Wichita
Welcome, New Board Members!
Mildred Edwards ’96/99/08 is the latest association volunteer to head up the 100-year-old WSU support organization. A community psychologist and public policy executive, she began her board chairmanship on July 1, and will serve a one-year term. Joining her on the 35-member board of directors as new members are Cathy Carrier, Frank Chappell ’69, Denise Ziegler ’79 and, as an ex-officio member, Jon Markwell. Edwards – who holds a bachelor’s degree in health care administration, a master’s degree in public health and a doctorate in community psychology, all from WSU – is executive director of the Kansas African American Affairs Commission, based in Topeka, Kan. The KAAAC functions as the governor’s liaison to African American communities throughout Kansas. Edwards also serves on the Kansas Board of Regents, having been appointed by Gov. Mark Parkinson ’80 in 2010; her term ends in 2014.
This September, Edwards was honored as a National TRIO Achiever by the Council for Opportunity in Education. Honorees must have successfully completed a postsecondary program of study and professionally be a “person of high stature.” A Topeka resident, she enjoys reading, music, theater and traveling.
Edwards, who oversees association board projects and initiatives, will work especially closely with 2013-14 board officers who serve on the association’s Executive Committee: Denis Dieker ’77/80, Chad Green ’93, Holly Dyer ’88, Joe Hand ’99, Adam McCollough ’97, Mindy McPheeters ’96 and Kathy Winslow ’04/09.
New to the board is Cathy Carrier, a Shocker sports fan and two-year member of the association’s Shocker Open planning committee. A familiar voice on Wichita radio, she is co-host of the 97.1 BOB-FM Morning Show. Frank Chappell may be new to the board in 2013-14, but he’s definitely not new to volunteering his time and talents for association projects and events, notably Rockin’ the Roundhouse. Chappell, a psychology graduate, is vice president of Sunpark Communities in Wichita. Denise Ziegler, an active Wichita State and alumni association supporter, is a sales associate at J.P. Weigand & Sons Inc. Realtors in Wichita. Before starting her career in real estate, she taught in Wichita public schools for some 20 years; her bachelor’s degree from WSU is in elementary education. And the current president of the Shocker Athletic Scholarship Organization, Jon Markwell is a retired Citigroup executive.
Distinguished Speaker Breakfast
7:30 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 17 — Karen Countryman-Roswurm ’05/06/12 is featured speaker at this WSU Distinguished Alumni Speaker Series presentation at the Marcus Welcome Center. Cost, which includes a breakfast buffet, is $18 for alumni association members; $20 for nonmembers.
Countryman-Roswurm received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work, as well as a doctorate in community psychology, from Wichita State. An assistant professor at WSU, she is the founder and serves as director of WSU’s Center for Combating Human Trafficking. Beginning her career at the Wichita Children’s Home as a street outreach worker, she is a licensed master social worker who has since worked locally, regionally and nationally as an individual, family and group therapist, as well as a founder and coordinator of youth programs, an advocate and a researcher.
A few of her research interests are risks and resiliencies of homeless, runaway and throwaway youth; domestic sexual exploitation/human trafficking; and methods of utilizing risks and resiliencies of marginalized populations to more effectively intervene through strengths and empowment practices.
Congrats, Scholars!
The 14th Annual Shocker Honors Scholar Banquet drew 224 Wichita-area high school juniors, all in the academic top 10 percent of their classes. Joining the student honorees, who represented 34 area high schools, were 327 guests and 63 table hosts who enjoyed dinner and special speakers at the Oct. 22 event at Koch Arena. The student-recruiting event was sponsored by Capitol Federal and also received support from USD 259 and Kelly Callen. Mildred Edwards ’96/99/08 served as emcee, while Mike Kennedy ’71 read the names of the honorees. Special addresses were given by WSU President John Bardo, Capitol Federal representive Rhonda Dennis, WSU admissions director Bobby Gandu ’02/06 and Ryan Schaefer ’10, an active Shocker on campus who now works at Koch Industries, Wichita, in the corporation’s Koch Creative Group.
