November 28, 2023
Three K-Staters featured in Top 50 Women Leaders of Kansas
Submitted by Division of Communications and Marketing
Three leaders at Kansas State University have been recognized in the Top 50 Women Leaders of Kansas for 2023 by Women We Admire, a membership organization composed of the most accomplished women executives and leaders across the U.S. and Canada.
The list includes B. Jan Middendorf, associate director of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Sustainable Intensification; and Olivia Law-Delrosso, assistant dean of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, and Marcia Hornung, Menard family director of the Center for Principled Business, both in the College of Business Administration.
Awardees were selected based on their current roles and previous career experience.
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B. Jan Middendorf, left, is pictured with P.V. Vara Prasad, university distinguished professor and director of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Sustainable Intensification. |
Middendorf provides executive-level coordination, management, programmatic and operational leadership, and guidance for the SIIL's $75 million portfolio funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID. The portfolio spans across Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Guatemala and Honduras, encompassing four consortia and initiatives focused on human and institutional capacity building in Cambodia, West Africa, and Haiti. Middendorf leads SIIL's monitoring and evaluation efforts and is responsible for cultivating and sustaining effective partnerships with various U.S. and international institutions, industry leaders, USAID Missions and developmental partners. Middendorf's commitment to advancing sustainable development is reflected in her multifaceted responsibilities and dedication to fostering collaborative efforts that make a meaningful difference on a global scale.
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Olivia Law-Delrosso, left, talks with a student about diversity programs in the College of Business Administration. |
In her role as assistant dean of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, Law-Delrosso has established strategies to foster belonging for all in the College of Business Administration. Under her leadership, the college was awarded the 2023 Inspiring Programs in Business Award by Insight into Diversity Magazine. She is founder and director of the Rise Up Scholars program, which propels students to a successful career while celebrating their diverse identities and cultures. The program is designed to serve business students who identify with a systemically marginalized and underrepresented group; however, all are welcome to join. Scholars receive scholarships, leadership training and corporate trips. 100% of Rise Up Scholars have an internship and full-time job offer before graduation.
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Marcia Hornung, pictured far right, participates in the International Women's Day celebration at K-State. |
Hornung's professional background spans higher education, business and nonprofit sectors. As the Menard family director of the Center for Principled Business, she has earned recognition for her strategic leadership, program development and community engagement skills. She has played a pivotal role in launching several signature programs in the College of Business Administration. Under her leadership, the Center for Principled Business has flourished, focusing on fostering business leadership, innovation and growth. Notable initiatives, including the Menard Family Scholars Program, the K-State Business Innovation Challenge, the Women in Business Initiative and the College of Business Summer Institute, reflect her commitment to the next generation of business leaders.
Women We Admire was founded with a mission to recognize and celebrate the achievements of women leaders around the world across all fields of work.