December 8, 2020
Madaí Rivera serves as member of Gov. Kelly's Advantage Kansas Coalition
Madaí Rivera continues to represent Kansas State University through a new statewide coalition that builds connections among education, business and industry.
Rivera, K-State assistant director for student engagement in the Division of Student Life, has been selected as a member of Gov. Laura Kelley's Advantage Kansas: Future Focused, Future Ready Coalition.
The Advantage Kansas Coalition is a public-private coalition that aims to address the state’s workforce development and talent recruitment and retention challenges. The 10-member coalition is chaired by David Toland, secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce. Coalition vice chairs include Blake Flanders, president of the Kansas Board of Regents, and Alan Cobb, president of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce.
The Advantage Kansas Coalition stems from Gov. Kelly's Council on Education, which is chaired by Fred Dierksen, USD 443 superintendent, and Cynthia Lane, retired USD 500 superintendent. The council invited Rivera to serve as a member in January 2019. The council recommended the formation of the Advantage Kansas Coalition to align education with the needs of business and industry.
"It is truly an honor to serve on these committees alongside state leaders and talented individuals in their respective fields," Rivera said. "I want to be the voice of the students we serve while also learning from the experience of my counterparts as we explore future collaborations beyond Advantage Kansas: Future Focused, Future Ready Coalition. Together, we can move Kansas forward."
At K-State, Rivera has led and implemented student recruitment and retention initiatives. She serves other similar interest committees and has helped establish several partnerships that provide scholarship opportunities for K-State students.