06/26/19
K-State Current - June 26, 2019
K-State Current is a weekly news update for the Kansas Board of Regents to apprise the Regents on a few of the many successes and achievements made by K-State faculty, staff and students.
K-State News
Marketing department strengthens relationships with employers through company visits
Faculty and staff of the Department of Marketing recently completed a tour of company visits in the Kansas City area.
Designed to strengthen relations between the department and companies, these visits help to build new relationships. In turn, the marketing department makes sure the curriculum is staying up-to-date with current trends and preparing students when entering the job market.
"Because of our visits we have launched new programs and courses, obtained new internships and jobs, as well as developed very fruitful relationships," said Esther Swilley, department head. "You can't do this sitting behind a desk."
Companies visited as part of the tour included Hallmark, D. H. Pace, Kansas City Royals, as well as several media and advertising companies. Visits to Sprint last year developed into a corporate partnership, as well as curriculum changes that will keep courses abreast of changes in marketing.
K-State Faculty Highlights
Biology faculty member publishes new edition of freshwater ecology textbook
Walter Dodds, university distinguished professor of biology, and his co-author Matt Whiles, University of Florida, have published the third edition of their widely adopted textbook "Freshwater Ecology: Concepts and Environmental Applications of Limnology." The book will be available starting April 26.
Dodds was recently named an inaugural fellow of the Society for Freshwater Science for his contributions to freshwater science through research, education and outreach. His co-authored book has become a staple for freshwater biology courses across the nation.
The text covers everything from the basic chemical and physical properties of water, to the advanced and unifying concepts of community ecology, and ecosystem relationships found in continental waters. It includes key issues, including how to balance ecological and human health needs, GMOs, molecular tools, fracking, and other relevant recent topics influencing aquatic environments. It will be available in electronic and hard copies.
Voice professor releases CD with duo partner
Soprano Amy Rosine, associate professor in the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, released a new CD titled "Sorores Duo: Memories of Hope."
"Sorores Duo" includes Rosine and clarinetist Sandra Mosteller. They have performed together across United States for more than a decade. Their repertoire focuses on contemporary music as well as music related to the Holocaust. Their future includes new commissions for the genre and developing interdisciplinary collaborations in art, dance as well as fields outside the arts.
For more information, visit amyrosine.com/sorores-duo.
K-State Student News
K-State students selected as National Conference on Race and Ethnicity student scholars
Kansas State University is taking every effort to fully engage in the national dialogue on diversity and inclusion, and students are at the heart of these initiatives.
Desiring to take their engagement to the national stage, four K-Staters applied for designation as a 2019 National Conference for Race and Ethnicity, or NCORE, student scholar: Citlally Orozco, sophomore in political science and American ethnic studies, Overland Park; Darrell Reese, senior in human resource management, Dallas, Texas; Del'Sha Roberts, senior in biology and pre-med, Kansas City; and Bradley Richards, sophomore in economics, Wichita. Reese and Orozco were selected as 2019 NCORE student scholars and Roberts was selected as an alternate scholar.
Orozco's research seeks to explain how changing asylum policies in the United States impact asylum seekers and immigrants, and how previous historical immigration policies have paved the way for current policies. The NCORE student scholar program supports a paid registration for Orozco to attend NCORE in Portland, Oregon. Additional funding is made possible by the Developing Scholars Program, the College of Arts and Sciences and the chief diversity and inclusion officer.
Both Reese's and Roberts' research focuses on the importance of a Black Student Union on a predominantly white campus, and how it contributes to the holistic success and enhancement of black students. Due to competing leadership obligations, Reese is unable to attend 2019 NCORE.
Richards' research centers on the experience of African American students in Kansas higher education especially within predominantly white institutions.
K-State students are no strangers to this engagement and research as they capitalize on learning opportunities that differences can create in a myriad of ways. Notable examples include K-State's Developing Scholars Program, Cats for Inclusion, Wildcat Dialogues/Intercultural Emersion Experience and KSUnite, just to name a few.
The National Conference on Race and Ethnicity is the leading and most comprehensive national forum on diversity and inclusion in American higher education. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply for NCORE student student scholars program. All NCORE student scholars are required to complete the Student Scholar On-Site Educational Program, which has academic and networking components that require each student scholar to participate in and complete a sufficient number of sessions. Additionally, NCORE student scholars are required to choose and present in one of the following three formats: poster session, pecha kucha conversation starters or concurrent session.
Last year, approximately 12 faculty and staff attended the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity.
Steel bridge team takes second, qualifies for nationals
The Kansas State University Steel Bridge Team took second place in the Mid-Continent Student Conference April 12 at the University of Oklahoma, qualifying for the national-level competition May 31-June 1 in Carbondale, Illinois.
Ten teams from universities in Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma competed in the regional-level event in Norman, Oklahoma, with their bridge entries scored in six categories: aesthetics, stiffness, construction speed, efficiency, economy and lightness.
In earning its second-place overall ranking, the team from Kansas State University scored first in aesthetics, first in stiffness, third in construction speed, first in efficiency, second in economy and second in lightness.
"This year we saw real improvement in our performance," said Angie Mitchell, senior in civil engineering and team co-president, from Bonaparte, Iowa. "At the regional competition in 2018, the team earned second place in aesthetics, second in stiffness and third in efficiency, for a fifth-place overall finish."
Scoring is designed to simulate real construction based on considerations important in that arena with dollar values assigned rather than points. For example, safety is a huge concern on a construction site, and during the assembly portion of the competition, rules cover dropping tools, or nuts and bolts, as well as stepping onto a "river" designated with tape on the floor. The timed portion of the competition emphasizes the importance of meeting deadlines, just as with actual construction projects, and stiff penalties are incurred for going over schedule.
Quality of fabrication, including welding, are not considered as the bridge entries are allowed to be fabricated professionally or by students.
"At K-State, we are proud that we do all of the steel fabrication ourselves in the civil engineering metal shop," said Grant Lyons, senior and team co-president, civil engineering, Manhattan.
Scott Schiff, teaching professor in the civil engineering department at the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering, is faculty adviser to the team.
Steel Bridge Team members include Alex Link, senior in civil engineering, Burlington; Isaac Klugh, master's student in civil engineering, Chanute; Lauren Costello, master's student in architectural engineering, Garden Plain; Jena Goebel and Trevor Young, both seniors in civil engineering from Leavenworth; Seth Walker, senior in civil engineering, Louisburg; Rajat Kodira, sophomore in industrial engineering, Overland Park; William Radnor, senior in civil engineering, Scott City; Austin Deters, freshman in civil engineering; Seneca; Matt Elder, senior in civil engineering, Topeka; Hunter Lanier, senior in civil engineering, Walton.
From out of state: Kurtis Wicka, freshman in civil engineering, Paso Robles, California.