Following a lifetime of public service, Kansas State University President Richard Myers ’65 plans to retire at the end of this calendar year. In 2016, Myers was chosen as the university’s 14th president. He also is a Kansas State University Foundation professor of military history and leadership.

“Mary Jo and I truly loved our time at K-State and working with students, faculty and staff,” Myers said. “Being president of my alma mater was one of the most fulfilling jobs I’ve ever had. It was an honor to help move K-State forward on many fronts. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with the many talented and dedicated people who comprise the K-State family.”

During Myers’ time as president, the university has undergone significant changes to prepare for the future. One major initiative was the adoption of a new budget model. The new model is performance-based and supports strategic investments to drive innovation and growth. Now in full implementation, the new model is much more transparent than the historical model the university had used for decades.

Myers also led a comprehensive Strategic Enrollment Management initiative to counter declining enrollment. This included restructuring the entire university recruiting, student success, and scholarship programs, moving to a data-driven strategic approach, and streamlining the tuition structure. Although interrupted by the pandemic, the initiative is showing positive results in establishing a base for future growth.

Last year saw the completion of the university’s Morris Family Multicultural Student Center following expanded efforts to lead diversity and inclusion efforts across the university. Myers also added a chief diversity and inclusion officer to the president’s cabinet and elevated diversity and inclusion issues to a top priority.

He and his wife, Mary Jo ’64, served as co-chairs of the Kansas State University Innovation and Inspiration Campaign that raised $1.6 billion. The campaign surpassed its original goal by $600 million.

“K-State was very fortunate to have an incredible leader in President Myers. He led our university through many big initiatives and guided campus as we navigated the coronavirus pandemic. President Myers and Mary Jo have a long history of dedication to K-State, including serving on the Alumni Association’s board of directors,” said Amy Button Renz ’76, ’86, president and CEO of the K-State Alumni Association. “I am grateful for their passion and dedication to K-State. Both are K-State graduates who truly care about our university. Their hard work and dedication are a testament to their devotion to K-State. I know they’ll continue to stay involved and will always have a special place for K-State in their heart.”

President Myers graduated from the university in 1965 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and joined the Air Force through K-State's ROTC program. He received a master's degree in business administration from Auburn University in 1977. He also graduated from Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base in 1977, U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks in 1981, and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where he completed a program for Senior Executives in National and International Security in 1991.

The native Kansan from Merriam retired as a four-star general in the Air Force. From 2001-2005, he served as the 15th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and was the principal military adviser to the U.S. president, secretary of defense, and the National Security Council. In 2006 Kansas State University named the military science building — home of the Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC programs — Gen. Richard B. Myers Hall, in honor of his service and dedication.

Mary Jo earned a degree in English from K-State in 1964. She has a rich background in public service related to military, educational and humanitarian organizations and programs. In 2018, the Alumni Association honored her with the Alumni Excellence Award.

The Kansas Board of Regents will announce details on the search to replace Myers at a later date.

JahVelle Rhone ’10, chair of K-State’s Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab, has a great side gig: TikTok star @jrsaxophonic. Earlier this year, Rhone was selected to be part of TikTok’s Black Creatives incubator program. Rhone is one of 100 creatives selected for the program. At K-State recently interviewed Rhone to get his take on what it’s like to be a social media influencer.  

At K-State: What got you started with TikTok?

JahVelle Rhone: Actually, it was the start of the quarantine and there was a "Something New Challenge" by Drake that my family thought would be cool. So we did it and I didn't think anything of it. A few months later, I thought it would be cool to post snippets of me playing sax and the rest is history!

At K-State: Tell us more about your partnership with TikTok. How does this partnership impact your music?

JR: This program literally landed me in a Rolling Stone article! A platform that didn't exist came to be, and literally opened doors for my musical dreams in ways I would have never imagined. So, TikTok, “where have you been all my life?” is how I will forever feel about the app!

And I can't stop thinking about the fact that I was so very fortunate to have been included! Instrumentalists are often overlooked. When I found out I was accepted into the program, I had just shaved my head with my 5 year old daughter who was losing her hair due to chemotherapy. 

Right after we shaved our heads and posted it to TikTok, I went to check my email and found out I was selected to participate! We had no idea how life changing this opportunity would be for my family. My daughter was diagnosed with Stage 3 kidney cancer in January and had just started chemotherapy two weeks before the program started. Being accepted into this program not only gave me a glimmer of hope, but it's also been an exciting, positive thing for my family. We've had to travel to Kansas City (about two hours) every week to Children's Mercy Hospital and lodge in the same hotel every Thursday and Friday for the past 12 weeks. (The hotel accommodated me to make TikToks there on my sax and even enjoyed having us there and learning about my participation of the Black Creatives Program).

I've been given a seven-year endorsement from my mouthpiece maker, recorded with Universal Music Group, done several news/radio interviews, been picked up in three major Jazz festivals as a solo artist, currently working on my second album with some TikTok collaborators (from duets) and have been featured by some of my favorite brands, all while spreading awareness on childhood cancer. Not to mention, the incredible celebrity cameos during our meetups. I don't want it to end, my heart is overwhelmed with all of the memories. Because of this opportunity, I'm now able to define my brand, vision, and have the tools to build and assess my personal brand (business). 

At K-State: How long have you been making TikToks?

JR: A little over a year now.

At K-State: Do you have a favorite style to your videos?

JR: I try to be genuine in each video. I want to inspire, bring joy and cultivate those who watch my videos! So, my favorite style is just being authentic every time I press the record button on the camera.

At K-State: What’s it like to be a social media influencer?

JR: It's funny because I'll be in a meeting and someone will stop and say aren't you the guy who plays sax on TikTok and their face literally lights up. And that reaction is enough for me to know that I'm making a positive impact! The word influencer feels odd to me, I prefer to be called a social musician who sheds light on things that I'm passionate about; others just tend to enjoy watching me do so.

At K-State: How do you get new ideas for content?

JR: Everyday life is the greatest inspiration. Sometimes, I'm in the store, in bed, even sleeping and have the best ideas, or at least I think they're good. That's something I had to learn, "Everyone may not enjoy your content, but stay true and your audience will find you." It's the absolute truth.

At K-State: How many hours a week do you spend on the app or preparing videos?

JR: Initially, I'm sure it was an embarrassing number. Now, Tiktok has helped me to organize a calendar and focus my time and energy. So now I dedicate about an hour a day to TikTok and that's Monday through Friday.

At K-State: Where else can we find your music?

JR: You can find my music on my website. Live concerts and on all major distributors Apple, Spotify, Tidal, etc. under JahVelle. I'm currently working on my sophomore album, expecting a summer release.

The story of how two K-State graduates — Katie Niederee Rosborough ’10 and Trenton Kennedy ’18 — met and started working on the policy communications team at Twitter does not actually begin at K-State.

Although they both grew up in small towns and happened to graduate from the same university, their paths first crossed at Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Rosborough had moved to D.C. to serve as a press secretary for Republican Sen. Jerry Moran, and Kennedy was a junior in high school, working as a page in the U.S. Senate. Kennedy would often spend time in Sen. Moran’s office, and his staffers viewed Kennedy as another member of their team.

“Whether in a small town or in Washington, D.C., Kansans support and take care of each other, and that is especially true of Katie and Trenton,” Moran said. "The Senate Page program is special in that high schoolers have an opportunity to connect with fellow Kansans at the U.S. Capitol when they are a long way from home. These relationships are often forged by a shared understanding that the work they do impacts their friends, family and neighbors back home. I’m pleased to see Katie and Trenton – two young Kansans and K-State alumni – are continuing to support each other throughout their successful careers.”   

Kennedy went on to study at K-State and Rosborough eventually started working for Twitter, but they remained in contact. When Rosborough was searching for a candidate for a fellow position, she reached out to Kennedy for a recommendation of who might be a good fit. Kennedy expressed his own interest, and his long-time mentor is now his supervisor at Twitter.

Rosborough leads policy communications for North America, and Kennedy serves on her team as the U.S. policy communications manager.

Kennedy describes Twitter’s public policy team as the “face and body” through which the organization interacts with governments and regulators around the globe.

“Every day is absolutely different,” Rosborough said. “Our work is focused a lot on public policy and what’s happening in D.C., and how that may impact Twitter as a company.”

That work includes monitoring the news of the day, briefing Twitter executives and preparing them for interviews, communicating with reporters, and conducting outreach to Capitol Hill.

As the strategic communications arm of Twitter’s public policy team, they help craft how Twitter communicates with governments and civil society groups around the world. As spokespeople for the company, they both speak on behalf of Twitter to news outlets and reporters about myriad issues around technology policy, content moderation, internet safety, and more.

Balanced communication

Although Rosborough loves working in public relations now, it was actually not her first career choice.

She decided to come to K-State after meeting Pat Bosco ’71, ’73 — K-State’s former vice president for student life and dean of students — at a Catbacker Club event. She originally considered studying law or medicine and changed her major at K-State three times before she realized, through leadership opportunities in her sorority, Student Alumni Board, and the K-State Proud campaign, that her true strengths were in communicating and building relationships. Growing up in Great Bend, Kansas, she didn’t even realize public relations was a career path until attending K-State.

After growing up in Frankfort, Kansas, K-State was also where Kennedy found his perfect fit. He remembers going on many college tours, but nothing felt right. His mom, who is a K-State graduate, encouraged him to give K-State a chance. 

Kennedy ended up serving as student body vice president for K-State’s Student Governing Association and said the university was a great place to learn about life, politics and working with diverse groups of people.

“It felt like a place where I could have a really well-rounded atmosphere,” he said.

Kennedy said one of the most exciting parts of working for Twitter is seeing how social media can help people all over the world: empowering human rights movements, promoting new friendships during a pandemic, providing a platform for deep discussions, and more.

“It’s a way in which people can connect and grow,” he said of the social media platform. “What we say matters — how we communicate what we’re feeling is important.”

An extended version of this story will appear in the fall issue of K-Stater magazine. If you're not already a member, join today. 

— photos by Amanda Spoo '13

Jacqueline Madison ’95, is most comfortable on a golf course. This makes sense seeing that the bulk of her career has revolved around golf.

Now a career consultant for the PGA of America, Madison is a member of a team of 22 field consultants, strategically located across the country, to forge stronger relationships with PGA members and employers. Her territory covers Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska.

“We’re interested in making people lifelong golfers,” she said.

In her role she works with PGA members and partners to elevate the industry as a whole. Essentially, she works to ensure that PGA members have the toolkits necessary to get hired and with PGA facilities to ensure quality staffing and diverse talent. She helps members prepare for those roles through resume prep, mock interviews, going over career goals, among other duties. She also visits multiple sites each week to help ensure each course or facility has what it needs and how the PGA can help.

“It’s all about helping get the right people in the right places,” she said.

“The PGA is committed to establishing stronger relationships with golf industry employers, while ensuring that PGA members and golf industry professionals are prepared and equipped to advance their career path to the highest level,” said PGA President Jim Richerson. “As a PGA member with an outstanding background in golf administration, Jacqueline Madison will serve PGA professionals and the golf industry in ensuring that top candidates are hired for the best position possible.”

Madison is also a PGA member with a specialized certification in executive management, she joined the PGA team having most recently served as the director of member services and women’s championships at Central Links Golf, an association committed to serving, promoting and growing the game in the midwest. Previously, she served as PGA head golf professional at Meadowbrook Golf & Country Club and assistant professional at Manhattan Country Club, both in Kansas.

“It’s my home course,” she said of Manhattan Country Club. “I’ve played more rounds there than anywhere else. It’s well conditioned and easy to walk. There are not many places like Manhattan Country Club.”

As a student at K-State, Madison was a member of the K-State Women’s Golf Team, which at that time was based at the club. Madison was an Academic All-American.

“I had the best time and met the best people,” she said.

Golfing in the Big 8 Conference, the team didn’t travel very far, but Madison recalls getting to see a lot of the midwest and golfing with some of the best players.

“You develop a real rapport with someone quickly while golfing,” she said of her experience playing for K-State and the friendships she made with the other student-athletes. “It adds so much to your personal skillset.”

She also said she has fond memories of the host families who would take them in during a tournament. Madison earned a degree in horticulture specializing in turf management. She recalled taking courses in soils and woody plant materials in addition to visiting the turf lab near Rocky Ford.

Madison also is an accomplished player, she was named the 2020 Midwest Section Women’s Player of the Year. Additionally, she is a member of PGA LEAD, the Association’s leadership development program, which was created to identify, mentor and progress PGA members from diverse backgrounds into volunteer leadership positions within Association governance.

Madison said she tries to play at least once a week and practice a golf skill in three to five additional training sessions. Her advice for those who might want to pick up the sport is to simply get out and try it.

“It should be fun to get started,” She said. “You can be as competitive or non competitive as you want. You don’t have to start at the tee box. Do what makes it fun for you. Golf is a great opportunity to enjoy some great views.”

It’s been over a year since K-State Culturally was created providing K-Staters with virtual programming and content centered on celebrating, uplifting and educating the Wildcat community through the lens of communities of color affiliated with Kansas State University. In that time, K-State Culturally has facilitated conversations with indigenous leaders, small business owners, former student athletes and so many more impactful alumni and friends.

At K-State caught up with K-State Culturally creator and associate director of diversity programs, Jessica Elmore ’06, ’15, to hear her aha moments while facilitating these conversations and where K-State Culturally is headed next.

At K-State: Jessica, congratulations on one year of a highly successful program at the K-State Alumni Association. How does it feel to look back at a year of K-State Culturally?

Jessica Elmore: Wow! A year. Honestly, I am so grateful for the alumni, faculty members, students and young alumni interviewers who helped make this idea a success. Taking alumni down memory lane, or providing a platform for alumni to share their wealth of knowlege with current students, no matter where they live in the world, is what I believe is part of the Alumni Association's mission.

At K-State: What are some of the conversations that stand out to you?

JE: Some conversations that stand out to me are getting up at 7 a.m. to talk with alumni from the Philippines; to learning about red wine on National Red Wine Day with K-State alumnus Jennifer McDonald '16 of Jenny Dawn Cellars;  to laughing with alumni Erica Smith '03 and Essence Nixon '03 about their time at K-State and the creation of Diversity Programming Council funds.

At K-State: K-State Culturally is unique, are you aware of any other alumni associations or institutions who are doing similar programming?

JE: I can't say that I know what other institutions are doing virtually in promoting and highlighting cultural diversity, but I can say what we are doing is special. During the pandemic I have received phone calls and emails from different institutions about K-State Culturally. What I am seeing in the digital space are social media posts profiling their alumni. At our organization, we are highlighting the rich and long cultural diversity experiences using video, social media posts, interviews and archived photos to tell the stories of the communities that call K-State their alma mater.

At K-State: And looking ahead to another year, what can alumni, friends and fans expect from K-State Culturally? And what’s on the horizon for programming, can we have a sneak peek?

JE: Well, I can't give out any sneak peeks, but I will say that K-State Culturally has barely scratched the surface. There are so many stories and units on campus to partner with. I love how alumni can participate all over the world and we can share the messages and memories.

Watch the archive of K-State Culturally video on our YouTube channel.

Ever heard the phrase Halftime Lives Here? 

Frank Tracz, professor of music and director of bands at K-State, knows this phrase all too well. He administers and guides all aspects of a large Big 12 comprehensive band program. Ensembles under his direction have been invited to perform at numerous state conferences and regional conferences along with Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. The Pride of Wildcat Land was awarded the prestigious Sudler Trophy in 2015.

Tracz continues to inspire a generation of young musicians and future Wildcats who dream of being in a college marching band. The K-State Alumni Association is proud to announce that our next Wildcat Chat will feature Tracz. The chat will take place June 16 at 4 p.m. CT on YouTube Live. Amy Button Renz '76, '86, Alumni Association president and CEO will host the chat. 

Register for this Wildcat Chat: Inside look at the K-State Marching Band with Dr. Tracz

— photo by Bryant Kniffin '13, K-State Marching Band