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October 2017

Homecoming 2017

Join us for Purple Pride Worldwide Homecoming 2017

Kansas State University is proud to have alumni and friends all across the globe, who help spread purple pride wherever they may live.

 

In October, the university invites those alumni and friends to return to campus for Homecoming 2017. This year’s theme is “Purple Pride Worldwide,” celebrating the diverse group of Wildcats who make up the K-State family.

 

K-State’s 102nd Homecoming celebration will take place Oct. 15-21. Homecoming is a universitywide celebration coordinated by the K-State Alumni Association and sponsored by AT&T.

 

“For more than a century, our Wildcat community has celebrated this wonderful tradition,” said Marcus Kidd ’14, ’16, assistant director of student programs for the Alumni Association. “We look forward to K-State fans of all ages joining us for a spirit-filled Homecoming week celebrating the K-State family, which spreads across the country and worldwide.”

 

All Homecoming events are open to the public. For the most updated information, visit www.K-State.com/Homecoming. The schedule of events is as follows (all events and times are subject to change):

 

Sunday, Oct. 15

10 a.m.

Homecoming Philanthropy 5K Run/Walk, K-State Alumni Center: Students, alumni and community members may run or walk through campus in the 14th annual Homecoming 5K Run/Walk, which benefits the Cats’ Cupboard, the K-State Food Pantry. Registration due by noon Oct. 13; learn more.

 

Noon to 2 p.m.

Student Organization Spirit Signs, throughout campus, and Sidewalk Chalking Contest, Bosco Student Plaza. Additionally, Spirit Signs from student organizations will be placed on display at the K-State Student Union.

 

4 p.m.

Crazy Cat Scavenger Hunt, campuswide: The Scavenger Hunt is sponsored by the K-State Association of Residence Halls.

 

8 p.m.

Pant the Chant, Bramlage Coliseum: Homecoming pairings perform original spirit cheers.

 

Also: Coloring contest winners (grades K-6) will be displayed at Manhattan Town Center all week.

 

Tuesday, Oct. 17

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Paint the ’Ville, Aggieville: Check out the Aggieville windows being painted by campus organizations and Homecoming pairings.

 

8 p.m.

Wildcat Request Live, Bramlage Coliseum: This lip sync and dance competition showcases fraternity and sorority Homecoming pairings.

 

Thursday, Oct. 19

6-8 p.m.

Children’s Carnival, K-State Student Union: Open to Manhattan and surrounding communities.

 

Friday, Oct. 20

3-5:30 p.m.

Trick-or-Treat in Aggieville.

 

5 p.m.

Homecoming Parade: The parade route begins at Manhattan Town Center and will run along Poyntz Avenue from Third Street to 11th Street, then heads north along 11th until reaching Moro Street before snaking back south along Manhattan Avenue and concluding in City Park. Larry Moeder ’77, ’80, will serve as the grand marshal. He is the associate vice president of student life and executive director of undergraduate admissions and student financial assistance at K-State. 

 

6:30 p.m.

Homecoming Pep Rally, Larry Norvell Band Shell, City Park (following the parade).

 

PregameSaturday, Oct. 21

K-State vs. Oklahoma Homecoming football game. Time TBD. Visit www.kstatesports.com for updated game times.

 

A pregame celebration will begin two hours prior to kickoff in Cat Town, which is located on the south side of the west parking lot at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Cost to attend is $20 per adult and $15 per child (4-17 years old). Reservations for the pregame are required; they are due by Oct. 12.

 

The winning Spirit Signs will be displayed at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. During halftime the new Student Ambassadors will be announced, and the Homecoming Committee members will be recognized.

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President Myers

President Myers celebrates K-State’s land-grant mission in annual State of the University Address

What does it mean to have a “land-grant mission?” Kansas State University President Richard Myers ’65 reflected on K-State’s proud land-grant heritage during his annual State of the University Address on Sept. 29 at the K-State Student Union, both celebrating the past and looking ahead to the future.

 

K-State was one of the nation’s first land-grant universities, designed as an engine to drive economic development and improve quality of life, Myers said.

 

“It empowers us to provide great value to our students, our state, our nation and, for that matter, the world,” he said. “We’re committed to providing all students a quality education that allows them, when they graduate, to participate in a vibrant democracy, providing talent to our country and the world.”

 

The university was built on three important standards: teaching, research and service. K-State’s quality faculty, innovative programs and celebration of diversity all combine to help students achieve success in the classroom and beyond.

 

Research at K-State fosters collaboration between disciplines at the university, as well as with outside corporations and industry. K-State continues its efforts to become a top 50 public research university by 2025, making an impact on a national and global level. However, this research also has a direct impact on students at the university, who benefit from the groundbreaking research taking place at K-State.

 

“Professors bring what they found in research into the classroom,” Myers said.

 

Finally, K-State remains committed to the value of service, developing tomorrow’s leaders and making the world a better place.

 

Myers shared that 94 percent of recent graduates are employed or pursuing advanced degrees, and the university continues to improve graduation and retention rates, with an increasing number of doctorates awarded.

 

He encouraged alumni and friends to help spread the message about the value of a K-State education and also celebrated the ways K-Staters have already given back. The Innovation and Inspiration Campaign surpassed its $1 billion goal ahead of schedule, and a new goal has been set: $1.4 billion by 2020. Innovation and Inspiration dollars help the university continue to grow and make sure a K-State degree remains affordable and accessible.

 

“We’re uniquely positioned to improve the quality of life throughout this state,” he said. “Our graduates are leaving a legacy that spans generations. We are a great value.”

 

Watch President Myers’ full State of the University Address.

 

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Student Union

Community invited to tour Student Union, College of Architecture renovations

Kansas State University alumni and friends are invited to two open houses on campus in October, celebrating renovations to the K-State Student Union and College of Architecture, Planning and Design.

 

The Student Union dedication will take place at 1 p.m. Oct. 13 in the Union Courtyard, featuring a balloon drop and prizes, art gallery exhibit, building tours and more. The dedication event for the College of Architecture Seaton Hall/Regnier Hall renovation and expansion project will take place at 2 p.m. Oct. 13, followed by tours and refreshments.

 

The K-State Student Union has long been a favorite spot on campus for students to gather, whether it’s meeting a group of friends, grabbing a quick bite to eat between classes, or finding a quiet spot to study. The Union was originally built in 1956 and underwent a major renovation beginning in September 2015. The redesign has added new student offices, lounges, restaurants and meeting spaces. The former food court has been replaced by several new restaurants, including a Call Hall ice cream shop. Take a sneak peek at the union renovations below. (Photos by Ashley Pauls, K-State Alumni Association)

 

Willie statue

If you stop by the K-State Student Union, don’t forget to snap a photo with the Willie the Wildcat statue!

Students

Renovated lounge spaces offer plenty of room in the Union for students to study or chat with friends. 

Campus Store

K-State Alumni Association members receive a 10 percent discount on apparel and gift items at the K-State Campus Store in the Union, as well as the location on the Polytechnic campus. Learn more. 

Call Hall

Grab a scoop of K-State’s famous Call Hall ice cream at the new ice cream shop in the Student Union. 

 

The College of Architecture, Planning and Design has renovated and expanded the Seaton Hall complex, renovating 85,000 square feet and adding 110,000 square feet of new construction — a space that includes the original 1909 Seaton Hall and 1875 Mechanics Hall, now part of the Regnier Hall. The renovation preserves some of the historical aspects of the old facilities while also adding updated design details to help the college provide the best possible education for its students.

 

Read more about the Oct. 13 Seaton Hall dedication in the @K-State College of Architecture section.

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Iman Award winners

Iman Awards honor two K-State faculty for research and teaching

For more than a decade, the K-State Alumni Association’s Dr. Ron and Rae Iman Outstanding Faculty Awards have honored distinguished members of Kansas State University’s faculty — those who go above and beyond in the fields of research and teaching.

 

At the 2017 ceremony on Sept. 27, Charles W. Rice, Ph.D., university distinguished professor of agronomy and recipient of the Mary L. Vanier University Professorship, received the Iman Outstanding Faculty Award for Research. The recipient of the Iman Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching was Jeffrey S. Smith, Ph.D., associate professor of geography.

 

Rice and Smith each received $5,000 awards in recognition of their outstanding research and teaching. Introduced in 2007, the annual Iman Awards are sponsored by the K-State Alumni Association and are made possible through the generosity of Ron ’62, ’70, ’73 and Rae Iman.

 

“K-State truly benefits from the accomplishments of Dr. Rice and Dr. Smith,” said Amy Button Renz ’76, ’86, president and CEO of the K-State Alumni Association. “Through their hard work and dedication to the pursuit of knowledge, these professors have elevated K-State’s reputation worldwide and enriched the education of our students. The Alumni Association would like to thank Ron and Rae Iman for their generous commitment to make these awards possible, so that we can continue to honor the exemplary work of our professors.”

 

Charles W. Rice, Ph.D.

The Iman Outstanding Faculty Award for Research recognizes faculty members who have distinguished themselves in their chosen profession and who have contributed significantly through research to improve the educational experience, or whose research has had a significant impact on their area of study.

 

Rice teaches courses and conducts research on soil carbon and nitrogen, microbial ecology and climate change impacts on agriculture. He has advised more than 40 graduate students and 10 post-doctorates and has over 200 publications. Internationally, he served on the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to author a report on climate change in 2007 and 2014, and was among scientists recognized when that work won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.

 

His nominator, John Floros, dean of the College of Agriculture and director of K-State Research and Extension, said, “Dr. Rice’s achievements in research have followed from an amazing degree of success in obtaining extramural funds from several agencies, including national and international organizations and industry. Over the course of his entire career, Dr. Rice has been associated with over $44 million in grants from highly competitive programs. Chuck has led all other individual scientists in academic departments in the College of Agriculture over the past five years with awards totaling over $6.5 million.”

 

Rice thanked the grad students and post docs who work with him for their help and credited them for his success.

 

“The research and work by the students is so important,” he said. “I’m taking these funds and giving them back to the program because the research is so important.”

 

Jeffrey S. Smith, Ph.D.

The Iman Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching honors a full-time K-State faculty member for excellence in high-quality instruction, strong relationships with students inside and outside the classroom and a reputation for scholarship and distinguished service to the university.

 

In the 19 years Smith has been at K-State, he has taught more than 9,000 students in classes such as World Geography, Geography of Kansas, Geography of Mexico and Central America, as well as various graduate-level seminars. His research focuses on analyzing the built environment, place attachment among culture groups and cultural change. His research has appeared in multiple book chapters, encyclopedia entries and scholarly journals. In January 2018, his book on the typology of places to which people become emotionally attached is expected to reach print.

 

His nominator, Charles W. Martin, professor of geography and head of the Department of Geography, said, “The personal connection that he forges with students is increasingly rare in a large research university. Students enjoy access to Jeff in and outside the classroom, and consistently rank his classes as among the best they have taken at K-State.”

 

Smith thanked the Imans for supporting the award. 

 

“I’m so impressed with the Imans for recognizing both teaching and research sides of the profession,” he said. 

 

About the Imans

Ron and Rae Iman are life members of the K-State Alumni Association and serve as Kansas State University Foundation trustees. Ron is a past member of the Association’s board of directors, served as the Association’s representative to the KSU Research Foundation board and is a past chair of the Arts and Sciences Advisory Council. He received the university’s Arts and Sciences Distinguished Service Award in 1996 and, in 1994, served as national president of the American Statistical Association. He was named a Highly Cited Researcher by the Institute for Scientific Information in 2004. The Imans live in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

 

For more information on the Iman Awards, visit www.K-State.com/Iman.

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Classroom

K-State adds purple to campaign to recruit more teachers to profession

Teachers make an impact that often lasts far longer than the time students spend in their classroom. Good teachers set students on a path of lifelong learning and success, inspiring them to reach their full potential.

 

Kansas needs even more potential educators to join the profession to ensure student success in classrooms across the state, and Kansas State University is playing a key role in recruiting more future teachers to address shortages and vacancies.

 

The state’s Blue Ribbon Task Force — made up of Kansas educators, higher education representatives and Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) staff members — has been studying these issues and developing recommendations for addressing the teacher vacancies and the decreasing professional pipeline.

 

As part of the Blue Ribbon Task Force efforts, K-State’s College of Education is promoting a statewide campaign designed to raise awareness about the need for teachers. Alumni and friends can also play a role in this campaign.

 

The statewide KSDE “Educate Kansas” campaign is designed to attract more people to the teaching profession. The concept was born out of the Professional Standards Board, of which K-State’s College of Education Dean Debbie Mercer ’84, ’88, ’96, ’99 serves as chair. The campaign’s website, EducateKansas.org, details the many pathways to teaching, and each higher education institution in Kansas has a link to their websites.

 

Mercer said this campaign is about websites but mostly it’s about insights.

 

“The very best advocates we have for the profession are the teachers today who are inspiring students in classrooms every single day,” Mercer said. “We need teachers at all levels identifying students who would be great teachers to ask them if they’ve thought of being a teacher and plant that seed. I’m calling on all K-Staters to help make this campaign a success.”

 

Social mediaMercer suggested posting photos on a personal or school’s Facebook and Twitter accounts using the hashtag #Force4GoodKS. She is encouraging all educators to participate.

 

“If a student has decided to major in education, please snap a picture with them and add it to the campaign,” she said. “If you have a colleague who is doing great things in their classroom, snap a picture of them and include them in the campaign. This is an opportunity for us to tell our stories about what a profoundly important profession teaching is.”

 

Although students can enter the teaching profession after a traditional undergraduate teaching education at K-State, the university also offers assistance to career changes with a passion for education who’d like to get into the field.

 

Steven Thomas ’17 recently completed the college’s Master of Arts in Teaching, or M.A.T., a one-year, online master’s program for career changers. He explained in a video that he left behind a successful career in retail to get to where he always knew he should have been: the classroom. 

 

“Teaching is more than a job, it’s a career that has meaning,” Thomas said. “It’s a way to give back, and it’s a way to make the world the better place.”

 

Learn more about what K-State’s College of Education has to offer, and help spread the word about the good teachers are accomplishing in the state.

 

“Teaching is a great profession and, while it isn’t without its challenges, the rewards are unparalleled,” said Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson ’81, ’84, ’90. “We are committed to placing a highly qualified teacher in every Kansas classroom. If you have the passion, the knowledge and the desire to protect and changes lives, we have a place for you.”

 

— Reporting by Patrice Scott, K-State College of Education communications coordinator; with contributions from Ashley Pauls, K-State Alumni Association

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Priscilla Gary-Sweeney

Priscilla Gary-Sweeney inducted into Kansas Sports Hall of Fame

Former Kansas State University women’s basketball star Priscilla Gary-Sweeney has been inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, as a part of the 56th anniversary class of 2017. The 2017 induction ceremony took place Oct. 1 at the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in the Wichita Boathouse.

 

Gary-Sweeney, a two-time letter winner for the Wildcats from 1981-83, became the first K-State women’s basketball All-American in program history at the conclusion of the 1982-83 season. She led the program in scoring during her two seasons in Manhattan, Kansas, and tallied 1,169 career points to currently rank 25th on the K-State career scoring list. She holds the K-State career record for scoring average at 18.3 points per game and ranks third in career field goal percentage (.558) and 33rd in career assists with 172.

 

She was a two-time All-Big Eight First-Team selection, while guiding the program to a pair of Big Eight Conference titles and consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including the program’s first trip to the Elite Eight in 1982.

 

BasketballIn 1998, Gary-Sweeney was the first K-State women’s basketball player inducted into the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame and in 2009 her number 10 was retired along with former teammate Tammie Romstad’s number 33. The program’s hustle award, given each year at the team’s postseason banquet, is named in her honor.

 

“This has been one of the most memorable times in my life,” Gary-Sweeney said during her jersey retirement ceremony. “It’s been an honor to play for K-State. I will never, ever forget the people that made it here or came out to support us back then.”

 

Gary-Sweeney is joined in the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame induction class of 2017 by former Kansas City Royals great George Brett; former women’s track All-American at Kansas, Kristi Kloster Burritt; Wichita Heights High School basketball coach and Wichita area tennis coach Charles Doughty; three-sport star at Kansas, Galen Fiss; 1954 Kansas cross country national champion Al Frame; college football coaching legend Dennis Franchione; Olympic gold medalist Dean Kelley; former professional and college football coach John Levra; two-sport athlete at Wichita State and former Major League Baseball player Don Lock; Barton and Cloud community colleges women’s basketball coach Jerry McCarty; Kansas basketball player and former president of the Kansas Golf Association Gerald Waugh; and former Wichita State baseball All-American Eric Wedge. Doughty, Fiss and Kelley will be honored posthumously.

 

The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame now includes 46 representatives with ties to K-State and the 2017 induction class of 13 raises the total of inductees in the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame to 273. Learn more about the members of the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.

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2017 ornament

2017 Alumni Association holiday ornament features Alma Mater

The K-State Alumni Association’s annual holiday ornament is now available for purchase. This year’s theme is the K-State Alma Mater and features the lyrics to the song honoring the spot alumni and friends “love full well.”

 

The ornament is $25 for Alumni Association members, and $30 for nonmembers. Past ornaments — including the 2016 design featuring the K-State Marching Band and the 2015 design featuring a Powercat wreath — also are available. Complete an order form online.

 

Learn more about the benefits of becoming a member of the K-State Alumni Association, which include the holiday ornament discount, K-State Campus Store discount and more.

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Alumni Center Showcase

Don’t forget to join us for the Alumni Center 15th Anniversary Showcase!

Explore artifacts from Kansas State University’s rich history, take family portraits by the K-State Alumni Center’s famous Wildcat Statue, enter a drawing for exclusive prizes, and much more at the K-State Alumni Association’s special showcase Oct. 12 celebrating the 15th anniversary of the opening of the Alumni Center.

 

This free, family-friendly event will take place from 3-7 p.m. and provides an opportunity for the Alumni Association to thank alumni and friends for their support. It also gives the community a chance to learn more about the many programs and services offered by the Alumni Association, while enjoying food and wine samples and prize drawings.

 

The showcase will feature interactive booths from Alumni Association departments and some of the Alumni Center’s caterers and vendors. Attendees can learn more about the benefits of Alumni Association membership, how to join an Alumni Club, the Association’s scholarships for students and more. In addition, Greg Hardin, author of When I grow up, I want to be a K-State Wildcat, will host a book signing, and Mano’s Inc. will offer a wine tasting. Music will be provided by Complete Music DJ service.

 

Guests will be able to get a ticket at every booth they visit to enter prize drawings. The grand prize will be an Alumni Center first floor rental package (some restrictions may apply). Other prizes include K-State gear, football and basketball tickets, framed K-State prints, local gift cards and more.

 

New kioskOther activities include:

 

• Snap photos with Willie the Wildcat

• Enjoy free food samples

• Participate in kids activities

• View K-State artifacts in the Memorabilia Room

• Try out the Alumni Association’s new kiosks (pictured at left), which feature information on our awards, history, new interactive building maps and more 

• Take family portraits by the Wildcat Statue

 

Free parking for this event will be available on the west side of the building. Those unable to attend the event Thursday, Oct. 12, are invited to stop by the Alumni Center on Saturday, Oct. 14, for cookies and beverages before the football game. Visitors also are encouraged to view the Alumni Center’s new stained glass mural, A Spot I Love Full Well. 

 

The K-State Alumni Center opened next to K-State’s World War I Memorial Stadium in 2002, after a successful fundraising campaign. The center provides a home for the Alumni Association and also offers rental space for weddings, meetings, graduation parties, anniversaries, reunions and more.

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Harold Lonsinger

Foundation news: Alumnus donates sustainability research farm; K-State couple creates scholarship

Harold Lonsinger ’56, Alton, Kansas, has given a gift of land to the Kansas State University Foundation to establish the Harold and Olympia Lonsinger Sustainability Research Farm.

 

Lonsinger gave 2,300 acres of Osborne County, Kansas, farmland to K-State, to develop a research farm focusing on sustainable agricultural practices and soil conservation, reclamation and protection.

 

“I was given this land for a purpose,” Lonsinger said. “I think the research Kansas State University will conduct and the knowledge they will gain will help protect and preserve our precious natural resources. That seems to be the purpose.”

 

Lonsinger has stressed that his goal of donating the land is to learn how to best restore the soil to its historic quality.

 

“Among our many agricultural experiment stations, Harold’s gift of more than 2,000 acres of quality Kansas farm- and grassland will become a hallmark of sustainable farming research at K-State,” said John Floros, dean of the College of Agriculture and director of K-State Research and Extension. “Much of the Lonsinger land is contiguous and will allow investigators to discover how historical and innovative farming practices impact larger tracts of soil over time. The research we will be able to conduct will have application for Kansas farmers and for producers worldwide.”

 

Read more

 

Returning the favor: K-State couple creates scholarship, remembering their own financial need as students

Esther and Fred Stiers“When I wrote that check for tuition out of my meager checking account, I remember wondering whether I was doing the right thing,” said Fred Stiers ’74. “K-State, in its size and environment, seemed as foreign to me as if I had gone to another country, but if I was going to college I wanted the effort to lead to something significant.”

 

Since that frugal first semester 43 years ago, Fred Stiers can still recall the financial hurdles he faced early in his college career. His own experiences inspired him and his wife, Esther, to return the favor by creating a scholarship for students enrolled in the College of Engineering.

 

“We decided we wanted to help young engineering students who had already chosen K-State to get their degree and needed financial help in their sophomore through senior years, just as I did,” Stiers said. “We hope this assistance produces some notable engineers who otherwise might not have made it.”

 

Read more

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College of Agriculture

Multicultural Fellows

Students work with K-State faculty through summer fellowship program

Four college students spent the summer honing their research skills with K-State experts through the K-State Research and Extension Multicultural Summer Research Fellowship Program.

 

Christina Bradshaw, a senior majoring in animal science at North Carolina A&T University, studied muscle composition with John Gonzalez, K-State associate professor. The project coincided with what she has been studying as an undergraduate, while bringing a different perspective to her education.

 

Bradshaw had been aiming to go to veterinary school, “but my future slightly took a turn” and her interest turned to animal nutrition. She is now considering graduate school.

 

She and the other students conducted hands-on research with K-State faculty who served as mentors, attended seminars, lived in a dorm and had social excursions such as bowling and hiking at the Konza Prairie Biological Station. Each gave a presentation on his or her work at the end of the fellowship.

 

“The fellowship program is a great way for our research mentors and mentees to collaborate on research topics,” said Zelia Wiley, assistant dean for diversity and director of the summer fellowship program. “It also serves as a recruitment tool and collaborative effort with our 1890-, 1994- and Hispanic-serving institutions. Overall, it is a mutually beneficial opportunity for all."

 

Riann White, a junior in pre-med and food science at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, worked in K-State’s dairy lab with associate professor Jayendra Amamcharla. She studied cheese renneting, the first step in the coagulation process. White’s project looked at the optimal time to cut cheese curds. She plans to present her findings at the international Institute of Food Technologists professional meeting.

 

White plans to go to medical school and link her interests in agriculture and medicine by educating about health through food.

 

“I didn’t know that Kansas was this big in agriculture. That was news to me,” White said, adding that she made good connections through the program.

 

Lonnie Hobbs Jr., a 2017 agricultural economics graduate of Prairie View A&M University, studied the impact of a recent corruption scandal involving Brazilian meat companies and consumer meat prices globally, including how policies might change to prevent similar circumstances in the future. He worked with Aleksan Shanoyan, assistant professor of agricultural economics.

 

“It opened my eyes to see how different things going on in agriculture and companies can have an impact on consumers without them knowing,” said Hobbs.

 

He intends to turn the summer project into a thesis, earn a master’s degree at K-State and eventually teach agricultural economics.

 

Dalia Sanchez ’17 made a big leap going from a bachelor’s degree in chemistry to a summer fellowship in food science working with Karen Schmidt, professor of food science. But there’s plenty of chemistry in food science, including Sanchez’s project that involved studying the effects of nonfat dried milk on bread.

 

As an undergraduate, Sanchez took the Intro to Food Science class and fell in love with it. “I didn’t know food science was a career until Dr. Wiley mentioned it,” Sanchez said.

 

Sanchez, who also works in the College of Agriculture Diversity Programs Office, said that seminars she attended as part of the fellowship helped nurture her interest in graduate school.

 

Learn about the K-State Research and Extension Multicultural Summer Fellowship Program.

 

Photo: From left to right, 2017 K-State Research and Extension Multicultural Fellows Riann White, Christina Bradshaw, Dalia Sanchez ’17 and Lonnie Hobbs Jr. (Courtesy photo)

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Gardiner Lecture

Feeding the world, sustaining the planet

Jason Clay, senior vice president for markets and food at World Wildlife Fund, brought his unique perspective on how the world’s farmers will meet the increased need for food — while protecting the Earth’s wildlife and natural resources — to the fourth annual Henry C. Gardiner Global Food Systems Lecture on Sept. 11 in McCain Auditorium.

 

Clay grew up on a small family farm, taught at Harvard and Yale, worked at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and spent more than 35 years working with nongovernmental organizations. In his current position, he works with some of the world’s largest companies to reduce their impact on the environment.

 

He is the author of 20 books and is National Geographic’s first Food and Sustainability Fellow. He won the James Beard award in 2012 for his work on sustainable food.

 

The World Wildlife Fund is considered one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, working in 100 countries and supported by five million members globally.

 

Clay’s lecture, “Feeding the World: Sustaining the Planet,” drew 800 to McCain Auditorium with more than 360 watching online. The entire lecture is available here: 

 

 

In addition to the lecture, Clay met with College of Agriculture faculty involved with water and climate issues, participated in radio and TV interviews and met with graduate students for a Q&A session the day after the lecture.

 

K-State’s College of Agriculture and the Gardiner Angus Ranch of Ashland, Kansas, sponsor the Henry C. Gardiner Global Food Systems Lecture Series. The series, which was named for Henry C. Gardiner ’53, was initiated in 2015 to provide science-based education about the global food system.

 

Photo: From left to right, John Floros, dean of the College of Agriculture and director of K-State Research and Extension; April Mason, provost and senior vice president; Jason Clay, senior vice president for markets and food at World Wildlife Fund; Mark Gardiner ’83, Gardiner Angus Ranch; and Richard Myers ’65, K-State president.

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College of Architecture, Planning and Design

Save the date

Alumni and friends invited to Seaton Hall/Regnier Hall dedication

Kansas State University alumni and friends are invited to a dedication event Oct. 13 for the Seaton Hall/Regnier Hall renovation and expansion project.

 

The event will begin at 2 p.m. with a formal dedication, followed by tours and refreshments.

 

Learn more about the event and about the expansion project.

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College of Arts and Sciences

Eleanor Sayre

NSF grant funds university study of professional development tool for physicists

Physics students across the world may benefit from physics education research at Kansas State University, thanks to a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation.

 

The NSF has awarded the grant to Eleanor Sayre, associate professor of physics, for her research project on PhysPort, an online professional development tool used by physics professors internationally.

 

Sayre’s project, in collaboration with the American Association of Physics Teachers, investigates the effect PhysPort has on the practice of teaching physics. K-State and the association jointly designed the tool to support physics faculty in using research-based teaching and assessment methods through expert recommendations, teaching method guides, assessment resources and online workshops.

 

More than 24,000 unique visitors used PhysPort’s resources in 2016, according to a report, “Development, Growth and Use of PhysPort,” co-authored by Sayre. About 12 percent of U.S. university physics faculty members are registered users and 47 percent of the sites’ unique visitors are from outside the U.S., according to the report.

 

“This is a broadly used tool with potentially far-reaching benefits for the next generation of physicists,” said Brett DePaola, head of the physics department. “Physics education research has helped put K-State’s physics department on the map. This grant reaffirms K-State’s leadership in this field.”

 

This project is the third NSF-funded grant shared by K-State and the American Association of Physics Teachers to develop and improve the online tool. With this grant, Sayre will study how PhysPort affects teaching practices through web analytics, website feedback, usability testing and interviews with faculty. She also will conduct research with an interdisciplinary international team to increase the tool’s effectiveness and advance understanding of how online resources can support teaching practices across disciplines in science, technology, engineering and math.

 

“PhysPort is already a great resource for physics faculty, and this new grant will enable us to more carefully measure faculty needs around professional development and data analysis for education,” Sayre said. “We have a wonderful research team and I am excited to continue our collaboration for another five years.”

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Arts and Sciences

College of Arts and Sciences approves U.S. Multicultural Overlay

Kansas State University’s College of Arts and Sciences approved a U.S. Multicultural Overlay for entering first-year arts and sciences students beginning this semester. The overlay provides a focused list of courses that address the structural nature of inequities in relation to race and ethnicity within contemporary U.S. culture. These courses would simultaneously fulfill the current K-State 8 requirement for Human Diversity in the U.S.

 

While the existing International Overlay addresses global issues, the purpose of the U.S. Multicultural Overlay differs in its focus on “how social, political, economic and historical issues impact race and/or ethnic relations” within the United States. The content also may intersect with analyses of gender, sexual orientation, language, culture, religion, mental and physical ability, age, socio-economic status, citizenship status and immigration status.

 

Approval of the overlay represents two years of work by multiple subcommittees and includes research into diversity requirements at peer institutions. Its enactment was strongly supported by the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Arts and Sciences Diversity Committee, the Student Senate and the Diversity 2025 Committee.

 

“We are very proud of the work our college diversity committee has done to organize and launch this overlay,” said Amit Chakrabarti, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Intersectional knowledge in context of our national culture is essential — now more than ever.”

 

The overlay is recognized by the Degree Audit Reporting System, or DARS, and will not change the required number of hours for degree completion. Forty-nine existing courses from multiple departments currently satisfy the overlay, and the Arts and Sciences Diversity Committee will assess and approve additional courses as submitted by departments.

 

Students will be contacted annually to take an assessment survey developed by the overlay committee. This program evaluation will continue for a minimum of three years as the program matures.

 

For more information, contact the Arts and Sciences deans’ office at 785-532-6904 or artsci@k-state.edu.

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College of Business Administration 

Leanne Caret

Boeing executive and K-State alum Leanne Caret to speak at Distinguished Lecture Series

Leanne Caret ’88, executive vice president of Boeing Co. and president and chief executive officer of Defense, Space and Security (BDS), will be the fall 2017 speaker for the Kansas State University College of Business Administration’s Distinguished Lecture Series.

 

The lecture will begin at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31, in the K-State Business Building Lecture Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

 

Named BDS president and CEO in February 2016, Caret leads the $30 billion business that provides integrated solutions to meet the needs of defense, government, space, intelligence and security customers in the United States and around the world. Countries with a major BDS presence include Australia, the United Kingdom, India and Saudi Arabia.

 

Previously, Caret was president of Boeing’s Global Services and Support, an industry leader in providing sustainment solutions for Boeing and select non-Boeing platforms. Before that, she was chief financial officer and vice president, finance, for BDS. Earlier she was vice president and general manager, Vertical Lift, responsible for business growth and program execution for a portfolio of cargo, tiltrotor and attack rotorcraft. Caret joined the company in 1988 and has held various program management positions in the defense business.

 

Caret holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from K-State and a Master of Business Administration degree from Wichita State University. She also earned certifications from Harvard University in the Program for Leadership Development and the International Security Defense Program, and completed the Integral Leadership Program at the University of Notre Dame.

 

Caret is a member of the St. Louis University board of trustees. She also serves on the council of trustees for the Association of the United States Army; the board of directors for the Center for a New American Security, an organization focused on developing national security and defense policies; and the board of directors for the Business-Higher Education Forum, a group of leaders dedicated to creating a highly skilled future workforce.

The K-State College of Business Administration Distinguished Lecture Series brings successful business professionals to campus to share their knowledge and experience. Lectures are given every semester and are sponsored by Commerce Bank and the William T. Kemper Foundation.

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Risa Langelo

College of Business hires Risa Langelo to lead recruiting efforts

The Kansas State University College of Business has recently hired Risa Langelo ’15 as its new recruitment coordinator.

 

In her role, Langelo will be responsible for the development and implementation of a recruitment strategy for all undergraduate programs in the college. She also will be an adviser to the student ambassador program, represent the college at various recruitment events, and work to build and maintain relationships with high school educators and counselors from around the state and region.

 

“We are very excited to welcome Ms. Langelo to our Student Success Center team and back to Kansas State University,” said Bente Janda, assistant dean for student services. “She brings with her valuable recruiting experience from multiple academic institutions, and exemplifies a level of professionalism characteristic of the College of Business.”

 

Langelo comes to the college from the University of Nebraska, where she was an assistant director in the office of admissions. She is a 2015 graduate of K-State, with a Master of Science in counseling and student development. During her time as a graduate student at K-State, she worked as a graduate assistant for the Career Center, as well as a practicum student in both the office of undergraduate admissions and new student services.

 

Students interested in learning more about the College of Business can visit cba.k-state.edu, or email cbarecruiting@k-state.edu.

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College of Education

Alternative textbooks

Education majors yield major savings thanks to technology initiative, faculty

College of Education faculty members in all three departments parlayed university and college alternative textbook awards totaling $96,500 into a savings of $600,000 for education undergraduate and graduate students, representing a 522 percent return on investment.

 

The awards were made possible through two funding streams. In the fall of 2013, the university created the Open/Alternative Textbook Initiative, which was designed to reduce the amount students spend on textbooks. Debbie Mercer ’84, ’88, ’96, ’99, dean of the College of Education, followed suit and offered college-level incentives as well. By 2014, eight faculty members had created digital resources for their classes. Today, 20 current faculty members have participated.

 

“The beauty is these savings will continue well into the future,” Mercer said. “While the investment of time and expertise is intensive in the development stage, faculty members have shared how easy it is to revise or add content so their course materials are always current and relevant. Because this aligns with the college’s mission to prepare future teachers for a digital environment, it truly is a win-win-win situation.”

 

Current faculty members who received awards are:

 

  • * Kakali Bhattacharya, associate professor of educational leadership

  • Brad Burenheide ’06, associate professor of curriculum and instruction

  • Doris Wright Carroll ’74, ’76, associate professor of special education, counseling and student affairs

  • Christy Craft, associate professor of special education, counseling and student affairs

  • ** Lori Goodson ’04, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction

  • ** Ann Knackendoeffel, assistant professor of special education, counseling and student affairs

  • * Cynthia Kuhn, instructor of curriculum and instruction

  • Jessica Lane ’07, ’12, assistant professor of special education, counseling and student affairs

  • Lotta Larson ’92, ’99, ’03, ’07, associate professor of curriculum and instruction

  • Lori Levin ’00, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction

  • Mickey Losinski, associate professor of special education, counseling and student affairs

  • Tonnie Martinez ’84, ’01, ’05, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction

  • ** Leah McKeeman ’01, ’08, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction

  • * Della Perez ’03, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction

  • Suzanne Porath, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction

  • Vickie Sherbert, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction

  • Deepak Subramony, associate professor of curriculum and instruction

  • Dan Wilcox, assistant professor of special education, counseling and student affairs

  • Thomas Vontz, professor of curriculum and instruction

  • Yang Yang, assistant professor of special education, counseling and student affairs

 

* Denotes more than one college award.

** Denotes awards from the college and university.

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Documentary

College produces documentary about first-year teachers

The College of Education proudly announces the release of its 2017 documentary, “A Walk in My Shoes: The First 9 Months,” which chronicles the journeys of several first-year teachers and the highs and lows they experienced along the way.

 

The film will debut at 1 p.m. Oct. 12 in Forum Hall as part of the college’s annual Education Symposium. The premiere is free and open to the public.

 

“We have covered important issues through this series but I truly believe this subject is of the utmost importance right now,” said College of Education Dean Debbie Mercer ’84, ’88, ’96, ’99. “It is difficult being a first-year teacher, and we’ve approached this topic with honesty. This not only offers a realistic look inside the classroom but will also serve as an incredible resource for teacher education programs, for those considering the profession and for the public as well.”

 

The film has a dedicated Facebook page titled “The First 9 Months” filled with weekly uploads of funny clips that didn’t make it into the film — the kinds of moments discussed in the teachers’ lounge. To get to know the teachers in the film, click on the teachers’ names for introductions. The first-year teachers appearing in the film and the schools where they spent their first nine months teaching are:

 

Becky Brady ’16, taught kindergarten at Ware Elementary in Fort Riley, Kansas.

Renee Caraballo ’16, taught fifth grade at Chapman Elementary in Chapman, Kansas.

Caleb Roth ’16, taught seventh grade at Junction City Middle School in Junction City, Kansas.

Skylar Ross ’16, taught third grade at Pawnee Elementary School in Overland Park, Kansas.  

Bridget Winter ’16, taught sixth grade at Saint Francis of Assisi in Wichita, Kansas.

 

“I would like to thank the first-year teachers who took on the extra work of video journaling every day and also their principals Deb Gustafson ’88, ’91, ’05, Mary Wright ’88, ’93, Mary Carter, Justin Green and David Warner, who opened their doors to us for this project,” Mercer said. 

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College of Engineering

Placidus Amama

Urban air quality, ozone control focus of university’s latest NSF CAREER award winner

An assistant professor of chemical engineering at Kansas State University is being recognized by the National Science Foundation for his career potential.

 

Placidus Amama has been awarded a $520,000 grant from the NSF’s Faculty Early Career Development, or CAREER, Program for his project, “Rational Design of Efficient Carbon Nanotube-Supported Titanium Dioxide Photocatalysts for Air Purification.” This study focuses on the coupling of carbon nanotubes and titanium dioxide, with the goal of enabling production of low-cost and large-area coatings of this material for efficient outdoor pollution control.

 

The NSF’s CAREER Program is one of its most prestigious awards for supporting early career faculty who effectively integrate research and education within the context of their institution’s mission. Faculty recognition and awards are an important part of K-State’s plan to become a top 50 public research university by 2025.

 

“This technology is expected to provide significant improvement in urban air quality and combat ozone at the source,” Amama said. “The work is a novel means for maximizing charge-separation efficiency of titanium dioxide and extending its photoresponse to the visible-light region, enabling outdoor application of the titanium dioxide photocatalyst.”

 

Amama’s project will take advantage of the presence of semi-infinite states in the conduction band of carbon nanotubes, with the possibility of transferring electrons between them and titanium dioxide to tailor the function of a carbon nanotube-titanium dioxide heterojunction.

 

“I am pleased and proud of Professor Amama’s research funding efforts,” said James Edgar, department head and university distinguished professor of chemical engineering. “To have his important work in this area recognized and supported by the National Science Foundation speaks highly of not only Placidus’ work, but our entire program.”

 

The work will build on Amama’s recent research involving scalable and efficient carbon nanotube growth using a gaseous waste mixture from Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and substantial prior work on rational catalyst design for controlled carbon nanotube growth.

 

As an educational component, the project will impact nanotechnology education at K-State through development and modification of curricula, and by broadening the scope of students’ research experience through an international exchange program.

 

“The proposed project will equip K-State engineering students with the needed skill set for innovative and successful careers in nanotechnology,” Amama said. “The international exchange and collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory will benefit both research and education here.”

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James Chen

Chen one of 58 awardees of U.S. Department of Defense Young Investigator Research Program

In an effort to answer a century-old question in classical physics — is it possible to create a theoretical model that will describe the statistics of a turbulent flow — a Kansas State University engineering professor has been awarded $360,000 from the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Research Program.

 

James Chen, assistant professor of mechanical and nuclear engineering, will take on the challenge in his project, “A Multiscale Morphing Continuum Analysis on Energy Cascade of Compressible Turbulence.”

 

The newly discovered energy transfer phenomena incompressible turbulence also will advance development of safety in high-altitude operations, stable pointing of onboard laser weapons in the national defense system, and a NASA initiative on creating the quiet supersonic passenger jet.

 

Chen’s research will establish non-equilibrium eddy mechanics with the multiscale morphing continuum theory through the lens of statistical kinetic theory, as well as investigate multiscale energy-transfer phenomena by analyzing the kinetic energy spectra under the influence of shock waves and compressibility.

 

“This project is aligned with a nationwide research emphasis in high-performance computing,” Chen said. “I am fortunate to be at Kansas State University where I’ll have access to the largest, openly accessible high-performance computing facility in Kansas, Beocat, housed in the College of Engineering computer science department.”

 

Chen received his doctorate from the department of mechanical and aerospace engineering at George Washington University, his master’s degree from the Institute of Applied Mechanics at National Taiwan University and bachelor’s degree from the department of mechanical engineering at National Chung-Hsing University.

 

Prior to starting his doctoral studies, he was a research assistant in the Institute of Physics at Academia Sinica in Taiwan. He began his academic career at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and Pennsylvania State University, the Altoona College, joining the K-State faculty in 2015 as an assistant professor in the department of mechanical and nuclear engineering. He is director of the Multiscale Computational Physics Lab in the College of Engineering.

 

Chen is an honorary fellow of the Australian Institute of High Energetic Materials; and a member of Pi Tau Sigma, the International Mechanical Engineering Honor Society; American Society of Mechanical Engineers; American Physical Society; and American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He has published and co-authored more than 30 journal articles and contributed to more than 20 technical reports/presentations.

 

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research announced in fall 2016 the awarding of approximately $20.8 million in grants to 58 scientists and engineers from 41 research institutions and small businesses, who had submitted winning research proposals through the Air Force’s Young Investigator Research Program. The program is open to these scientists and engineers across the United States who have received doctorate or equivalent degrees in the last five years, and who show exceptional ability and promise for conducting basic research.

 

The objective of the program is to foster creative basic research in science and engineering, enhance early career development of outstanding young investigators, and increase opportunities for the young investigators to recognize the Air Force mission and related challenges in science and engineering.

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College of Human Ecology

Sara Rosenkranz

Rosenkranz wins annual Stowe Award

Sara Rosenkranz ’01, ’10, assistant professor in the food, nutrition, dietetics and health department, was awarded the annual Dean Barbara S. Stowe Endowed Faculty Development Fund Award during the College of Human Ecology’s Fall Forum.

 

Rosenkranz received the award for her project, “Community Outreach for Best Practice School Lunches,” which looks to positively influence local school policies and practices related to nutritional quality of food served within the school setting. The project examines nutritional quality not only for obesity prevention, but also for the association between poor nutritional quality and risk for chronic disease in adults and children.

 

The funding from the award will allow the research team to add an outreach component. They will look to strengthen existing connections as well as build new connections between the research team and those affiliated with the National School Lunch Program.

 

Stowe served as dean of human ecology at K-State from 1983 to 1998. The fund, established in her honor, supports the professional development of outstanding faculty who translate research-based knowledge of human ecology into practice in higher education, business, industry or public policy.

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School of Family Studies and Human Services

School of Family Studies and Human Services announces program changes

The School of Family Studies and Human Services announced three name changes for two degree paths as well as two new graduate specializations.

 

The degree name for the B.S. degree program in Family Studies and Human Services is now called Human Development and Family Science (HDFS). The name change reflects national naming trends in the discipline and will provide students with a degree program name that is more recognizable to employers.

 

The curriculum for the undergraduate program has not changed. The coursework in HDFS provides students a strong foundation in human development, family science and application of knowledge to practice. HDFS graduates are prepared to enter a variety of careers working directly with individuals and families across the life span, or to attend graduate or professional school.

 

In addition, a minor in Human Development and Family Science is available.

 

Also receiving a name change is the master’s and doctoral program of Couples and Family Therapy (previously Marriage and Family Therapy). The master’s degree will now be a master’s of science in Family Studies and Human Services with a specialization in Couple and Family Therapy. The doctoral program will be a Ph.D. in Human Ecology with a specialization in Couple and Family Therapy.

 

Similar to the HDFS program name change, the new Couple and Family Therapy program name reflects national naming trends in the field and also more accurately represents the diverse populations that the program serves. No curriculum changes will be made with the name change.

 

Finally, the Applied Family Science master’s and doctoral program also received a name change. The former Family Studies graduate curriculum has been updated and combines education, research and outreach to better understand and enhance the lives of individuals and families. Students in the Applied Family Science specialization will be trained to develop, implement, evaluate and administer programs designed to enhance family and relationship health and well-being. Additionally, doctoral students will be prepared to conduct high-impact research addressing issues and needs relevant to families.

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College of Technology and Aviation 

Pathfinder

Applied Aviation Research Center, PrecisionHawk continue key UAS flight collaboration

The Applied Aviation Research Center on Kansas State University’s Polytechnic Campus is continuing its work with PrecisionHawk, a provider of advanced commercial drone technologies, on operational testing with unmanned aircraft systems.

 

This partnership comes from PrecisionHawk’s continued work with the Federal Aviation Administration’s Pathfinder program, which involves industry partners exploring expansion of UAS operations in commercial airspace. PrecisionHawk is headquartered Raleigh, North Carolina.

 

Kansas State Polytechnic and PrecisionHawk previously collaborated in summer 2016 on a series of controlled field experiments to observe pilots’ decision-making when flying in extended visual line of sight, or EVLOS. The studies were conducted to determine an acceptable safety level in response time of drone pilots when visually detecting a manned intruder in their airspace. As a result of this collaboration, PrecisionHawk was able to attain the only EVLOS waiver in the nation from the FAA for commercial unmanned aircraft operations.

 

This summer, PrecisionHawk asked Kansas State Polytechnic to participate in phase three of the Pathfinder program. Phase three is testing the reliability of technological aids when flying beyond visual line of sight, or BVLOS, and aims to provide an operational risk assessment to the FAA to help further define safety regulations for operating an unmanned aircraft in commercial airspace.

 

“This research is important for quantifying the risks associated with unmanned aircraft operations beyond visual line of sight of the operator,” said Andi Meyer, research program manager at the Applied Aviation Research Center. “Technological aids are needed for such operations, but they still need validation and reliability testing before the industry can move forward. This field-testing provides data for PrecisionHawk’s operational risk assessment that is a critical piece of the regulatory approval process.”

 

During the experiments, again taking place on Knopf Farm in central Kansas, volunteers used computers with PrecisionHawk’s proprietary drone mapping software program, which provided a map view of where an unmanned aircraft was flying and monitored when and where the manned aircraft entered the airspace. The participants then used the software to survey the area and ultimately determine if an adjustment of the unmanned aircraft’s flight path was necessary to ensure safe operations.

 

When flying BVLOS, pilots are unable to visually see their unmanned aircraft. As part of the field test, PrecisionHawk used its traffic and conflict alerting system, LATAS, which provides unmanned tracking and displays ground and air obstacles in real time. In support of a drone safety solution, the MITRE Corp. developed a set of visual warnings to augment that display and aid pilot decision-making using the LATAS framework. The conflict alerting and display system allows pilots to maintain a well-clear area — keeping their flight path clear of other air traffic to avoid air-to-air collisions. Results of the field test will help inform requirements for such systems.

 

“Kansas State Polytechnic has an outstanding team in the UAS lab and because of our success in Pathfinder phase two, was my obvious choice to partner in phase three,” said Allison Ferguson, director of airspace research for PrecisionHawk. “Along with the data we are able to provide the FAA, this program also provides advantages to Kansas State Polytechnic students by exposing them to active research in the field.”

 

Phase three is the final phase of the FAA’s Pathfinder program. All results are provided to the FAA for consideration upon completion of field testing.

 

During the Pathfinder program’s field project, the Applied Aviation Research Center also hosted the MITRE Corp. in conducting small UAS noncooperative sensor field testing using low-cost sensors. These sensors are designed to be flown on small, unmanned aircraft to sense and avoid other aircraft. The center’s involvement in this live flight testing involved flying a manned Cessna 172 aircraft from Kansas State Polytechnic in a series of maneuvers near the unmanned aircraft’s mounted sensors. MITRE’s competitive data-collection exercise was designed to provide insights into a range of detect-and-avoid capabilities that could be useful for small UAS missions.

 

“Feedback from MITRE and the participating companies was terrific,” said Kurt Carraway, UAS executive director of the Applied Aviation Research Center. “We’re proud to be able to contribute to this exciting work, which we hope will ultimately help propel the UAS industry forward by introducing new technologies that enhance aviation safety to further promote the successful integration of UAS into the national airspace. We look forward to continuing this relationship with MITRE in conducting future tests.”

 

To inquire about UAS opportunities with Kansas State Polytechnic’s Applied Aviation Research Center, contact Carraway at 785-826-7170 or kcarraway@k-state.edu. For professional UAS training offerings, contact Kansas State Polytechnic’s professional education and outreach office at 785-826-2633 or profed@k-state.edu. To learn more about the UAS academic degree options, contact the campus’s admissions office at 785-826-2640 or polytechnic@k-state.edu.

 

To connect with PrecisionHawk about its services and products or to learn more about the Pathfinder program, contact 844-328-5326 or info@precisionhawk.com. For questions about MITRE’s efforts, contact Matt DeGarmo at 703-983-7320 or degarmo@mitre.org.

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College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Hans Coetzee

World Veterinary Association recognizes Dr. Hans Coetzee for animal welfare work

A Kansas State University veterinarian has earned a new global recognition for his commitment to animal welfare.

 

Dr. Hans Coetzee, professor and head of the anatomy and physiology department in the College of Veterinary Medicine, is one of six recipients of the World Veterinary Association’s Global Animal Welfare Awards. Co-founded and supported by Ceva Santé Animale, a global veterinary health company, the awards were presented to an outstanding veterinarian in each of the six regions of the World Veterinary Association for providing outstanding and exemplary welfare-related services to animal owners, hostels, fellow veterinarians and the public.

 

Coetzee was recognized for his work with livestock animal welfare, particularly for his research on ways of advancing methods to alleviate pain in livestock. Coetzee is internationally recognized for his work in developing objective assessments of pain experienced by livestock animals during routine management procedures. He has secured more than $9 million in research funding from federal, nonprofit and industry sources, and his expertise is sought by academic researchers and pharmaceutical companies worldwide. He holds one U.S. patent for alleviating pain and improving performance during dehorning and castration, with two additional patents pending. Coetzee also is co-founder of the biannual International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare.

 

The awards were presented at a ceremony Aug. 29 at the World Veterinary Association’s 33rd World Veterinary Congress in South Korea. The ceremony included a short video on Coetzee, as well as videos on the other award recipients.

 

It is the second time this summer Coetzee has been honored for his work with animal welfare. He was presented the 2017 Animal Welfare Award by the American Veterinary Medical Association at its national convention in July. This honor also recognized his commitment to the welfare of livestock and his achievements in development of pain assessment models and pain management of livestock.

 

The author or co-author of 115 peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts, Coetzee also has edited two books and is author or co-author of eight book chapters. He has served on a variety of animal welfare committees and boards, and has been the recipient of many industry awards, including the 2014 American Association of Bovine Practitioners’ Award of Excellence and the 2014 Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence.

 

Coetzee earned his Bachelor of Veterinary Science in veterinary medicine from the University of Pretoria in South Africa and his doctorate in veterinary microbiology from Iowa State University. He also holds diplomate status from the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology, the American College of Animal Welfare and the European College of Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law.

 

Photo: Dr. Hans Coetzee, professor and head of the anatomy and physiology department, receives the World Veterinary Association’s Global Animal Welfare Award. To Coetzee’s left is Marc Prikazsky, chairman and CEO of Ceva Santé Animale, the award’s sponsor.

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Research in Caribbean

Veterinary collaboration looks at tick-borne disease research in the Caribbean

Tropical islands might be a paradise for tourists, but they are also a breeding ground for a wide variety of pathogens that are transmitted by way of ticks and other disease vectors. New research collaboration between Kansas State University and St. George’s University (SGU), on the island of Grenada, will look at tick-borne diseases and the impact made on the agricultural and companion animals and people in the Caribbean.

 

Roman Ganta, director of the Center for Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases (CEVBD) in the College of Veterinary Medicine, spent several weeks this summer at Grenada with his post-doctoral scientist, Andy Alhassan, who is supported by an SGU post-doctoral fellowship grant. The CEVBD is an interdisciplinary research center with a mission to combat vector-borne diseases with a focus on pathogenesis, surveillance and disease prevention.

 

“We initiated and executed this research project focused on defining tick-borne disease prevalence in ruminants, such as sheep, goats and cattle, as well as in dogs from the island,” Ganta said. “One of the research team members from SGU, Alok Desai, DVM student, has already presented a poster at a summer research scholar program meeting regarding the work we initiated. We anticipate several positive outcomes from this exciting project, including scientific publications and presentations in the near future.”

 

Ganta explained the proposed goals of the 2017 project are to evaluate the current existing resources at SGU, develop a realistic and executable plan and then initiate research at field sites and in research laboratories at SGU.

 

“To achieve these goals requires considerable discussions among the PIs [principle investigators] and the project personnel, on-site assessments of the existing resources, developing plans and overseeing the initiation of experimental studies and mentoring,” Ganta said.

 

One of the investigators is Melinda Wilkerson, a former faculty member in the College of Veterinary Medicine, who is now on faculty at SGU. She still holds an adjunct faculty designation at K-State. The other scientists in the project are from SGU:  Bhumika Sharma and Kathryn Gibson.

 

More information about this CEVBD and its projects can be found online at: http://www.vet.k-state.edu/research/cevbd/index.html.

 

Photo: Roman Ganta, director of the Center for Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases at K-State; Alok Desai, a veterinary student at St. George’s; Andy Alhassan, a K-State postdoctoral researcher in diagnostic medicine and pathobiology; a Grenadian farmer; Melinda Wilkerson, professor and chair of pathobiology at St. George’s; and Bhumika Sharma, a researcher at St. George’s. (Courtesy photo)

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