Wichita
Homecoming 2015
February 23-28 — Homecoming 2015: Shockerland will feature weeklong activities culminating with the crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen during halftime ceremonies of the WSU vs. UNI men’s basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 28.
New Faces and a Strategic Change
This fall semester, there are new board members to introduce and a notable strategic change to announce at the 101-year-old alumni organization. As Wichita State’s oldest and largest support organization, the WSU Alumni Association is both a separate 501(c)(3) organization and one with a “dotted reporting line” through a particular university division. In the past, the alumni association has been part of University Advancement and, most recently, Campus Life and University Relations.
This summer, WSU President John Bardo named Lou Heldman to a new university position: vice president for Strategic Communications. In this capacity, Heldman serves as a member of Bardo’s executive team and heads up the new division of Strategic Communications, with responsibilities for university marketing and communication. The alumni association has joined this new division. Heldman, a former president and publisher of the Wichita Eagle, also has led WSU’s Center for Entrepreneurship and the Elliott School of Communication in interim positions.
Heldman is also an ex-officio member of the alumni association’s board, which is led by chair Denis Dieker ’77/80. Dieker, the CFO at Midwest Drywall Co., works closely with 2014-2015 board officers who serve on the Executive Committee: Mindy McPheeters ’96, Chad Green ’93, Holly Dyer ’88, Joe Hand ’99, Cathy Carrier, Frank Chappell ’68 and Mildred Edwards ’96/99/08.
Joining Heldman as new members of the board of directors are these Shockers: Brandon Baker ’06 has a degree in entrepreneurship and is a Realtor with Wichita’s Carnahan Group. Cindy Claycomb ’79/91 earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an MBA from WSU. Marcella Clegg ’02, who is a management information systems graduate, is a software engineer at NetApp. Gay Dahlke ’89 earned a general studies degree and is active as a community volunteer. Luke Luttrell ’02 has a degree in mechanical engineering and is chief operating officer at Next LED Signs. Dana Fleming Mastio ’78, who earned a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature, owns Dana Fleming Media. Shawn Penner ’92/93, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration, is owner of Shamrock Development LLC in Wichita.
Incoming board members serving in ex-officio capacities are Kim Taylor, WSU’s SASO board of directors president, and Marilyn Pauly ’72, chair of the WSU Foundation’s board of directors.
Shockers Forever Update
Shockers Forever, the association’s student alumni group, has been in full swing this school year. With our growing membership, the core group has been hard at work. The core group has designed two new shirts this year. If you look closely, you will see these Shockers Forever shirts displayed in the student section at Koch Arena during a basketball game.
In early November, we hosted our third Dine with an Alum dinner at which five alumni and 30 Wichita State students came. It was a wonderful evening of conversation and networking. The alumni in attendance were Mindy McPheeters ’96, Alexander Trofimuk ’12, Aerica Van Dorn ’12, Sue Willey ’79, and Shannon Wilson ’99/00/04.
Not only did each attending student have the opportunity for direct conversation with the alum seated at their tables, but this time we also invited the alumni to participate in a panel discussion so that all of the students could enjoy getting to know all of the alumni – and hear a little about where their journeys have taken them after graduating from WSU. Our next dinner will be held during Homecoming 2015 on Feb. 24. It’s going to be a Shocker of a night!
– Ashlee Baysinger ’12, assistant director of alumni relations
For a complete roster of Wichita State Alumni Association events, projects and activities, including all Shocker travel options, as well as details about the Drive Your Pride and the Legacy scholarship programs, please visit wichita.edu/alumni.
