2022 Bender of Twigs

Sherry Purdue is that incredibly helpful person that you talk to about electronic door lock issues, needs, and wishes. She’s worked for me in this, and other capacities for the past six years and has made that job so easy. When someone calls me with a problem or a frustration, well, I can’t think of a time when Sherry has been the source of that frustration. They always say how nice and dedicated she is.

She manages two student workers and cares deeply about the security of the University. She is also dedicated to the environment of our Data Centers and other services she oversees.

It should be mentioned that as one who manages students, she is truly a “Bender of Twigs” who shines a light of knowledge into which her saplings lean. She has always built a fantastic relationship with our WSU students, even keeping up with some of them after they’ve gone.

Having started in October of 1996, Sherry has worked for Wichita State for more than the 25 years that goes into being a Bender of Twigs. Like myself, she started with this University soon after the date of the Bender of Twigs annual celebration, which means she’s actually been here 26 years! 26 years of service to her university and to the community that WSU serves. That’s pretty darn great!

While Sherry works for me today, that wasn’t always so. She has had many managers that she’s worked hard for. Mike Erikson was a well-liked supervisor who is now the CIO of the Colorado School of Mines, I guess Sherry taught him well! She worked for Keith Neufeld for six years and Jason Holmes for two. She and I have worked together for the aforementioned six years.

When I started this position, I talked to previous managers & directors about the various functions. When it came to door locks, I was told “oh, you don’t have to worry about that, Sherry just takes care of it.” Boy, were they right!

There’s certainly more to Sherry than her dedication to the job. From 2001 to 2013 she was the co-chair of the annual WSU Car Show. This was indeed one of the better car shows and took a lot of preparation and effort to put on. But it was certainly worth it as it was for a great charity. The proceeds went to benefit the Midian Shriner’s Plane of Mercy which provided, at no charge to the patient’s family, transportation for a child patient and their parents to medical centers many hundreds of miles away for treatment. Throughout the years they were able to donate over $12,000 to the Plane of Mercy!

Sherry Purdue is that rare kind of individual who makes this place run well as a part of a greater University community. What kind of individual is that? Simply put. Sherry Purdue is a great Shocker!