2015 Faculty and Alumni Initiates
Frank Tracz and Fred Guzak with President Steve Dandaneau
Not pictured: Linda Duke and Susan Williams
Individual Profiles:
Linda Duke
Linda Duke has been Director of the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art since 2011. Prior to coming to K-State, Duke was Director of Audience Engagement, Indianapolis Museum of Art from 2003-2011; Director of Education, Hammer Museum, UC Los Angeles, 2000-2003; and Director of Education, Krannert Art Museum, and Asst. Professor, School of Art and Design, University of Illinois, 1991-2000. She has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Illinois in art history. Duke has curated numerous art exhibitions here and elsewhere and has an international reputation in Visual Thinking Strategies, a method for engaging students with art images to give them critical thinking skills through visual, oral, and written language literacy. Duke has also been principal investigator/project director for grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Institute for Museum and Library Services, and other funding agencies and was Museum Art Educator of the Year, Illinois Art Education Association in 1996. She was unable to attend the initiation because she was teaching a class.
Fred Guzek
Fred Guzek is Professor in the Department of Arts, Sciences, and Business, College of Technology and Aviation at K-State Salina. His major field of study and research is Business Management and Marketing. Guzek has a BS in Earth Science from Lake Superior State University, an MPPM from Yale, and a PhD from the University of Kansas. He’s been in his current position since 2003. Guzek spent the 2010-2011 school year teaching at Clermont Graduate School of Management in Clermont-Ferrand, France, where he had given presentations and led graduate-level seminars for several years. He has been involved in many campus organizations and task forces since coming to K-State Salina. He is actively engaged in the University Entrepreneurship Initiative and has served as co-advisor of the Students in Free Enterprise team. Guzek received the 2013 Presidential Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and the 2013 Marchbanks Memorial Award For Teaching Excellence. Guzek is incoming president of the K-State Faculty Senate.
Frank Tracz
Frank Tracz is Professor of Music and Director of Bands at K-State. He has a bachelor’s degree and PhD in music education from the Ohio State University and a master’s in music education from University of Wisconsin-Madison. As director of bands, Tracz administers and guides all aspects of the university band program, which includes the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, University Band, Athletic Pep Bands and the Marching Band. These bands have performed or toured nationally and internationally, including the Pride of Wildcat Land Marching Band at football bowl games like the Fiesta, Cotton and Holiday. Tracz has been widely recognized for his outstanding achievements. He is the recipient of numerous awards including the 2011 TBS/Paula Crider Outstanding Band Director Award; 2010 Sudler Award Nomination for Outstanding Collegiate Marching Band; 2007 KSU Mortar Board “Outstanding Professor” award; and the “Lowell Mason Fellow” 2006 recognizing individuals for their unique and important contributions to music education. Tracz was elected to the prestigious American Bandmasters Association in 2012. He has served as clinician, conductor, and speaker at band days and music education conferences.
Susan Williams, alumna
Susan Williams is Associate Staff Physician and Associate Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic in the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism. Her major field of study is food science.
