a White House event this week for those efforts.

Cavgalar, who has a doctorate in electrical engineering from WSU and is founder and chief technology officer of Ulterius Technologies, was an Obama administration Champions of Change nominee.

The Champions of Change program is aimed at showcasing groups of Americans -- individuals, businesses and organizations — who the White House said in a news release "are doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities."

Cavgalar was nominated by Joni Cobb, CEO of the Pipeline entrepreneurial fellowship program. Cavgalar was one of three Pipeline fellows who were invited to attend the Immigrant Innovators Champions of Change event Wednesday at the White House.

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Campus involvement was key to success for Wichita couple

Fri, 3 May 2013 15:18:00 CST

There are many parallels in the lives of Wichita State alumni Kris and Leslie Wessel.

They were both Jabara scholars. Both real estate majors. Before even graduating, they managed to get part- and full-time jobs in their field. And today, they're both working as real estate agents in Wichita.

Oh, and they're married to each other.

With such similar experiences, it's not surprising that Kris and Leslie also agree on the most valuable part of their time at Wichita State: campus involvement.

"I'd say the biggest influence on my experience at WSU and success since would be being involved on campus while I was there, including on-campus housing, different organizations and our Greek system," Leslie said. "Our best friends and quite a few of my clients still come from those connections that Kris and I wouldn't have made otherwise."

The student experience

Leslie graduated in 2006, and since then she's worked for The Carnahan Group at J.P. Weigand & Sons Inc. Kris, who graduated in 2005, works for The Martens Cos. He started there when he was a junior and has been there since.

They've been married for seven years and have a 2-year-old son, Kasten.

There's a bit of disagreement on where they met: Kris said it was at an event for Jabara Scholarship winners. Leslie said they first met as part of the same student organization, SIFE.

"I like to tease her, because I was apparently not too memorable the first time, and she does not remember our first introduction," Kris said. "We met again through SIFE, and I was apparently more memorable the second time."

Regardless, they said, it was more than just attending classes that made the difference.

Leslie is a big proponent of living on campus for at least a year. She lived in Fairmount Towers and Wheatshocker Apartments, and Kris lived in the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house.

"I think it is very important to be involved on campus," Kris said. "Education is your purpose for being there, but the college experience is what makes you a whole person.

Taking part in the campus life opportunities is what helped Kris become a well-rounded person and not just a good student.

"I cured a lot of my shortcomings over those four years," he said. "In my campus involvement, I met a lot of other students who didn't fit into the same mold I did. You can learn a lot from someone who has different talents than you do."

Stepping stones

Also vital to their career success was the ability to find a related job in real estate while they earned degrees. It got their foot in the door of the industry, helped build their resume and gave them experience beyond the classroom.

It's one of the benefits of going to college in an urban environment, Kris said.

"There are tons of degree-holding college grads out there, so it is important to have some kind of advantage over the other candidates," he said. "In a city like Wichita, there are a lot of opportunities that you don't get in a smaller college town."

The job he had as appraisal assistant at The Martens Cos. was the perfect complement to his coursework, Kris said.

Midway through her junior year, Leslie got a job at Ritchie Development as a new home sales consultant assistant. She worked there until shortly after graduation.

She worked full time while taking classes at night.

"The position was key in giving me real estate sales and management experience, getting my Realtor's license and a great stepping stone to where I am now."

New Ulrich director returns to his Wichita State roots

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:42:00 CST

In 1978, Bob Workman was up in the air, standing on scaffolding at the front of the Ulrich Museum of Art, meticulously plugging bits of mosaic into bolt holes.

He was an undergraduate student at Wichita State, and getting the honor of helping install the famous Miro mural was the icing on the cake for the art enthusiast.

"I have to say that being a part of the Ulrich at such a dynamic and engaging time was life changing for me," Workman said.

Thirty-five years and six cities later, the Wichita native is back home and back at Wichita State as director of the Ulrich Museum.

When Workman returned to the Ulrich, the Miro mural – a visual icon on the WSU campus – was gone, undergoing a multi-million dollar restoration. So the project he worked so hard on as a student is now one of his biggest projects as museum director.

"There's a wonderful symmetry to my starting my art museum career here, with the privilege in 1978 to be a part of the Miro installation and unveiling," Workman said. "Now I have a leadership responsibility with our great WSU team to not only raise the remaining funds to conserve the Miro, but also be here for the reinstallation in 2016."

'It's great to be back'

After earning his bachelor's in art history from Wichita State, Workman moved to Boston, where he received his master's from Boston University.

Workman then held a series of positions as he earned experience in the world of art. He was curator for the Museum of Art at the Rhode Island School of Design; director of exhibitions at the American Federations of Arts in New York City; deputy director of the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, Texas; and founding director of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Ark.

Most recently, Workman was director of the Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan, Kan.

"My career is somewhat unique in that I have been intimately involved in the design and construction of three museums," Workman said.

Now as director of WSU's art museum, he leads the staff in the development and care of the 7,000-plus works of art in the Ulrich collection, the development and implementation of the exhibitions program, and the delivery of educational programs on and around campus.

Ulrich staff is also in the early stages of photographing and digitizing the museum's permanent collection.

"That process is a key step in our making the art accessible to the students and faculty of WSU, as well as our greater community," Workman said.

Workman said fundraising to support the conservation of the Miro – and the work itself – is going very well.

"The opportunity to return here and work to enrich the lives of students on campus is a great motivator for me," he said. "The collections and programs of the Ulrich provide exciting and enriching experiences for all our visitors, and I look forward to building on the great work that has been done here over the last several years. It's great to be back, and I am very excited by the prospects for the future of the Ulrich Museum of Art."

Grad profile: On-the-ground experience sets WSU apart

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 09:52:00 CST

A small filler ad seeking a copy editor for Wichita State's student newspaper, the Sunflower, was all it took to change the direction of Nicole Stockdale's career.

Stockdale, who spent three semesters as a journalism major at the University of Kansas, had recently transferred back to her hometown to instead pursue a degree in elementary education at WSU.

Looking to earn some extra cash, she applied for the Sunflower job.

"That one little ad was all it took for me to be lured back into journalism," she said.

It has clearly paid off.

Stockdale is now assistant editorial page editor for the Dallas Morning News, where she also is one of three managers of the paper's editorial department; editor of the Sunday "Points" commentary/analysis section; and a member of the editorial board.

In early March, she won one of the Dallas Morning News Journalists of the Year prizes – Line Editor of the Year. (Her husband, Corbett Smith, won the paper's Sports Writer of the Year award.)

Preparing for a career

Stockdale, who graduated in 2000 with a double major in communication and political science, said there were four experiences that turned out to be "career-makers" for her.

Through the political science department's Washington Internship Program, she spent a semester in Washington, D.C., but it was up to her to land her own internship.

She found a job that combined her two majors: a communication and political intern for a political action committee.

Another valuable experience came in 1998, when Stockdale was required by her political science professor, Mel Kahn, to volunteer for a campaign. The volunteer job led to a paid job as the Wichita coordinator for the insurance commissioner's re-election campaign.

That insurance commissioner: Current U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius.

Over at the Sunflower, that small copy editing job turned into a chance for Stockdale to get her feet wet in writing, editing, planning, ethics and management (both of time and people) -- all areas she deals with every day in her current position.

"And it helped kindle a love of news and storytelling that makes me still appreciate -- and enjoy -- the work I do every day," she said.

Stockdale's first journalism job came in the form of a two-week copy editing internship over one winter break at The Wichita Eagle. Her professor, the late Les Anderson, helped her get the internship. But it was her experience at the Sunflower, where she had quickly become editor, that gave her just enough clout to make it to The Eagle.

"Had I not worked at the Sunflower, I probably wouldn't have been qualified even for that two-week gig," she said. "But those 10 days on the copy desk were eye-opening -- and helped me meet and prove myself to the right people."

That was all it took, and before even graduating, Stockdale had been offered a full-time copy editing job at The Eagle.

She stayed there until 2003, when she became a copy editor and headline writer on the night news copy desk at the Dallas Morning News. She has risen the ranks at the paper since.

"These experiences, when rolled into one big ball of a resume, made me ideally suited for work in an editorial department -- the journalism, the politics, the deadlines, the excitement," Stockdale said. "It's like I was preparing for this job the whole time -- a job that, in 2000, I didn't even know existed."

On-the-ground experience

There's never a dull moment these days for Stockdale, between raising two small girls and wearing "a lot of hats" at the Dallas Morning News.

As editorial board member, she's in a unique position to help shape the institutional position of the newspaper. She also has many chances for community engagement, helping plan and attend events such as community forums and author Q&As that the paper sponsors for the public.

And along with all those duties, she sometimes goes back to her writing days by blogging, tweeting and writing the occasional column or editorial.

Stockdale – who in 2010 won the WSU Elliott School of Communication's "One to Watch" award – credits much of her career to the opportunities afforded to her at Wichita State.

"Universities are known as places that can teach the theoretical. And I certainly had to bury my nose in books while I was at WSU; that was an important part of the educational experience I don't want to discount," she said. "But what set WSU apart was how much on-the-ground experience was available to the students who were interested in taking it. WSU makes the most of its urban setting and really gets students out into the workforce."

Internship opened the door for Shocker grad; led him to 49ers

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:04:00 CST

Less than four years after graduating from Wichita State University, Dan Beckler found himself where many men dream of being someday: the SuperBowl.

No, he wasn't there as an athlete. In fact, Beckler used to play basketball, not football.

The Wichita native was working as manager of public relations for the San Francisco 49ers. Some of his duties include facilitating media requests for players and coaches, as well as generating positive publicity for the organization.

It's a job he got after several years of hard work in and out of the classroom.

'Took the time to get to know me'

Beckler, who attended Trinity Academy, began college at Oklahoma Baptist as a basketball player. But after one year, he started researching schools with strong sports programs. He landed right back where he came from.

"WSU had one of the best in the country," Beckler said. "It was home and was an easy decision."

Once he decided to go the public relations route at Wichita State, Beckler was encouraged to work with the sports information director's office to see if it was exactly what he was looking for.

"The professors were very instrumental as I was trying to decide the specific field in sports I wanted to pursue," he said.

Beckler applied for the sports public relations internship at Disney and got the job, exposing him to invaluable on-the-job training while still a WSU student.

"I continued to stay in touch with professors who were always available to offer advice," he said.

That experience opened the door for Beckler's career.

"In the sports world, it's all about who you know," he said. "I met a lot of great people during my time at WSU and at Disney that had connections all over the sports industry."

Beckler went on to earn a Bachelor of Sports Administration in 2007 and Master of Sport Management in 2009.

He's grateful for the time spent guiding him toward his career goal.

"WSU really helped shape me and push me in the right direction," Beckler said. "There are so many fields in sports that it can often be overwhelming when you are trying to decide which way to go. The staff at WSU was very knowledgeable and could offer advice based on the questions they asked me. They took the time to get to know me and really tried to align my interests with a specific field."

Grammy winner Joyce DiDonato to speak at Wichita State

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 14:46:00 CST

Joyce DiDonato

The Wichita State University Alumni Association will host "Shocker Diva: Beautiful Performer" at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 9, at the Marcus Welcome Center. The hour-long breakfast event, featuring alumna Joyce DiDonato, is part of the alumni association's centennial celebration and Distinguished Alumni Speaker Series.

The event is open to the public and seating is limited. Tickets are $18 for alumni association members and $20 for nonmembers. To register, go to www.wichita.edu/alumni.

DiDonato is an acclaimed operatic mezzo-soprano particularly admired for her interpretations of the works of Handel, Mozart and Rossini. She has performed with many of the world's leading opera companies and orchestras and, in 2012, won a Grammy for Best Classical Vocal Solo.

In 2006, Wichita State's alumni association presented DiDonato with the WSU Young Alumna Award for her achievements. She is married to Italian conductor Leonardo Vordoni and lives in Kansas City, Mo.

"Shocker Diva: Beautiful Performer" is the last event in the spring 2013 Distinguished Alumni Speaker Series.

For more information, contact Mandy Fleming, director of alumni events, WSU Alumni Association, at 316-978-3831 or mandy.fleming@wichita.edu.

Close mentoring is one key to success for WSU philosophy department

Wed, 6 Mar 2013 14:11:00 CST

David Soles

David Soles is pretty impressed with the way things have been going in Wichita State's philosophy department. And he has reason to be: Since the department began keeping records from the early 1990s, every one of the more than 50 philosophy undergrads who have applied to graduate school has been accepted.

That includes schools such as the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, the top rated philosophy doctoral program in the world; the University of Pittsburgh, which boasts the top program in the United States; as well as Harvard, Cornell and MIT.

"We think that it is impressive," said Soles, chair of WSU's philosophy department. "It reflects very well on us. We are known throughout the nation for producing extremely capable philosophers."

Pushing excellence

Soles credits close professor-student relationships, demanding classes and high-quality professors with graduates' success.

In hiring at WSU, Soles said, the first consideration for the philosophy department is a candidate's potential as a teacher.

Three members of the department have received the John R. Barrier Excellence in Teaching Award; two have received the WSU Excellence in Teaching Award; one has received the WSU Leadership in the Advancement of Teaching Award; and one has received the George A. Lewis Teaching Award.

"Everyone in the department is an excellent teacher," Soles said.

The philosophy faculty also takes advising seriously, making sure that their majors are taking courses in other departments from faculty who will push them.

Getting into a top tier Ph.D. program or law school – about one-third of the graduates go to law school – requires scoring in the 90-plus percentile on the GRE or LSAT.

"We provide the sort of education that makes that possible," Soles said.

Mentoring relationships

Soles said the department is a fairly tight-knit community. There is a faculty/student lounge adjacent to the main office, and faculty make a point of spending several hours a week there.

"We have very close mentoring relationships with our students … drinking coffee and discussing philosophy and general intellectual topics," Soles said. "We get to know our students very well and are able to steer them to the appropriate sorts of programs."

Alumnus Dale Miller, who went on to complete his graduate work at the University of Pittsburgh, said the time in that lounge spent with professors is a highlight for students.

"Philosophy students at WSU are fortunate that the department has space for a departmental lounge, where students are encouraged to spend time between classes, and where they have ample access to faculty outside of the classroom," Miller said. "My experience at WSU was comparable to being at a liberal arts college."

Students in the department also have the chance to get on-the-job experience while earning their degree. Soles said many students work as tutors in the Logic Clinic or as discussion leaders in introductory classes.

"This not only provides them with a salary to help defray their college expenses, but also is attractive to graduate programs; they know that our students are ready to be responsible TAs when they arrive," Soles said.

Miller, who is now professor, department chair and co-director of the Institute for Ethics and Public Affairs at Old Dominion University (Va.), counts himself lucky that he went to WSU.

"At WSU, every philosophy class I took was from a faculty member with a Ph.D., and the undergraduates were treated like graduate students," he said. "Wichita State's philosophy department gave me an excellent grounding in all of the major areas of philosophy."

WSU Alumni Awards Banquet postponed until April

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 13:35:00 CST

The 57th Wichita State University Alumni Awards Banquet, originally slated for Thursday, Feb. 28, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 30, at the Wichita Marriott because of two winter storms that dumped a record-setting 21 inches of snow in the Wichita area.

WSU Alumni Association staff and board officers apologize for any inconvenience caused by this change of date, but the uncertainty of the weather and consideration of travel for out-of-town guests were paramount in the decision to reschedule this traditional event.

Honorees are Cleo Littleton '55, Achievement Award; Lynn Stephan '64, Alumni Recognition Award; Dave Dahl '71, Alumni Recognition Award; Connie Kachel White, Distinguished Service Award; and Alex Kanelakos '07, Young Alumnus Award.

Also to be recognized are the 10 individuals who have served the WSU Alumni Association as its administrative leaders: Esther Wenzel '34/34, Mickey Armstrong '45, Beulah Mullen '35/71, Ethel Jane King, Jane Gilchrist '68, Jim Moore '66/69, Mike Meacham '74, Lynda Sade '72, Brad Beets '87 and Debbie Kennedy '94.

For information about reservations already made or to make a reservation for the April 30 event, go to wichita.edu/awards or call (316) 978-3290 or (888) 316-2586.

WSU Alumni Association event to feature Koch Industries CFO

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:02:00 CST

Wichita State's Alumni Association will host "Koch's CFO: Overseeing a Global Financial Framework" at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, March 14, at WSU's Marcus Welcome Center. The breakfast event, featuring alumnus Steve Feilmeier, is part of the alumni association's centennial celebration and Distinguished Alumni Speaker Series.

The event is open to the public; tickets are $18 for alumni association members and $20 for nonmembers. To register, go to www.wichita.edu/alumni.

Feilmeier, a certified public accountant who received his master's degree in accountancy from WSU, was promoted to senior vice president and chief financial officer of Koch Industries in 2002. He previously served as vice president of tax, financial and accounting for the company. He has been with Koch since 1997.

Feilmeier is responsible for the company's global financial framework, and directs Invista, a subsidiary of Koch Industries. He resides in Wichita.

Before joining Koch, Feilmeier held a variety of positions at PepsiCo and was manager of taxation at KPMG Peat Marwick.

The last event scheduled for the alumni association's spring 2013 speaker series is "Shocker Diva: Beautiful Performer" with Joyce DiDonato on Tuesday, April 9.

WSU gave music education graduate opportunities, advantage

Tue, 5 Feb 2013 15:01:00 CST

Wichita State alumnus Troy Fischer knows from experience that making the most of opportunities as a college student can pay off with a career.

Fischer, who graduated in 2008 from WSU with an instrumental music education degree, has been band director at Wichita Collegiate School for almost five years.

"It's fun seeing kids develop their musicianship, and especially fun to be a part of their successes and triumphs," said Fischer.

While studying at WSU, Fischer gained experience through a part-time job at East Heights United Methodist Church in Wichita. He played bass guitar at a contemporary worship service and directed the middle and high school youth choirs.

At Collegiate, Fischer directs four concert bands, two jazz ensembles and the Marching Spartans, a band that performs at athletic events and area competitions. He also coordinates with an assistant director who leads two drumline groups, a beginning jazz ensemble and a middle school music technology class.

"I'm always amazed at how much excitement fifth-graders have for a new instrument and adventure each year," said Fischer. "At the same time, it's exciting to see juniors and seniors really own their passion and appreciation for instrumental music as they prepare for the next phases of their lives."

Making connections

Fischer said that as a WSU student, there were opportunities available for him to pursue any musical avenue he wanted.

"I had a wonderful experience at Wichita State," he said. "I love the school's connection to the city of Wichita, especially as that relates to the fine arts field."

Fischer, who is now working toward a master's degree in music education at WSU, was recently hired part time as director of music ministries at Andover United Methodist Church in Andover, Kan.

"The more connections you can make in your field before graduation, the more potential to open up a wide spectrum of opportunities after college," he said. "Maybe even an opportunity that wasn't expected."

Many of the relationships Fischer built with professors and area professionals turned into references when he was looking for a full-time music education job.

He encourages students to jump at volunteer and work experiences with confidence.

"Get your name out there and see what happens," said Fischer. "The Wichita State faculty is there to back you up and see you succeed."

February event to honor five WSU basketball greats

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:01:00 CST

Five Wichita State basketball greats — Dave Stallworth, Antoine Carr, Xavier McDaniel, Cleo Littleton and Cliff Levingston — will be honored at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at WSU's Marcus Welcome Center.

The special "#42 #35 #34 #13 #54" breakfast is part of the WSU Alumni Association's centennial celebration and 2013 Distinguished Alumni Speaker Series.

Tickets are $18 for alumni association members and $20 for nonmembers. To register, go to www.wichita.edu/alumni; contact Mandy Fleming at mandy.fleming@wichita.edu with questions. The hour-long event will also include a question-and-answer session with Carr, McDaniel, Levingston and Littleton.

Dave "The Rave" Stallworth, No. 42, entered Shocker hoops history averaging 24.2 points a game during his career, ranking third on the Shocker all-time scoring list with 1,935 points and first in scoring average in NCAA Tournament games with a 29.5 average.

Antoine Carr, No. 35, finished his career as the fourth leading scorer in WSU history with 1,911 points. He also set the Shocker single-game scoring mark of 47 points in his last collegiate game against Southern Illinois in 1983.

Xavier "X-Man" McDaniel, No. 34, ended his career as the Shockers' all-time rebounding leader with 1,359 rebounds and second on the all-time scoring list with 2,152 points. He led the nation twice in rebounding and, as a senior, became the first player in NCAA history to lead the country in both scoring and rebounding in the same season.

Cleo Littleton, No. 13, a third team All-American selection in 1955, is the first player west of the Mississippi River to score more than 2,000 career points. His 2,164 points still rank as WSU's all-time leading point total.

Cliff "Good News" Levingston, No. 54, teamed with Carr to form the "bookend forwards" duo that led the Shockers to national prominence in the early 1980s. During his three-year career at WSU, he scored 1,471 points and grabbed 965 rebounds, ranking eighth on the all-time scoring list and fourth in rebounding. His 53.8 career field-goal percentage ranks third in school history.

Other events scheduled for the alumni association's spring 2013 speaker series are "Koch's CFO: Overseeing a Global Financial Framework" with Steve Feilmeier on Thursday, March 14, and "Shocker Diva: Beautiful Performer" with Joyce DiDonato on Tuesday, April 9.

WSU grads lead state universities in finding employment in Kansas

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 09:40:00 CST

Wichita State University had the highest rate among state universities with 73.6 percent of its graduates gaining employment in Kansas one year after graduation, according to data on post-graduation employment in Kansas for graduates between 2007 and 2009.

Using graduation data from the Kansas Board of Regents and employment data from the Kansas Department of Labor, the analysis shows nearly 74 percent of Kansas residents who graduated from one of the 32 public higher education institutions were employed in Kansas one year after graduation.

Wichita State topped the list of state universities in the study for graduates gaining employment in Kansas one year after graduation, followed by Emporia State University at 71.7 percent, Fort Hays State University at 66.6 percent, Pittsburg State University at 57.4 percent, Kansas State University at 54.2 percent and the University of Kansas at 47.2 percent.

One factor leading to the higher employment rate for WSU graduates is the focus by Wichita State to help students gain work experience in their degree field before graduation.

"Research conducted by our office indicates that over the past five years an average of 91 percent of graduates who completed a co-op or internship through our office are working in Kansas," said Connie Dietz, director of WSU's Cooperative Education and Work-Based Learning. "Our research further indicates for the same time period that 75.6 percent are employed in a job related to their major."

Bobby Gandu

National research indicates that outcomes and job placement are central factors in the college search process, according to Bobby Gandu, director of undergraduate admissions.

"Students and parents want to know what their educational investment and experience will yield and numbers like these provide a great reason why Wichita State should be on the short list of every student in Kansas," said Gandu.

"The jobs of today and the future require a college education," said Andy Tompkins, president and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents. "By the end of the decade, more than 60 percent of Kansas jobs will require some level of higher education attainment. By meeting the needs of Kansas employers through highly skilled graduates, higher education supports economic development and offers a sound return on state investment."

Newton official credits WSU internship experience with success

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:18:00 CST

Lunda Asmani

Lunda Asmani has traveled a long way to get to his job as assistant city manager and chief financial officer for the city of Newton.

Asmani, who earned a master's in public administration from Wichita State University in 2002, is originally from Tanzania, East Africa. He grew up in a diplomatic family and was able to travel all over the world as a child.

Despite those advantages, Asmani credits his on-the-job training as a WSU student with his ability to land a successful job.

While at WSU's Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs, Asmani connected with the university's Cooperative Education and Work-Based Learning program. That connection helped him score two valuable internships: first for the city of Maize and then for the Sedgwick County manager's office.

He was employed full-time as soon as he graduated.

"I truly believe that my WSU co-op experience bolstered my resume and gave me a leg up on the competition," Asmani said.

Workplace study

Asmani took the long route to Kansas. From Tanzania, he came to New York City for first grade. Then he moved to Brussels, Belgium, for most of middle school and high school. He went back to Tanzania, where he completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Dar Es Salaam.

Hoping for a career in environmental studies, Asmani moved to Wichita in the summer of 1998 and began his Master of Public Administration at WSU in spring 1999.

When he first arrived at Wichita State, Asmani contacted Daisy Kabagarama in the School of Community Affairs. She referred him to Sam Yeager at the Hugo Wall School, and, after a brief discussion, Asmani decided public administration was his future.

"As I went through the Master of Public Administration program, my passion for local government grew," he said. "Although I had lived in the United States for a number of years, I continued to be intrigued about the democratic process and the role of local governments in everyday lives. I realized that to gain a better understanding of the profession and process I needed some sort of workplace study."

That desire led to his internships for the city of Maize, where Asmani worked on the city's comprehensive plan for 30 hours a week for six months.

"This was my first real exposure to local government, and the best part is I was also getting paid," Asmani said.

In the summer of 2001, he began a management internship in the Sedgwick County manager's office. Asmani said the county internship is one of the most respected public management internships in the region, and it set him up for his first real job after he graduated, working there for nine years in finance and enterprise planning.

In 2010, Asmani took his current job in Newton, where his responsibilities include investments, budgeting, risk management, accounting and oversight of the human resource functions.

Along with his work in Newton, Asmani has served on several area boards, is involved with the Kansas City/County Managers Association and serves as vice president of the Kansas Government Finance Officers Association.

He has been recognized with the De Vore Foundation's 2010 Excellence in Public Service Award and was named a 2011 Wichita Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree.

City internship kick-started WSU grad's career

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 14:08:00 CST

One of the things Angela Buzard enjoys most about her job is the opportunity to provide direct assistance to communities.

Buzard is director of the Environmental Finance Center – housed in Wichita State University's Hugo Wall School for Urban and Public Affairs. The Center provides environmental finance training and assistance to communities in Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas.

She graduated from WSU in 2006 with a master's in public administration, having earned her undergraduate degree in environmental studies from the University of Kansas. In the summer after she graduated, Buzard took an internship with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Wanting to someday continue down a career path in public administration, Buzard came to Wichita – specifically to attend WSU's graduate school.

Through her graduate studies, she found a desire to work with local governments and decided to apply for an internship with the City of Wichita.

Real-world experience

Buzard was hired as an intern for one year in the city of Wichita manager's office. Her job included handling special projects for the city manager, assistant city managers and various city department heads.

Shortly before graduating, Buzard was offered a job with McPherson County, and relocated to become the county's planning and zoning administrator. The move allowed her to live closer to her fiance and also provided an opportunity to work with a small local government.

She was there for 18 months before deciding to return to Wichita State. Buzard became executive officer of the REAP Water Resources Committee, a position she held for two years.

She then took her current position at the Environmental Finance Center in 2009.

"I like this job most because it's a great opportunity for me to blend my education in environmental science and public administration," Buzard said.

An opportunity made easier by the chance to get real-world experience while she was still a student. Buzard credits the Hugo Wall School with preparing her for the internship and the city and county for providing the opportunities.

"The internships are a great way to provide local government experience in a large organization, and it really gives you the ability to apply classwork," Buzard said. "It gives you the experience to get the full-time career opportunity."