What Matters to Me and Why

Spring

Shawna Jordan, associate dean for student success and undergraduate studies
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Embracing the Journey

How does each encounter, moment or experience impact our journey? As a small town farm kid, Shawna will share how the impact of the encounters have the shaped the journey to where is today as well as her identity. She will challenge us to think about how all of these imprints shape the journey.

Fall

Coach Jerome Tang, K-State men's basketball coach
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Crazy faith, family, adversity, integrity, win the day, and finally, love, joy and freedom. Coach Tang unpacks his checklist of decision-making and concepts that guide his life, his coaching, and what matters to him and why.

Spring

Dr. Lonnie Hobbs, Jr., assistant professor for the Department of Agricultural Economics
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"Choosing Your Hard"
Every decision you make involves trade-offs! Lonnie will share his personal story of the tough decisions and challenges he encountered on his path to becoming an Assistant Professor. His aim is to inspire you to confront difficult decisions head-on and continue progressing towards success.

K-State First Lady Sally Linton
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"A Journey of Self-Discovery and Values"
How does life evolve if we are open to truly learning about ourselves? Not who we think we should be, but who we are. Sally Linton, First Lady of K-State, will share her winding journey through life so far. She will highlight her key takeaways as she has evolved from a wine judge to a mom to a mindfulness/yoga teacher to an advanced ADHD Life Coach and First Lady. Sally will also share her hopes for you as you move forward.

Dr. Alex Red Corn, assistant professor of educational leadership, College of Education
"Confronting Colonial Entanglements in Educational Systems: Tales from a Recovering Social Studies Teacher"

Fall 2023

Kirsten Zoller, director of strategic initiatives, K-State Salina
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How do multiple moments across a life build purpose and identity? Zoller is a lifelong K-Stater who will share moments of purpose from her life and how that has informed her identity (so far!). The role of experimentation for the sake of growth and starting with “what could be possible” are themes that will be discussed as she challenges others to think about how they are actively engaging in defining their own identity.

Spring 2023

David Ollington, academic advisor for the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work (SASW)
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"The Power of Words"
Incorporating anecdotes, David will offer an experience about creativity, especially around the impact our words have on others.

Fall 2022

Paulicia Bender, student services coordinator, TRIO Educational Support Services, Office of Student Success

Paulicia Bender is a K-State alumnae who has lived in Manhattan, Kansas, for more than 30 years, and is the proud mom of four unique beings. In her spare time, she enjoys art, reading and horror films. Paulicia will share her personal journey from high school dropout to college graduate, and the lessons she’s learned along the way to self-acceptance.

Richard Linton, president, Kansas State University
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Spring 2022

Corey Williamson, executive director, K-State Student Union
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Corey Williamson has the privilege of serving as the executive director of the K-State Student Union. As a Manhattan native and K-State alumnus, Corey will share his journey to becoming a campus community builder at Kansas State University. He will discuss the foundations of fostering belonging and creating community well-being that leads to shared success within any organization or team.

Fall

Linda Craghead, director of facilities services, Kansas State University
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The Long and Winding Road...

"Life’s journey has followed a long and winding (often detoured) road. Heading to K-State from a small family farm, I majored in animal science and was on a pursuit to become a veterinarian. Life happened and my direction changed. Afforded the opportunity to interview and begin my career with the world leader in agriculture, Cargill, I was assigned to work with the most difficult animal….people. I’ll share the lessons learned from people throughout my life’s detours into the business of mental health, economic development, an appointment as the Assistant and then interim Secretary of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism and finally returning to my alma mater, Kansas State University, as the Director of Facility Services."

Ayumi Amama, instructor, Academic Success Center, Carl R. Ice College of Engineering, Division of Retention, Diversity, and Inclusion, Kansas State University
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The Story of an Unfinished Ruler

"I will share my story from my childhood in a small town in southern Osaka, Japan, to my college and young career days in Yokohama, an international port city next to Tokyo, and then coming to the United States and having a family. Throughout these transitions, many people and experiences shaped who I am now and I am still growing. Along the way, I accepted grace and finally overcame a long-time struggle, which led me to many open doors that I have never expected to see. My dad once told me that we all are born a plain ruler, and as we gain knowledge and experiences, as we take on challenges that seems impossible, the ruler gains more dense demarcations and expands in length. This is the story of an unfinished ruler."

Spring

Chief Ronnie Grice, assistant vice president, Division of Public Safety
Dr. Cheryl Grice, director of strategic relations
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Chief Grice and Dr. Grice will share some of the life lessons they found to be the most inspiring on their journeys thus far in life. Personal and professional experiences work together to shape a person's and a couple's views on leadership. Hear how managing change, balancing work and family life, serving others and facing pivotal moments have enriched both of their careers and their family life.

Dr. Debra Bolton, director, Intercultural Learning and Academic Success
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Talking about...
Life-Long Learning to Find Common Ground: My father used to tell me, "Know something about everything and everything about something, and you will always be able to find common ground with another person." In this talk, I will describe my penchant for music, literature, geography, art, and people, which inform my work in intercultural development.

Fall

Dr. Gregory Eiselein, Donnelly Professor of English and University Distinguished Teaching Scholar, director of K-State First
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Talking about...Squad Goals: This presentation is about the joys (and struggles, but mostly joys) of working with others. We know that learning is social and that social learning environments work better than isolated or individualistic ones. In what ways is the same true of work? If our best work is done collaboratively, how do we support and coordinate with each other, and just plain get along in the ways most likely to achieve collective goals? One of the keys may be sharing what matters most to us and why, thinking through the principles that guide and motivate our work and writing out the unwritten rules of a #modeloffice.

Ellyn R. Mulcahy, Ph.D., MPH, director of the Master of Public Health Program and associate professor, Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology
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Dr. Mulcahy was born and grew up in Ireland. She was immersed in family, attachment to person and place, and tradition. Her education, even though it was what she would describe as a typical and traditional pathway in today’s world, continues to open up ideas, experiences, and new horizons. Dr. Mulcahy will share how she blends old and new traditions in her current life, how adaptability and resilience have not only been key personality traits but necessary, and how her life experiences have helped her work alongside her students. Dr. Mulcahy will talk about her role in public health, public health challenges, and how we can move public health and education forward.

Spring

Dr. Carol Shanklin, dean of the graduate school and professor of dietetics
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Dean Shanklin's presentation is about how mentoring influenced many of her personal and professional decisions and thus who she is today. She will also discuss why she values the privilege of mentoring students, junior faculty and colleagues.

Fall

Dr. Thomas Lane, Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students
"The Irony of a Life in Student Life"

As a first-generation student from central Illinois who nearly failed out of college his freshman year, Dr. Thomas Lane will reflect on a twenty-five year career working in Higher Education with a diverse array of students and navigating through often difficult campus issues. In his talk, he will share personal and professional experiences that have shaped his views on leadership and serving students as well as pivotal moments that clarified values he carries with him today.

Dr. Be Stoney, Associate Professor, Physical and Multicultural Education
"I'm Going Home"
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My talk will share the impact of returning home...how the "paths" to returning to one's home town - to past and current experiences - resurfaces familiarity and (un)common landscapes in our neighborhood and family. I'm reminded that it is where I've come from and where I have been that directly connects me to students, colleagues, and my position in life.

Dr. Justin Kastner, Associate Professor, Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology
"Precendents, Purpose, and Paths Forward: Why History Matters to Me, and Why"
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In this talk, Justin Kastner will share how “looking to and learning about the past” has fueled his academic and personal development, love of learning, and service to society in his twin roles of university professor and community pastor. In addition to duly acknowledging the research and teaching value of historical scholarship, Justin will showcase how scholarly and practical crafts affiliated with history have enriched his family life, ushered in remarkable friendships, and inspired paths forward.

Spring

Provost Charles Taber
"Personal Responsibility for Social Justice"
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What individual, personal responsibility do members of a community have to promote social justice? When social injustice is rooted in history and the past behavior of others, why should I as an individual have any responsibility to do anything about it? What roles do universities have in creating a just society?

Fall

Dr. Bryan Samuel - Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
“Access, Opportunity and Community - Why The Drive To 60% Is Critical For Kansas”
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“Education for all is key to an enlightened society” (Generations of Success). Access to higher education and opportunity to engage, fully and fairly, in everything a university offers has a profound impact on students and the communities universities serve. As a physically challenged, first-generation, minority male from a low-socioeconomic background I have been up-close and personal with how a lack of access and opportunity for higher education can desolate a community. Access to higher education and opportunities for full and fair engagement are the keys to enhancing all communities.

Dr. Nadia Oweidat - Assistant Professor, Department of History
"Jordan to Oxford"
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Dr. Nadia Oweidat was born in Jordan to a deeply traditional family who objected to women's education. In spite of their opposition, as well as entrenched cultural, legal and societal obstacles, she was able to achieve her dream of getting a PhD from the University of Oxford. In this talk, Dr. Oweidat will share some of her most inspiring life lessons and their relevance to K-State students, faculty, and staff.

Dr. T. Annelise Nguyen - Associate Professor, Toxicology; Director, Veterinary Research Scholars Program; Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine
"A Story of Escape, Adversity, and Triumph"
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Dr. Annelise Nguyen was born in Saigon, Vietnam, one year prior to the Fall of Saigon. Growing up in a chaotic aftermath of the Vietnam War, she lived through a childhood of privation, including a lack of formal schooling and scarce food. Dr. Nguyen’s mother decided to keep her from enrolling in the communist education system. Dr. Nguyen began to build an incredible sense of street smarts while working by her mother’s side in a small business. Through the family reunification, a.k.a. chain migration, Dr. Nguyen arrived in the U.S. at the age of 10 and learned how to read for the first time. She graduated top 10 of her high school class and obtained a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology and a Ph.D. in Toxicology from Texas A&M University. While working at Kansas State University, she obtained an MBA and established a small commercial real estate business. With her childhood experience and professional training, she will share her journey on how she became a breast cancer researcher, an innovator of four patented technologies, and a passionate educator for STEM. In addition, she will describe some of her world travels.

Spring

• Dr. Wayne Goins, Director of Jazz Studies, Guitar
• Peter Dorhout, Vice President for Research
• Patricia Hudgins, Associate Director, K-State Career Center
• Dr. Christy Craft, Associate Professor, Special Education, Counseling and Student Affairs

Fall

• Dean Tim deNoble, CAPD
• Dr. Soumia Bardhan, Communication Studies
• Dr. Jay Cranford, School of Music, Theatre and Dance